- Germany
- Berlin
About Program
A city once divided, Berlin lies at the heart of Germany – literally and figuratively. While it is the second most populous city in Europe (metropolitan area notwithstanding), it maintains a more tranquil feel than other large cities, as 1/3 of the city is composed of forests, gardens, and parks.
Berlin is not only the political capital of Germany, but arguably one of Europe’s capitals of art, culture, and politics. Designated a UNESCO “City of Design”, it possesses amazing architecture, cuisine, museums, and music and is a favored destination for young travelers and students. Berlin is also home to some of the top universities in Germany and all of Europe, including API’s partners at Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
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Popular Programs
The Freie Universität Berlin European Studies Program (FU-BEST) was specifically created by one of Germany’s top universities to offer North American and international students cultural and business courses focusing on Germany and its role in Europe.
Students in this summer program may elect to take only German language coursework, coursework in English, or a combination.
Students may choose from a number of challenging courses including art history, German and regional studies, cinema, and more. Instruction is in German and is generally geared toward intermediate and advanced level students, though there is an option course for high-beginning level students. Most courses spend one half to two-thirds of the time on language instruction and practice, while the remainder of time (generally afternoon lectures) will consist of cultural lectures, site visits, etc.
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Location
Berlin is not only the capital of Germany, but also in many ways the capital of Europe, sitting at the crossroads of the East and West. Germany serves as the continent's largest economy and the world's fourth largest overall. It's a major player in industry, engineering, science, and renewable energy, and Berlin has recently been dubbed the start-up capital of Europe, surpassing London after the 2016 Brexit decision.
Rebuilt after being destroyed in multiple wars and reunified after being split in two for thirty years, Berlin has an unparalleled experience in recreation and reinvention. The city is now famous for attracting young people, free-thinkers, visionaries, entrepreneurs, artists, and scholars, and of the 3.5 million inhabitants, over one-third are from outside Germany.
