Free University of Berlin

With 12 departments (FB) and three interdisciplinary central institutes, the university can be seen as an universitas litterarum (a traditional university where studies in all basic sciences is possible).^[20]

• Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy
  • The department is split into three different institutes: The Institute of Biology, which specializes primarily in molecular botany,
    neurobiology, ecological processes and biodiversity, the Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, where research is focused on structural formation, function and chemical reactivity, stereoselective/macromolecular synthesis and molecular, medical and structural biochemistry
    and the Institute of Pharmacy, the largest pharmaceutical training facility in Germany.

• Department of Earth Sciences
  • The department is divided into the Institute of Geographical Sciences, the Institute of Geological Sciences and the Institute of Meteorology. Research focuses mainly on the interactive physical, chemical, and biological processes taking place within the Earth, on the Earth's surface, and the Earth's atmosphere, as well as on the interactions between humans and the environment.
  • Since 1954, the Institute of Meteorology is the institution that names the low and high pressure systems in central Europe, comparably to the National Weather Service in the US.
• Department of History and
  Cultural Studies
  , which consists of eight subunits, the Friedrich Meinecke Institute of History, the Art History Department, the Department of Ancient Studies, the Department of East Asia and the Middle East, the Institute of Jewish Studies, the Seminar for Catholic Theology, the Institute of Comparative Ethics and the Institute for the Scientific Study of Religion
• Department of Law
  • The Department of Law is organized into three academic units:
    Europeanization and international interlinking of law, with emphases in the European and international law and comparative law, but also in the international economic and regulatory law
    , the law in social practice and age and demographic change within the field of law.
• School of Business and Economics, which contains two academic units
  • Business Administration, which is divided into the departments of Finance, Accounting and Taxation,
    Information Systems
    , Management and Marketing
  • Economics consisting of the departments of
    Public Economics and Statistics/Econometrics
• Department of Mathematics and
  Computer Science
  • The department consists of the Institute of Mathematics and the Institute of Computer Science. The department is the only one in the
    scientific computing, telematics and information processing in neural and computer networks
    .
  • The "FU-Fighters", a team of scientists and students of the Institute of Computer Science developing autonomous football-playing robots, were very successful in the international RoboCup competition, placing second in 1999, 2000 and 2003. They won in the "smallsize" league in 2004 and 2005. Since 2006, the "FUmanoids" team are competing in the category "humanoid kidsize" and placed second in the 2009 and 2010 RoboCup, winning the "Technical Challenge" in 2010.
• Department of Education and Psychology
  • The Department of Education consists of 19 subdivisions and lies its emphasis in research on the anthropology of education, empirical research on education, schooling, and classroom instruction, school development research and intercultural education studies.
  • The Department of Psychology is split into 16 subunits with a wide spectrum of research.
• Department of Philosophy and Humanities
  • The department contains the Institute of Philosophy, the Institute of Greek and Latin Languages and Literatures, the Peter Szondi Institute of Comparative Literature, the Institute of German and Dutch Languages and Literatures, the Institute of Romance Languages and Literatures, the Institute of English Language and Literature, the Institute of Theater Studies and the Institute of Arts and Media Management.
• Department of Physics
  • Traditionally rooted in fundamental research, the Department of Physics is divided into the institutes of
    surface physics, biophysics
    and physics education.
• Department of
  Social Science
  • The
    Otto-Suhr-Institute for Political Science
    is the biggest and most reputable political science institution in Germany.
  • Divided into nine units, research at the Institute of Media and Communication Studies focuses on media change, uncertainty, crisis, and risk communication and political communication and transformation of the public sphere.
  • Institute of Sociology and the Institute for Social and Cultural Anthropology
• Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
  • The joint department with the
    university hospitals
    .
• Department of Veterinary Medicine
  • The department is one of five sites in Germany offering veterinary education and training and contains 20 academic units. The veterinary research performed within the department traditionally lies in emphasis especially on food safety and product quality in foods from animal sources.

