International Programmes 2024/2025

Master's in Global History Master's in Global History

Freie Universität Berlin • Berlin

Degree
Master of Arts in Global History
In cooperation with

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Teaching language
  • English
Languages

All core courses are held in English. German courses are offered, but they are optional. Students can also choose to take courses in languages that are specific to their regional interests.

Programme duration
4 semesters
Beginning
Winter semester
Application deadline

https://www.global-history.de/admissions/index.html

Tuition fees per semester in EUR
None
Combined Master's degree / PhD programme
No
Joint degree / double degree programme
Yes
Description/content

Today's interconnected world is not a new phenomenon. It looks back on a long history of exchange and interaction. The history of migration and trade, of empires and nation-states, of religion and the environment, of ideas, of communication and war have all contributed to linking different parts of the world, albeit unevenly.
The MA Global History programme is dedicated to exploring the various trajectories of cross-border entanglements across the globe. Unlike programmes that treat Global History as an extension of imperial or economic history, our approach emphasises the entanglements between specific regions and global structures. By focusing on comparisons, connections, and processes of global integration, the programme helps students to understand the forces that have continuously shaped and restructured the world.
Global history is one of the most innovative and productive fields of scholarly inquiry today and challenges us to think about history and its methodologies in new ways. It acknowledges a broad variety of different perspectives and aims to arrive at a non-Eurocentric reading of the global past.

Course organisation

The MA Global History offers a programme in which students learn to reconstruct the history of global entanglements. It is built around the fusion of historical skills with the specific competences of area studies. All students attend courses in Global History that reflect the theory and practice of writing Global History.
Part-time studies are possible.
This is a joint degree programme (Freie Universität Berlin [FU] and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin [HU]).
More detailed information about the structure of the Global History MA programme can be found on our website: https://www.global-history.de/program/studies/index.html.

International elements
  • International guest lecturers
  • Specialist literature in other languages
  • International comparisons and thematic reference to the international context
  • Content-related regional focus
Integrated internships

Students have the option of completing an internship in Module 10 of the course.

Course-specific, integrated German language courses
No
Course-specific, integrated English language courses
No
Tuition fees per semester in EUR
None
Semester contribution

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.

Funding opportunities within the university
Yes
Description of the above-mentioned funding opportunities within the university

At Freie Universität Berlin, the Deutschlandstipendium scholarship allows students of all nations and all parts of society to fully concentrate on their studies. The programme supports talented students with 300 EUR per month.

Academic admission requirements

A Bachelor's degree in history, area studies, or a related field that includes equivalent historical or area studies topics (minimum of 60 credits), which can be proven with a transcript of records

Language requirements

Applicants must prove their English skills at level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages with their application. Please find more information on our website: https://www.global-history.de/admissions/language/index.html.

Application deadline

https://www.global-history.de/admissions/index.html

Submit application to

Freie Universität Berlin
c/o uni-assist e.V.
Geneststraße 5
10829 Berlin
Germany

Possibility of finding part-time employment

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.

Accommodation

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.

Career advisory service

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.

Support for international students and doctoral candidates
  • Accompanying programme
  • Specialist counselling
General services and support for international students and doctoral candidates

The International Student Support team at FU Berlin regularly offers information events that include Q&A sessions. While personal office hours aren't available due to team size, students can contact Info-Service Study for general inquiries or the General Academic Advisory Service or Psychological Counselling for complex concerns.

Freie Universität Berlin

Content Bild
The Friedrich-Meinecke-Institut (History Seminar) of Freie Universität Berlin

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.

University location

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.

Activate map

To activate the map, click on the "Show map" button. We would like to point out that data will be transmitted to OpenStreetMap after activation. You can find out more in our privacy policy. You can revoke your consent to the transmission of data at any time.