First Year Abroad in Berlin
Unique Experiences
Cultural Immersion
Explore the capital of Germany, filled with vibrant neighborhoods, world-class museums, and a rich tapestry of music, food, and traditions!
College Credits
Stay on track with your 4-year graduation requirements and earn up to 13 credits per semester
Lifelong Skills and Friendships
Jump right into independence, far away from home, and bond with other U.S. and international students
The Destination
The thriving global city of Berlin is home to more than 3.7 million people. Live among the locals and see for yourself why Berlin is ranked among the top for global urban quality-of-life. Excellent public transportation means you’ll have no problem exploring the city’s parks, concert halls, museums, festivals, and historical landmarks.
Located in the heart of the Kreuzberg district, CIEE Berlin offers students easy access to a large public market hall, dozens of restaurants and cafés, and Tempelhof Field – the largest urban green space in the world! Local staff will help you learn to navigate Berlin’s extensive public transportation system, so that you can explore the diversity of Berlin’s various neighborhoods. See firsthand how Berlin’s rich and varied past shapes its present and propels it into an innovative and sustainable future.
CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with marginalized identities might encounter in Berlin.
Students may study in Berlin for a maximum of 12 weeks.
Excursions & Activities
Ample activities and day-trips will be offered to immerse you in Germany’s culture and historical heritage. Each block typically includes two day-trips or one overnight trip.
- Learn about the Peaceful Revolution and the grassroots movement that contributed to the fall of the Berlin Wall in Leipzig
- Explore the prominence in both contemporary media and shipping industries in Hamburg
- Dive into German history to explore the city’s role as a medieval metropolis and site of the Nazi Party’s Rally Grounds in Nuremberg
- See the splendor of Potsdam’s palaces
- Visit the Berlin Wall Memorial, Olympic Stadium, and Teufelsberg – a former Cold War spy station now used as one of Europe’s largest street art galleries
Please note this list of activities is based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to both adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when revising itineraries is always to enhance your experience. Every activity is designed to provide you with a deep immersion in your topic, local culture and sights.
Housing & Meals
Housing
CIEE Berlin offers diverse housing options to ensure you're comfortable in your home away from home. All housing is within a 30-minute commute to CIEE Berlin.
Homestays: Live with a German host family, with or without another CIEE student, and immerse yourself in the city’s language and culture. Each student has an individual room.
Residence Hall: Most students live in an on-campus residence hall with a mix of CIEE students, local university students, and resident assistants. Students live in double, triple, or quad rooms with ensuite bathrooms and shower facilities. Lounges and kitchens allow students to meet over meals, cultural activities, study groups, and special events. They are shared spaces, with students enjoying the benefits but also the responsibility of taking care of them. Larger common areas are on the ground floor and inner courtyards offer comfortable spaces to work and relax.
Housing is on a first-come, first-served basis. If we cannot accommodate your first housing choice, we’ll let you know before you arrive.
Meals
Host families: Students living with host families have breakfast and dinner at their homes. Students are responsible for lunch, either preparing them at home or eating in one of many restaurants and cafés throughout the city.
Residence Hall: No meals provided. Students prepare their own meals in the residence hall’s shared kitchen facilities or eat in one of many restaurants and cafés throughout the city.
Academics
First Year Abroad offers foundational college courses taught by CIEE local instructors to start your four-year college degree. We combine rigorous intro-level academic courses with unforgettable experiences outside the classroom to create a curriculum fostering academic, intercultural, and professional skills that help you succeed in college and the world beyond.
Our curriculum includes general education courses from major disciplines that offer you college credits to stay on track. Choose lecture and lab courses from the Arts and Humanities, World Language, Natural and Physical Sciences, Mathematics, Social Sciences, as well as courses specifically designed to help you develop organizational, writing and study skills to thrive in college.
Course Information
In the Fall semester, the courses below will be listed as available in Blocks II & III, rather than Blocks I & II. This is because the First Year Abroad program runs during the final two blocks of the Fall semester which is otherwise split into three blocks on CIEE’s Academic Calendar.
For information about how these courses will be transferred back to Dean College, please refer to the course equivalency chart.
Business, Economics, Management, and Marketing
History, Philosophy, Religion
Languages and Cultural Studies
Literature, Linguistics, and Writing
Social Sciences
Natural Resources, Conservation, and the Environment
Fall Block II 2024
Psychology
FYA Block I
- Environmental Science (Lab Course)
- German Language - Beginning I
- Introduction to Composition I
- Principles of Microeconomics
FYA Block II
- Contemporary Social Issues
- General Psychology
- World History II
Download the course syllabi
Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.
Scholarships & Grants
CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.
Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:
- Host Family Community Scholarship
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application.
Dates & Fees
You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.
Interested in an academic year program? CIEE offers exciting customizable First Year Abroad (FYA) programs in select locations. Talk to your Enrollment Coordinator if you're interested in any of these combinations, and please note that visa and departure requirements may vary depending on your chosen program combination.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Fees & Housing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Spring 2026 12 weeks | Start Date * | End Date * | ||
| Program Spring 2025 12 weeks | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date * | End Date * | |
| Program Fall 2025 12 weeks | Start Date * | End Date * | ||
| Program Fall Block II 2024 6 weeks | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date | End Date | |
| Program Fall 2024 12 weeks | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date | End Date | |
| Program Fall Block III 2024 6 weeks | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date | End Date |
*Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.
To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, you will pay your CIEE program fee (fee varies by location) and Dean College tuition and fees ($2,900 total for all locations) directly to Dean College.
Federal financial aid and state aid (Massachusetts residents only) is available through Dean College. Students applying for need-based financial aid from Dean College must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) using the FAFSA School Code for Dean College: 002144.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
What's Included
Tuition
Housing
Pre-departure Advising
Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions
Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet
Orientation
Introduction to your program plus practical information about living in your host city
On-site Staff
Full-time program leadership and support in your city
Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities
Excursions and/or Study Tours
Travel Protection
CIEE iNext travel protection
24/7 emergency on-site support
Get Started
1
Start a CIEE FYA Application
You’re one step closer to an amazing study abroad experience! You need to apply and be accepted by both CIEE and Dean College to join FYA. Don’t worry! We’ll help you through the process!
2
Complete the Dean College FYA Application
You will receive an email with a unique link to your personalized Dean College application after completing your CIEE FYA application.
3
Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to the FYA program.