Since fall 2003, the Institute for East European Studies at Freie Universität Berlin has been offering a 4-semester Master of Arts in East European Studies.

The interdisciplinary master program in East European Studies imparts skills related to Eastern Central, Southeastern, and Eastern Europe. The two-year program enables graduates to successfully work as scientifically sound and research-oriented Eastern European experts in science as well as in a variety of professional fields.

The program is based on a first university degree (B.A. or equivalent professional qualification) and is aimed at students from the fields of cultural and literary studies, history, politics, sociology and economics. You have the opportunity to deepen your previous field of study in an East European-related way and to supplement it with other disciplines. In addition, there is a practice-oriented interdisciplinary module and an internship.

Start of studies

Each winter semester

Duration of study

4 semesters

Tuition fees

Freie Universität Berlin does not charge tuition fees. The usual semester fees and fees of Freie Universität Berlin are payable and include the semester ticket for public transport.

Application deadline

The master program in East European Studies begins once a year for the first semester in the winter semester. The application deadline is 15 April to May 31.

Higher semesters apply from 01 July to 15 August for the winter semester and from 01 January to 15 February for the summer semester.

Admission requirements

In order to be able to study the consecutive master program in Eastern European Studies, applicants must meet the following admission requirements:

• German or equivalent foreign degree qualifying for a profession, with a minimum of 60 credit points in one of the following or related disciplines: political science, sociology, economics, history or cultural studies. If these credit points are distributed over several of the above-mentioned disciplines, a minimum of 40 credit points must be earned in one of the above-mentioned disciplines.
• Knowledge of English at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Please note that proof of six years of schooling in English or equivalent language tests for the B2 degree is a prerequisite for your application. Recognised equivalent qualifications are: IELTS 5.0; Cambridge Examinations: First Certificate (FCE); Advanced (CAE);Proficiency (CPE)
• Applicants whose native language is not German and who have obtained their degree at a foreign university must provide proof of their knowledge of German. This can be done by passing the Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (DSH) or by proving an equivalent level of knowledge.

The access statutes from the Official Journal 5/2018 apply.

Applicants who have not yet obtained their first degree can also be admitted (for a limited period). In this case, a current transcript of records must be submitted instead. In principle, at least two-thirds of the Bachelor's programme must be completed and the topic of the Bachelor's thesis must have been submitted.

Application

The application modalities for the master program depend on whether you have obtained your first vocational qualification (usually a Bachelor's degree) in Germany.

Resident students

If you have earned your first degree within Germany, please fill out the online application form in the application portal of Freie Universität. All application documents must be uploaded exclusively on the portal. Hardship applications will be sent by post to the Admissions Office of Freie Universität.

Postal address for hardship applications

Freie Universität Berlin

Application and Admission

Iltisstr. 1

D-14195 Berlin, Germany

Further information for applications with a German university degree can be found here.

Foreign Students

If you have not obtained your first degree in Germany, you must submit your application via the uni-assist applicant portal. Further information for applications with a foreign university degree can be found here.

Your application should include the following documents:

• The completed application form for admission to the master program in Eastern European Studies,
• Proof of previous university degrees
• Proof of English proficiency at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)
• If applicable, proof of German language proficiency for non-native applicants at level C 1

The application documents must be submitted in full to the office responsible for admission at Freie Universität Berlin by the deadline for applications.

Further information on the application and admission procedure can be found on the central pages of Freie Universität.