Despite the variety of subjects, apart from computer science, studies in the field of engineering can only be done at the

Interdisciplinary Central Institutes

• John F. Kennedy Institute for North American Studies
• Institute for East European Studies
• Institute for Latin American Studies

Academics

Admissions

With 33,000 applicants for the undergraduate programs (Bachelor) in 2013, admissions at Free University of Berlin remain highly competitive as the university only offers about 4,300 places each year.^[21] Due to the high numbers of applicants, most undergraduate programs at Free University of Berlin have limitations determined through the NC. The general deadline for students directly from high school applying to limited programs in the coming winter semester is 15 July every year at all universities in Germany.

In some cases (especially Medicine, Psychology and Political Science), the NC every year is as high as 1.0 (see Grades in Germany and Abitur). Critical applicants which just scored slightly below the NC can be invited to a selective interview or an entry exam, depending on the department/faculty. Applicants at Charité medical school who do not directly fulfill the NC-criteria have to pass an entry exam, which covers the basic fields of Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics in addition to passing a selective interview. Both results are then added to the Abitur grade. The final decision depends on the results of the competitors.

Teaching and learning

Free University of Berlin operates on a semester calendar where the winter term begins on 1 October and ends on 31 March. The exact same model can be found at almost every university in Germany. The time where lectures are being held varies each year, normally beginning around mid-October and ending as early as mid-February. Free University of Berlin offers a broad spectrum of subjects in over 190 degree programs. A speciality of the FU is the possibility to study a vast number of "small subjects" (e.g.

Apart from the regular

Free University of Berlin does not charge any tuition fees in the classical sense. Since 2003, public universities in Berlin introduced the model of semester contributions (Semesterbeiträge). It consists of an enrollment/re-registration fee, a contribution to the student union (Studentenwerk), a contribution for the student government and the fee for the semester ticket (public transportation pass) for the current semester. The fees for the semester ticket is defined by a contract with the local transportation company, the Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg and allows students to move freely in the ABC zones of Berlin. In the winter semester of 2013/14, students are required to pay €285.83 in total.^[22] Since 2011, Free University of Berlin participates in the national "Germany Scholarship" program organized by the federal government, universities and numerous private companies. Highly talented and committed students can get €300 monthly.

Research

In terms of external endowments by the

In the field of natural sciences, research focuses on basic research with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinarity, whereas research in the humanities focuses on the current economical, political and cultural development of society (transformation processes, effects of globalization and environmental politics). In the field of Earth sciences, the FU has contributed to various aeronautical missions, e.g. the

• "
  Ancient World
  "
• "Art and Aesthetics"
• "Ecosystem Dynamics in Central Asia"
• "Efficient Mathematical modeling"
• "European Languages: Structures – Development – Comparison" (ZEUS)
• "Historical Anthropology"
• "Middle Ages – Renaissance – Early Modern Times"
• "Research on Teaching and Learning"
• "Social and Cultural History of the Middle East"
• "Berlin Center for European Studies (BEST)"
• "Berlin Center for Caspian Region Studies"
• "The Center for Modern Greece (Centrum Modernes Griechenland/CeMoG)"^[24]

Graduate schools

• Berlin Mathematical School
• Graduate School of North American Studies
• Friedrich Schlegel Graduate School of Literary Studies
• Muslim Cultures and Societies
• Berlin-Brandenburg School for Regenerative Therapies
• Berlin School of Integrative Oncology
• Graduate School of East Asian Studies

Clusters of Excellence

• Languages of Emotion
• Topoi – The Formation and Transformation of Space and Knowledge in Ancient Civilizations
• NeuroCure – Towards a Better Outcome of Neurological Disorders
• Unifying Concepts in Catalysis (together with the TU Berlin, HU Berlin and the University of Potsdam)

