As each participant chooses two main subjects and several complementary subjects, each student can tailor an individual programme to his or her preferences. Possible subjects include the following: studies of literature and linguistics, cultural studies, law, economics, political sciences, history, area studies, social anthropology, philosophy, and (Catholic and Protestant) theology.
Each student also has to take courses in two foreign languages. For students who do not come from an Eastern European country, at least one of those languages must be Eastern European (e.g. Russian, Polish, Czech, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, Hungarian, Romanian, Yiddish, Bulgarian, Slovakian). Students from a Central or Eastern European country must learn at least one Western European language (e.g. German as a Foreign Language, English, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Greek, or Swedish).
Project work is an integral part of the programme. Together, students plan and execute a project usually presenting one lesser known European country ("Kennen Sie ...? - Do you know ...?"). In doing so, they acquire practical skills that are crucial for their professional lives (project management, team work, public relations, cross-cultural communication, visualisation and presentation).
The students also attend interdisciplinary seminars on a variety of topics concerning Europe that are exclusively drafted to the requirements of the East-West Studies.
Furthermore, it is expected for the students to go abroad (international internship, studying at one of our partner universities, taking part in summer schools, etc.)
PDF Download
Students are required to spend two months in European countries that are not their native country. They gain international experience by participating in internships, summer schools or study trips. We regularly offer study trips to different Eastern European countries for our students.
Students from Western European countries are obliged to spend these two months in Eastern European countries. Since students from Eastern Europe are already studying in a Western European country (Germany), they are free to choose any European country with the exception of their own native countries.
The participants in the programme are encouraged to do internships in companies and institutions according to their intended careers. Gaining work experience is very important and can be a very useful complement to the programme, so the accreditation of an internship as a part of the programme is possible. Students are assisted with finding an appropriate internship.