FAQ
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How can I plan the courses I am going to attend?
In the humanities, the course programme changes significantly every semester. Usually, only introductory lectures and language courses are fixed. So you can plan your semester only relatively shortly before your stay at HU.
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When will the course programme for the semester be available?
The course programme will be published on AGNES. Usually, the programme for winter semester is being published on september 1st, the programme for the summer semester on march 1st.
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Are there courses in English available?
The great majority of all courses is in German. Some institutes provide more English lectures, though (e.g. social sciences, english studies). At the Institute of Slavic Studies, we try to develop more courses in English. If you aim to study at the section for south-slavic languages, we will adjust the course language to your needs.
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The courses at Humboldt-University differ greatly from the ones at my university. What should I do?
The study programmes at your home university differ from the HU programmes. This may be due to the subject (if you study your national language you will have more specialized courses than we can offer at HU) or to general features (there is no common curriculum on psychology etc. for the humanities at HU). In practise this means that you will have to repeat that subject at you home university. However, ask your professors or other persons in charge for the acknowledgment of achievements, whether courses from our course catalogue may be exepted as substitute.
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Are there any restrictions as to which courses I can choose?
In order to receive a transcript of records, you have to complete a full module in your study programme. Modules are the basic organisational unit in our study programmes. Each module combines at least two courses, exercises or lectures and one exam (Modulabschlussprüfung, MAP). One module has usually 10 ECTS, with some variation between 5 and 20 ECTS. Depending on the length of your stay, you have to take two or three module. You can find the list of modules for each study programme on AGNES. There are also special modules for exchange students (e.g. for the Faculty of Linguistics and Literature) If you decided for modules you want to attend, you have to choose only those courses that are offered within one module. You cannot take modules only partially.
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Can I change my choice of courses later?
Yes. According to the rules of Erasmsu+, you can change the courses on your learning agreement within two weeks after the beginning of the lecture period.
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Will all my courses be recognized by my home university?
At the moment, many credits will not be recognized by your home university. This mainly this depends on your subject of study and on the good will of your professors at your home university. In general, the curricula are very different and the study programmes at your home university are very strict. So don't expect too much. Our experience shows, that you will have to do most of the subjects and all exams at your university in parallel or after your stay. However, you will gain a wealth of impressions and knowledge and will get to know a different educational system and a lot of nice people, which is definitely worth the effort. If you're not conviced, ask our alumnis at our facebook group!
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How can I find accomodation?
Unfortunately, accomodation is not provided by HU. We have student dorms. However, there is always a long waiting list. And students who stay less than 6 months are not accepted at all. If you stay at least 6 months, you can contact our International Office to chance your luck.
There are several ways to look for an accomodation. Neither one is easy, since competition is tough. One way is to look for a room in a shared flat. There are several websites where other students post their offers (www.wg-gesucht.de, www.studenten-wg.de, www.wgberlin.net, www.wg-suche.de, www.wohngemeinschaft.de). Usually, there is some kind of casting, where you have to present yourself personally and persuade the other members of the flat that you are the best roommate. This is of course difficult, if you are not in Berlin. However, sometimes a less competitive intermediate rent (Zwischenmiete) is offered, e.g. when the student tenant is on an exchange semester.
Another way is to look for your own flat. This is definitely the toughest way, since landlords are usually quite sceptical if you are a foreigner and they cannot meet you in person. Also, the short term of your stay is not very favourable.
Probably the easiest way is to use Airbnb or Wimdu to look for an apartment or a room. This is especially beneficial if you come with some fellow students. But be aware of fraud attempts! Usually, the alleged landlord tells you that he is not in Berlin and asks you to transfer money via MoneyGram or similar. Never transfer any money! Also, offers that are too good to be true are usually fraud.
It may also be useful to look outsite the posh places like Kreuzberg or Prenzlauer Berg. Berlin has an excellent local public transport, so it is not difficult to reach HU even when you live at the outskirts of Berlin. Check the time you need to travel on www.bvg.de. HU is situated at S-Bahnhof Friedrichstraße.