As part of the MATHEON – Mathematics for Key Technologies research center

In the 2023 QS Subject Ranking, Free University of Berlin ranks first in Germany in English, modern languages, politics, and sociology.[30] In the 2023 THE Subject Ranking, Free University of Berlin ranks first in Germany in the social sciences.^[31] In the 2022 ARWU Subject Ranking, Free University of Berlin ranks first in Germany in human biological sciences and pharmacy, while sharing the first place in biomedical engineering, law, and nursing.^[32]

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023[30] Subject Global National Arts & Humanities  27  2 Linguistics  101–150  4–10 Theology, Divinity and Religious Studies  51–100  7–10 Archaeology  17  3 Classics and Ancient History  20  4 English Language and Literature  43  1 History  28  2 Modern Languages  28  1 Philosophy  38  4 Engineering and Technology  310  13 Computer Science and Information Systems  201–250  9–12 Life Sciences & Medicine  201  12 Anatomy and Physiology  51–100  2–6 Biological Sciences  80  5 Pharmacy and Pharmacology  77  5 Psychology  94  3 Veterinary Science  46  2 Natural Sciences  104  8–9 Chemistry  90  7 Earth and Marine Sciences  101–150  7–13 Geography  30  2 Geology  101–150  7–13 Geophysics  101–150  7–13 Mathematics  113  5–6 Physics and Astronomy  140  12 Social Sciences & Management  106  3 Accounting and Finance  201–250  6–7 Anthropology  32  2 Business and Management Studies  201–250  5–8 Communication and Media Studies  39  2 Economics and Econometrics  151–200  5–8 Education and Training  101–150  2–5 Law and Legal Studies  69  4 Politics  20  1 Social Policy and Administration  51–100  1–2 Sociology  30  1 THE World University Rankings by Subject 2024[31] Subject Global National Arts & humanities  32  4 Business & economics  126–150  5–6 Computer science  176–200  15–16 Education  99  5 Law  =77  6 Life sciences  82  7 Physical sciences  101–125  10–11 Psychology  =74  5 Social sciences  36  1

ARWU Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2023[32] Subject Global National Natural Sciences Physics  301–400  24–28 Chemistry  101–150  5–9 Earth Sciences  101–150  5–10 Ecology  101–150  9–12 Atmospheric Science  201–300  13–22 Engineering Biomedical Engineering  101–150  2–5 Computer Science & Engineering  401–500  11–16 Materials Science & Engineering  201–300  8–13 Nanoscience & Nanotechnology  151–200  6–7 Environmental Science & Engineering  201–300  7–12 Biotechnology  101–150  2–7 Life Sciences Biological Sciences  48  3 Human Biological Sciences  35  1 Agricultural Sciences  201–300  9–15 Veterinary Sciences  34  2 Medical Sciences Clinical Medicine  48  3 Public Health  41  1 Dentistry & Oral Sciences  36  1 Nursing  101–150  1–2 Medical Technology  45  6 Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences  27  1 Social Sciences Economics  301–400  14–22 Statistics  151–200  7–11 Law  151–200  1–2 Political Sciences  51–75  3–4 Sociology  151–200  9–11 Education  301–400  6–18 Communication  51–75  4–6 Psychology  76–100  5–6 Business Administration  301–400  9–12 Management  401–500  14–21 Public Administration  101–150  4–6

In 2020, the American U.S. News & World Report listed Free University of Berlin as the 111th best in the world, climbing five positions. Being among the 100 best in the world in 18 areas of 28 ranked.^[33]

In the German "ExcellenceRanking" of the CHE (Center for Higher Education Development) in 2013, Free University of Berlin ranks top in the fields of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Political science.^[34] In the CHE "SubjectRanking", Freie Universität has been evaluated as one of Germany's best universities in Earth sciences, Computer science and Philosophy and also ranks among the Top 5 in Psychology, English studies and Education.^[35]

Global partnerships

Free University of Berlin maintains wide-ranging international contacts with top universities and organizations which provide key impulses for research and teaching. In the 1950s, the Free University of Berlin had already established partnerships with leading universities in the United States such as the University of California System (including the

École Normale Supérieure

in Paris.

