Ancient Worlds — Interdisciplinary Ancient Studies / Antike Welten — Interdisziplinäre Altertumswissenschaften Freie Universität Berlin

Freie Universität Berlin is one of the leading centres for the study of the ancient world. The new interdisciplinary two-year Master's "Antike Welten — Interdisziplinäre Altertumswissenschaften / Ancient Worlds — Interdisciplinary Ancient Studies" is an attractive, future-oriented programme that takes advantage of the wide-ranging opportunities of the Berlin academic environment. Within the programme, it is possible to either specialise in one of the contributing disciplines or to follow a broad profile. Disciplines included in the Master's are Egyptology, Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Classical Archaeology, Prehistoric Archaeology, Near Eastern Archaeology, Archaeoinformatics, and the History of Science in the Ancient World.

An internship is a possibility within the elective area of the curriculum, but this is not obligatory.

To apply to the programme, you need to have a first university degree (usually a BA) in a discipline relevant to the study of the ancient world representing 180 ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System credit points) and containing at least 60 ECTS in courses in Egyptology, Ancient Near Eastern studies, Classical Archaeology, Prehistoric Archaeology, Near Eastern Archaeology, Archaeoinformatics or in the field of Digital Humanities or the History of Science, or in another discipline related to the study of the ancient world.

Applicants also need to be proficient in German (DHS 2/C1) and English (B2).

In total, the semester contribution amounts to 358.80 EUR. It includes a fee of 213.80 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 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 500 and 700 EUR in Berlin (for a room in a shared apartment).

There are many ways of earning money while you study, for example as wait 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 can also work on campus. The Freie Universität Berlin regularly offers positions for students in science, teaching support and administration that you can find on our careers portal.

The Deutschlandstipendium scholarship allows students at Freie Universität Berlin of all nations and all parts of society to fully concentrate on their studies. The programme supports talented students with 300 EUR per month. To apply, you already have to be enrolled within the standard time to degree during the funding period or have a letter of acceptance to start a degree programme at Freie Universität Berlin.

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.

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.