In total, the semester contribution amounts to 326.40 EUR. It includes a fee of 181.40 EUR for the transportation ticket contribution. This allows you to use local public transport in Berlin and nationwide for free. Other costs covered by the semester contribution include a 50 EUR enrolment fee, a 85 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 900 to 1,300 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.

To be eligible for admission to the Master’s programme, you need to fulfil the following requirements:

1. You must hold a first university degree (e.g. a Bachelor’s degree) comprising of at least 180 credit points (ECTS). As part of this degree you have to have earned at least 30 ECTS in courses in East Asian Studies and/or Chinese, Japanese or Korean studies (excluding language training). We check your eligibility based on your transcripts of records where course titles explicitly refer to one or more of these fields of studies. Alternatively, publicly available short descriptions of the courses or term papers written in the context of the respective courses can be submitted alongside the application.
2. You must provide proof of excellent English language skills (details below).
3. You must provide proof of proficiency in one of the following languages: Chinese, Japanese or Korean. For more details, please visit our website: www.fu-berlin.de/magea.

For an explanation of the admission process, please visit this website on applications for Master’s programme at Freie Universität Berlin or refer to the detailed admission regulations in English and German (the latter is the legally binding version).

Please also check the uni-assist website; there you can find a list with country-specific requirements for several countries.

1. You must provide proof of excellent English language skills (at least level C1 CEFR) if you have not obtained your first university degree in a programme where English is the language of instruction.
2. You must provide proof of proficiency (at least level B1 CEFR or equivalent) in one of the following languages: Chinese, Japanese or Korean.

Additionally, please see the following link:
https://www.geschkult.fu-berlin.de/en/e/ma-global-east-asia/application/index.html#English-language-proficiency.

Admission deadlines are published on the central programme website of the Student Services Centre as well as on the website of the programme: www.fu-berlin.de/magea.

Graduates of German universities can apply directly via the application portal of the Freie Universität Berlin. Applicants with foreign university degrees must apply via uni-assist. Documents sent directly to the institute cannot be considered.

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, notice boards on campus, and ads in local newspapers.

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 size of the city.

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.

• Specialist counselling

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.