International Programmes 2024/2025

Europe, Migration, Refugees Europe, Migration, Refugees

Freie Universität Berlin • Berlin

Course location
Berlin
Teaching language
  • English
Language level of course
  • English: B2
Date(s)
  • 7 June - 19 July 2025 (Registration deadline of course provider: 10 May 2025)
Information on dates, prices and mode of study

A non-refundable programme fee, in addition to the tuition fee, is applicable. The programme fee, which includes the social programme, is to be paid within one week after registration at the latest, along with the tuition fee.

Target group

This course is designed for all students who have a personal, professional or political interest in a deeper and thus more differentiated understanding of transnational migration.

Description/content

Please visit our website (www.fubis.org) for an overview of all courses offered and for possible updates to the course programme.

About this course

In the last decade, the EU experienced unprecedented migration movements. EU’s response has been shaped by distinguishing between "deserving refugees" and "undeserving economic migrants" and has oscillated between humanitarian and securitarian approaches. Whereas the recent developments on the EU borders, such as pushbacks and the containment of migrants in the hotspots, signalise the abandonment of the humanitarian approach, the quick and less bureaucratic protection of Ukrainian refugees demonstrates more of a selective humanitarian approach.

This form of differential inclusion shaping the migration and asylum policies is the governmental product of an ongoing process of conflict, negotiation, subordination, resistance, and solidarity on the "external" and "internal" borders of what is referred to as Europe or as Europe as a borderland (Balibar 2009). There are different actors with unequal power relations involved in this process. Departing from critical migration theories, we will focus on the subjectivity of migrants and refugees on different levels by breaking their usual representation as victims/villains from a state-centred or market-centred perspective. 

Starting from a critical overview of EU-level migration and border management policies, we will challenge the metaphor of Fortress Europe. Scaling down, we will learn about the recent changes in the migration/integration policies in Germany and how these are implemented by the local authorities in Berlin and challenged by civil society actors. Finally, we will examine the transformation of migrant labour and learn about the history of migrant struggles by focusing on the recent refugee movement, which has been described as the movement of the 21st century (Davis 2015). Through a diverse combination of assigned articles, class discussions, and field trips, we will encounter viewpoints on the conflicts, compromises, resistances, solidarity, and social transformation concerning the recent migration movements to Europe.

Recognised language exams offered (e.g. DSH, TestDaF, TOEFL)
No
Other degrees / qualifications awarded
Certificate of participation
ECTS points (max.)
8
Average number of hours per week
12
Average number of participants per group/course
18
Dates and costs
  • 7 June - 19 July 2025 (Registration deadline of course provider: 10 May 2025), costs: EUR 1,850
This price includes
  • Course fees
Information on dates, prices and mode of study

A non-refundable programme fee, in addition to the tuition fee, is applicable. The programme fee, which includes the social programme, is to be paid within one week after registration at the latest, along with the tuition fee.

Teaching language
  • English
Language level of course
  • English: B2
Language requirements

Students must be able to speak, read, and write English at an advanced intermediate level.

Submit application to

http://www.fubis.org/5_geb/anmeldung/index.html

Is accommodation organised?
Accommodation is arranged by the organiser.
Type of accommodation

FUBiS arranges appropriate off-campus accommodation for the duration of the programme as an optional service on request. Accommodation options can be chosen during the registration process. Accommodation is subject to availability.
Prices range between 750 EUR and 1,150 EUR.

Is a social and leisure programme offered?
Yes
Description of social and leisure programme

FUBiS offers a variety of extracurricular activities which are included in the programme fee:

  • guided tour of the Reichstag building and the Federal Parliament
  • river boat tour through the centre of Berlin

In addition, FUBiS offers optional excursions (for an extra charge) within Berlin as well as to other popular German cities.

Free internet access
Yes
Support in visa matters
No
Pick-up service from train station/airport
No

Freie Universität Berlin

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