Courses are held in German, Spanish, Portuguese, and English. Participants can choose to write their term papers and their Master's theses in any of these languages.
The application period for the MA in Interdisciplinary Latin American Studies for the winter semester starts on 15 April and ends on 15 August each year.
https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/studium/bewerbung/frist-master/index.html
The dates indicated on the main pages of the Freie Universität Berlin (FU Berlin) website regarding the application period are binding.
Applicants are recommended to check out the homepage of the study programme for further current information.
This research-oriented Master's programme provides an in-depth overview of Latin America from the perspectives of the following disciplines: ancient American studies, cultural and social anthropology, gender studies, history, literatures and cultures of Latin America, economics, political science, and sociology. Distinguished by the fact that its students are introduced to scholarly work and related activities early and make early knowledge gains, the programme brings together regional and disciplinary perspectives and has a strong focus on area studies. By considering historical and contemporary dynamics and contingencies, students grapple with regional problems of a region characterised by marked social diversity and interdependent, entangled inequalities.
The region of Latin America, in geographical and cultural terms, encompasses Hispanic America, Brazil, the Caribbean, and the interconnections that extend beyond the region. The changing perception of Latin America in the global context—in particular from transregional, intersectional, and de-colonial perspectives—is a major focus, both in the "longue durée" and in selected cases. Historical continuities, ruptures, and transformations in Latin America as well as analytical approaches from Latin America itself are always examined and reflected in the context of their local and global interconnections and their interdependent differences.
Students comprehensively engage with approaches from the humanities, cultural studies, and social sciences, considering the dynamics of borders in relation to social and spatial mobilities, inequalities, imaginaries, discursive conventions and practices, forms and strategies of representation, the environment, sustainability, human-nature relations, cultures, economies, politics, materialities, provenance, gender relations, societal diversity, conviviality, etc. In doing so, students examine forms of cultural, socioeconomic, and gender difference in various contexts and incorporate a range of materials, productions, approaches, and concepts from the Latin American world and scholarship.
Students learn about different challenges of the Latin American continent as well as locally developed approaches to solve them. They are introduced to preconditions, conditions, and characteristics of the Latin American present, including its historical constitution. More specifically, students discuss and apply interpretive approaches and theories on transformation, development, and inequalities in Latin America as well as on historical-cultural action, representations, and the interconnections of the region. Understanding the concepts and paradigms of Latin American studies and the Global South is as important as learning about and gaining a critical perspective on the theories and methods of the humanities, social sciences, and gender studies—all of which, in addition to de-colonial perspectives, permeate all facets of the programme.
Early in the programme, students choose a concentration in the humanities or cultural sciences, social sciences, regional studies (Brazil), or in a field related to gender issues (profile area). During the programme, students are also introduced to supervised academic work and good academic practice.
Students in this research-oriented Master's programme develop a comprehensive, interdisciplinary, and specialised understanding of individual countries and regions in Latin America using the latest theories and methods used in international research. At the end of the programme, they will be able to communicate confidently on topics relevant to their studies, primarily in German and Spanish or Portuguese, but also in English and, where applicable, at an elementary level in an indigenous language.
Furthermore, they gain a thorough understanding of national, transregional, and global processes as well as intercultural competencies in the context of growing global interdependencies and asymmetries. Graduates of the programme can:
Students have the choice of pursuing the humanities or cultural sciences, social sciences, regional studies (Brazil), or gender issues. They reflect on their own position, role, and responsibility in academia and society, as well as the production and circulation of knowledge in unequal structures. Students learn to use their knowledge beyond the university to exchange and engage with civil society. They conduct academic work independently, employing good and ethical practices. The Central Institute for Latin American Studies also places emphasis on the development of strong writing skills in the courses and activities of the graduate programme.
Students gain in-depth academic and professionally qualifying interdisciplinary knowledge. They learn to analyse and assess transregional and global processes, as well as international relations and changing world views while considering various analytical categories. They can responsibly manage projects jointly and independently while taking into account the competencies of the various group members which are needed for the project, and which are to be further developed in the course of the project. Within these projects, they can precisely identify complex tasks, complete them within a given time frame, and coordinate them among their project partners. They can conduct subject- and topic-specific and cross-disciplinary discussions in a well-founded manner and have a heightened ability for academic criticism.
Get to know the programme in an interactive environment: https://www.osa.fu-berlin.de/lateinamerikastudien_ma/start/startseite/index.html.
A special feature of the Master's programme lies in the combination of regional expertise with subject-specific methods, alongside interdisciplinary cooperation, an in-depth understanding of a chosen discipline, and an international focus. This is reflected above all in the cooperation with people and institutions in and from Latin America. This teaching and learning environment, which is conducive to development and internationalisation and is locally based, is characterised by:
The programme combines the social and practical aspects of collaborative in-person learning with the flexibility of digital formats, especially in research practice in the third semester. It balances cooperation and exchange between instructors and students at German and especially Latin American partner universities and cooperating institutions in Berlin. Furthermore, students have opportunities to study abroad and participate in field projects, internships, and occasional field trips.
Students independently learn about the practical relevance of Latin American studies and reflect on it within a potential professional environment. They learn to apply the subject-specific methods they have acquired during their studies in an independently organised internship (280 hours). Students have the opportunity to refine practical and analytical skills and gain insights into possible careers. Afterwards, they use the skills they acquired during the internship in their further studies and in their own project. In addition, students can demonstrate high motivation and have effective time management, social, and decision-making skills as well as a sense of responsibility and practical knowledge during the internship. As in the diverse fields of work and activities they may work in, students doing the internship are aware of interdependent inequalities and are sensitive to the dynamics of gender, diversity, and power. If the student chooses to do a research internship, he or she should choose an internship in Germany or abroad in a suitable field. The Central Institute for Latin American studies advises on the search for potential internship institutions. Internships in the research projects of the Central Institute for Latin American studies are especially recommended.
