International Programmes 2024/2025

Master of Arts in Archaeology of the Ancient World (MAAW) Master of Arts in Archaeology of the Ancient World (MAAW)

Freie Universität Berlin • Berlin

Degree
Master of Arts in Archaeology of the Ancient World
Teaching language
  • English
Languages

English (100%)

Full-time / part-time
  • full-time
Programme duration
4 semesters
Beginning
Winter semester
Additional information on beginning, duration and mode of study

Semester starts: 1 October 2024

Lectures start: 14 October 2024

Application deadline

15 August 2024

The application period starts on 15 April 2024. Any application submitted before the deadline will be reviewed on equal terms.

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

Archaeology of the Ancient World is an advanced two-year interdisciplinary research Master's with a regional focus on Western Asia and Europe. The programme is based on research areas strongly represented at the Freie Universität Berlin, namely classical archaeology (Mediterranean antiquity), prehistoric archaeology (stone, bronze and iron age societies), and Near Eastern archaeology (south-western Asian antiquity).

The two-year programme offers a combination of interdisciplinary courses that focus on advanced theories and methods in archaeology, practical modules (internships), and a specialisation in one of the three involved disciplines, following a personal course profile. Master's students broaden their knowledge of a specific discipline and a particularly chosen research topic, acquiring excellent skills in methodological and theoretical aspects of archaeology. This choice of focus also extends to your career once you graduate. You can learn about current research from Europe to the Middle East and how to contribute your skills to the academic field or pursue an internship to learn how to apply these skills to the professional field.

International elements
  • Specialist literature in other languages
  • Projects with partners in Germany and abroad
  • International comparisons and thematic reference to the international context
  • Content-related regional focus
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.

Costs of living

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.

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

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.

Academic admission requirements

To apply to the programme, you need to have a first university degree (usually a BA) representing 180 ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System credit points) and containing at least 60 ECTS in courses relevant to an archaeological discipline.

Language requirements

If your degree was not awarded by an English-speaking institution or respective study programme, you need to provide proof of English language skills at level C1 CEFR by means of an internationally accredited certificate.

Application deadline

15 August 2024

The application period starts on 15 April 2024. Any application submitted before the deadline will be reviewed on equal terms.

Submit application to

Apply via the application portal of Freie Universität Berlin if you are applying with a first university degree obtained in Germany: https://identity.fu-berlin.de/registration/.

OR

Apply via the uni-assist portal if you are applying with a first university degree obtained in a country other than Germany: https://ww2.uni-assist.de/online/.

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
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 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

Content Bild
"Holzlaube" of Freie Universität Berlin © Bernd Wannenmacher

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.

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