Classes are offered in German and English. Participants can choose either language to write assignments and the Master's thesis.
Applications can be submitted from 24 April through 15 August for the following winter semester. We welcome early applications!
The programme introduces students to interdisciplinary aspects of East European studies. Graduates of the Master's programme will be able to independently analyse and interpret developments and situations in Eastern, East-Central and South-Eastern Europe (hereinafter collectively referred to as Eastern Europe) and contextualise them within their respective political, social, economic, historical, and cultural frameworks. They will also be capable of evaluating these developments from a multidisciplinary perspective. In spatial terms, the concept of Eastern Europe used here includes post-Soviet Eurasia as well as East-Central and South-Eastern Europe. Furthermore, graduates of the Master's programme will be able to deal with regionally-related questions and tasks across disciplines and to draw practice-related conclusions. They have also acquired comprehensive knowledge of the respective disciplines and analytical methods and are able to analyse national, transregional and global processes. Graduates know the foundations and general principles of scientific work as well as good scientific practice and can take these into account in scientific activities.
The Master's programme builds on a first university degree (BA or equivalent qualification) and is designed primarily but not exclusively for students with a first degree in political science, sociology, cultural studies, history, or economics or related fields.
The Master's programme in East European Studies consists of the basic area, the interdisciplinary profile area, the area of applied East European studies and the area of language acquisition. Students choose between two profiles: "Institutions and Power" or "Spaces and Constructions".
Graduates possess knowledge of at least one East European language as well as professionally relevant social, in particular intercultural as well as diversity and gender-specific competences, which provide them with an understanding of national, transregional and global processes. Graduates have higher-level skills and competences, including moderation and presentation skills, critical and conflict skills as well as problem-solving skills.
The Master's programme provides the academic foundations and practical experience for later work as an expert on Eastern Europe in the following areas, among others: politics and political consultancy, social policy and social work, business and economic consultancy, foreign service and international organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), culture, tourism, state and municipal planning and administration, media, adult education, publishing and librarianship and academic institutions.
The research landscape in Berlin offers significant advantages for the East European Studies Master's programme. The Institute for East European Studies maintains many partnerships with other Berlin universities and numerous academic networks in Berlin-Brandenburg. Students benefit not only from the institute's geographical proximity to East Central and Eastern Europe but also from its academic relevance and influence in regional studies research. The Institute for Eastern European Studies hosts numerous externally funded projects, in which students actively participate.
The programme consists of the following elements:
Students choose between two profiles:
1. Institutions and Power: Thematic content includes the functioning, stability, and instability of authoritarian orders in historical and global contexts; legacies of authoritarian orders in young democracies; sub-national political regimes; post-socialist transformation trajectories; political-economic models of development in historical and international comparison; social policy, socio-cultural change, and inequality; culture and economic growth; bureaucracy and public goods; natural resources; and comparative and international economic policy. Theoretical content includes theories of social change, comparative economic systems, comparative autocracy research, rational choice, and constructivist and interpretative approaches in the social sciences. The programme also deals with methodological content such as quantitative and qualitative methods, causal inference, formal models, archival research, observation, interviews, and focus groups.
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2. Spaces and Constructions: The thematic content includes nation-building and nationalism, memory culture, and popular and everyday culture as well as folklore from a cultural anthropological perspective. It also includes globalisation processes, the history of knowledge and science (including environmental and economic history), transfer and reception history, and geopoetics and geopolitics. The theoretical contents encompass semiotics, rhetoric, gender and queer studies, postcolonial studies and imperial history, genre and media theory, ecocriticism, discourse analysis, and history. In addition, methodological content such as comparison (comparative empire studies, modernisation, and industrialisation from a historical comparative perspective), history of ideas and concepts, global history, and world literature will be covered.
The Master's thesis should demonstrate that students can independently undertake and present a research task using scientific methods. After successful completion of the study programme, the Master of Arts (MA) university degree will be awarded.
A study semester abroad is recommended for all students.
An internship of eight weeks can be completed during the programme, for example, during the summer break between the second and third semesters. The internship can be done abroad. Students are assisted in finding an appropriate internship. However, the internship is not mandatory.
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 (FU 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.
Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in history, culture, economics, politics, sociology, or related fields; English (B2) and German (C1) language skills
More information on the application procedure
Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in German and English.
German: C1 CEFR – TestDaF 4, or DSH 2, or equivalent
English: B2 CEFR – TOEFL 500 (PBT), 170 (CBT), 80 (iBT); IELTS 5.0; or equivalent
Applications can be submitted from 24 April through 15 August for the following winter semester. We welcome early applications!
Candidates holding a German degree apply through the FU application portal.
Candidates with a non-German degree apply via uni-assist e.V.
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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