In total, the semester contribution amounts to 304.40 EUR. It includes a fee of 181.40 EUR for the transportation ticket contribution. This allows you to use public transportation in Berlin for free. Other costs covered by the semester contribution include a 50 EUR enrolment fee, a 63 EUR semester contribution to the student support service ("studierendenWERK Berlin"), and a 10 EUR contribution to the student union.
Compared to other European countries, the cost of living in Germany is quite reasonable. However, the cost of living has also risen somewhat in Germany in recent years. The prices for food, accommodation, clothing, cultural events, etc. are slightly above the EU average. You will need around 950 to 1,200 EUR each month to cover your living expenses. The biggest expense is monthly rent, which is between 400 and 700 EUR in Berlin.
The Deutschlandstipendium scholarship enables students at Freie Universität Berlin from all nations and walks of life to fully concentrate on their studies. The programme supports talented students with 300 EUR per month. To apply, you must already be enrolled and be within the standard period of time given to complete your degree during the funding period, or you must have a letter of acceptance to start a degree programme at Freie Universität Berlin.
The entry requirements for the MA Interdisciplinary Latin American Studies are as follows:
A degree (Bachelor's) in a relevant discipline from a German university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard, with at least 60 credit units (LP/ ECTS) completed in one of the following subjects:
If these credit points are distributed across several of the aforementioned subjects, there must be a study component of at least 40 credit points (CP/ECTS) in one of the aforementioned subjects.
For further information about the entry requirements, please visit our website.
Applicants must provide proof of Spanish or Portuguese language skills (level B2 CEFR).
Applicants who have earned their initial degree from a university (or equivalent institution) where the language of instruction is not German have to present a B2 (CEFR) German certificate.
The application period for the MA in Interdisciplinary Latin American Studies for the winter semester starts on 15 April and ends on 15 August each year.
https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/studium/bewerbung/frist-master/index.html
The dates indicated on the main pages of the Freie Universität Berlin (FU Berlin) website regarding the application period are binding.
Applicants are recommended to check out the homepage of the study programme for further current information.
Application with a non-German degree:
There are many ways of earning money while you study, for example as waiting staff, academic assistants, or private tutors. Knowledge of German will improve your chances of finding a part-time job, but it isn’t necessarily required. However, it is important to be aware of the legal regulations.
The student support service at the university, called studierendenWERK Berlin, and the local representative of the "Bundesagentur für Arbeit" (Federal Employment Agency) can provide information about jobs for students. When searching for a job, look at online job boards, ads in local newspapers, and notice boards on campus.
You have the option to stay in a public/private student dormitory or in a private (shared) apartment. Student dormitories are not administrated by the university itself, so Freie Universität Berlin does not have any on-campus housing. However, it works together with "studierendenWERK Berlin" regarding student accommodation.
If you do not wish to stay in a student dormitory, you can try to find a room or an apartment on the private housing market. Many students in Berlin live in shared apartments ("WGs"). You can find these offers online (e.g. WG-gesucht or Kleinanzeigen) or on notice boards on campus.
Available rooms/apartments near the university are rare. Therefore, students mostly commute from other parts of the city. The commute via public transportation usually takes between 30 minutes and an hour, which is considered a normal travel time in Berlin due to the city's size.
The Career Service of Freie Universität Berlin aims to support international students at Freie Universität by providing information, advice, and events related to career planning, internships, and job applications.
The International Student Support team at FU Berlin regularly offers information events that include Q&A sessions. While personal office hours are not available due to our team size, students can contact Info-Service Study for general inquiries, or seek assistance from the General Academic Advisory Service or Psychological Counselling for more complex concerns. Additionally, the team continually enhances its expertise in international affairs, thereby contributing to FU Berlin's internationalisation process.
Freie Universität Berlin is a leading research institution. It is one of the 13 German universities being funded through the German government’s Excellence Strategy and is part of the only University Consortium of Excellence, the Berlin University Alliance, which consists of four partners in Berlin: Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
You can choose from more than 180 subject areas. No matter which area you are interested in, be it archaeology, physics, Jewish studies, law, or psychology, you will find your subject at Freie Universität Berlin.
As an international university, Freie Universität Berlin has partnerships with numerous universities across the world and maintains offices in Beijing, Cairo, Eastern Europe (Tbilisi, Georgia), New Delhi, Moscow, and São Paulo. About 17 percent of the students come from abroad, as do 38 percent of the doctoral students. At Freie Universität Berlin, you will meet people from all over the world.
Various support services are available for students. In particular, students who are new to a German university and to Berlin will profit from these services, for example, the introduction week, the mentorship programme, or the Student Services Centre. UniSport offers programmes ranging from Aikido to Zumba, which are very popular among students. The many cafeterias and canteens on campus offer food and drinks; this also usually includes fair trade, organic, vegetarian, and vegan options. Environmental protection and sustainability are generally important topics at Freie Universität Berlin, and there are many opportunities to get involved in related activities offered by students and the university.
Freie Universität Berlin is one of the major universities in the capital of Germany. It is located in the green district of Dahlem, in the south-western part of the city. There is no other campus in Berlin that is as green as the campus of Freie Universität Berlin. You can simply step out of the university buildings to enjoy outdoor activities: lunch on one of the many terraces and rooftops, swimming in the nearby lakes, or reading between cherry and apple trees. Dahlem is also home to one of the biggest botanical gardens in Europe. By using public transport, you can easily access the heart of Berlin and enjoy its cultural life and diversity. The U3 subway line connects Dahlem with the popular and central districts of Schöneberg, Kreuzberg, and Friedrichshain; however, all of the other districts can also be easily reached.
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