The university is a founding member of the global educational center for the study of transnational law, the

Centre for Transnational Legal Studies

in London. First contacts with universities in Eastern Europe were made in the 1970s. In the 1990s, links were in particular extended to include growing numbers of institutions in Canada (McGill University, University of Alberta, York University), Eastern Europe, and the Far East (China: Peking University, Fudan University, Nanjing University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University; Japan: University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Nagoya University, Waseda University; South Korea: Korea University, Yonsei University, Seoul National University). The newly established Centre for International Cooperation (CIC) concentrates on identifying new strategic partners for international projects.

Today, Free University of Berlin has established over 400 partnerships in five continents, many of them as part of the European

ERASMUS

program. Every year, about 600 visiting scientists contribute to the university teaching and research. For the grant programs in Germany, the Free University of Berlin is one of the first choices both for the

ERASMUS and Tempus as well as for the Fulbright program and the international programs of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).^[37]

An International Summer and Winter University (FUBiS) has been set up for international students offering (semi-)intensive German courses and numerous subject courses.[38]

International branch offices

The Free University of Berlin operates foreign branch offices in New York City, Brussels, Moscow, Beijing, Cairo, São Paulo, and New Delhi. The foreign branch offices work to expand upon cooperation partnerships already existing with universities in the country.

In April 2005, the Free University of Berlin, in conjunction with

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU Munich), opened a joint representative office in New York. This German University Alliance,^[39]

located in German House, the seat of the German Consulate General and the German UN Mission, represents the interests of the two universities in the United States and Canada and works to increase the exchange of students and scientists.

In addition, the Free University of Berlin, as the first German institution of higher education, founded an alumni and fundraising organization, the Friends of the Freie Universität Berlin (FFUB) in New York. Since 2003 this organization has maintained close contact with alumni and scientists of the Free University of Berlin in the U.S. and attempts to gain alumni and friends as sponsors, to strengthen the long-lasting trans-Atlantic relations. Some of the proceeds from these fundraising activities were contributed to the renovation of the Henry Ford Building.

In April 2006

University of California System

organizes programs for American students in Berlin and Potsdam. The UC System maintains an office at the Free University of Berlin to attend to the needs of exchange students from the California campuses.

The Office of Global Programs of Columbia University in New York administers the Berlin Consortium for German Studies. Students from Columbia University and the other colleges and universities included in the consortium (University of Chicago, Cornell University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, and Vassar College) can attend classes at the Free University of Berlin for one or two semesters as external students. This temporary enrollment is preceded by a six-week intensive language program.

Notable people

Main article: List of Free University of Berlin people

Alumni of the Free University of Berlin include several scientists, philosophers and politicians, amongst them five Nobel Prize winners and 15

Leibniz laureates

.

• 
  Herta Müller, novelist and Nobel Prize in Literature laureate
• 
  Roman Herzog, former President of Germany
• 
  Federal Constitutional Court of Germany
• 
  Minister of the Interior

  of Germany
• 
  Mayor of Berlin
• 
  political scientist

  , politician
• 
  Klaus Wowereit, politician, former Mayor of Berlin
• 
  German student movement
• 
  Renate Künast, politician, former Minister of Food and Agriculture, former Chairperson of Alliance 90/The Greens party
• 
  Kevin Kühnert, politician, General Secretary of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)
• 
  Franziska Giffey, politician, former Mayor of Berlin

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Freie Universität Berlin.

• Universities and research institutions in Berlin
• Humboldt University of Berlin
• Technical University of Berlin
• University of Potsdam
• List of split up universities

Notes

1. ^ The university uses its German name without translation on its English-language website.

References

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29. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.126.3066
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External links

• Official website