Study Abroad in Berlin, Germany with AIFS Abroad

I chose AIFS Abroad for my 8-week summer internship in Berlin because of how responsive and organized they were from the very beginning. Any questions I had before departure got answered quickly, which made the whole process feel a lot less overwhelming. Once I got to Berlin, that same level of support continued. The staff were easy to reach and genuinely helpful whenever I needed anything, which made a huge difference living in a new country for the first time. I stayed in an apartment in a great location with my own room, which gave me the independence to explore the city on my own schedule while still feeling settled. AIFS built in a solid mix of activities and excursions like a trip out to Peacock Island was a highlight, and I also ended up playing badminton and joining a city tour, which were great ways to actually experience Berlin rather than just pass through it. Those activities were also where I met a lot of the people I got close with during the program. Having a built-in group made it easy to explore the city together instead of navigating it solo. Looking back, the experience pushed me to be more independent and comfortable navigating unfamiliar situations, which I don't think I would've gotten the same way from a shorter or less immersive program. I'd recommend AIFS Abroad to anyone looking for a summer program that balances real independence (your own space, your own time) with enough built-in structure and support that you're never actually on your own when it matters.

Studying in Berlin with AIFS at FUBest was one of the best decisions I made during my college career. The program made everything so easy, from booking my flight to providing opportunities for cultural immersion to travel opportunities. I made so many incredible memories and friends throughout the duration of the program. I loved it so much that I am planning on attending grad school in Berlin! I would recommend this program to literally anyone and everyone!

The housing was awful— our apartment came extremely dirty and there were constant issues with the plumbing. The shower didn’t drain and they refused to fix it or call a plumber. The activities were lacking; administrators and trip leaders were bad at overseeing and administering group excursions and were very insensitive when it came to Holocaust history in Berlin. The housing was so unpleasant — just so dirty and poorly maintained. I would not recommend this program.

I chose AIFS Abroad because of the wide variety of activities and experiences offered within the program. Studying abroad in Berlin through AIFS was a very smooth and accessible process. The online application portal was easy to navigate, and the enrollment team was consistently responsive and supportive. My enrollment manager was always available by phone or email and replied quickly to any questions I had. They also had personal experience living in Berlin and familiarity with the program’s housing, which made our conversations especially helpful and tailored to my situation. During my time in Berlin, our on-site program manager was exceptionally welcoming, engaging, and enthusiastic. They organized local activities and group outings that introduced us to Berlin’s culture, history, and everyday life. Even after the program concluded, they followed up with a kind message encouraging me to apply for a post-AIFS internship opportunity — something I truly appreciated. My housing experience was excellent. I stayed in an AIFS-owned apartment in the heart of Charlottenburg, a vibrant and central neighborhood in Berlin. From my balcony on the 7th floor, I had an incredible view, and the location was surrounded by shops, restaurants, and cafes. AIFS also organized several group excursions in and around Berlin, providing deeper insight into the city’s rich history and cultural diversity. The included public transportation pass for the entire semester made exploring the city convenient and affordable. One of the most rewarding aspects of the program was the friendships I made. I met many of my closest friends during the first few days of AIFS activities, and we spent much of our time exploring Berlin and traveling together. We still keep in touch, and I’ve even had the chance to visit some of them at their home universities. It was inspiring to see how each of us experienced Berlin differently, blending our interests and passions to create a truly unique and memorable time abroad. Living in Berlin also allowed me to grow personally and academically. I joined local pickup soccer games, engaged in the city’s art and museum scene, improved my German language skills, and gained a deeper appreciation for international culture. I would highly recommend AIFS to anyone interested in stepping outside their comfort zone, immersing themselves in a new environment, and discovering more about themselves while exploring the world.

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I was in the FU best program though the AIFS office. the AIFS office was well organized and laid out expectations of behaviors that were expected of you clearly and nevertheless they were incredibly friendly. The school itself has vastly improved my understanding of German and I now feel confident writing and speaking. the second is that I was able to make memory's that I hope will not be taken form me for some time.

I really enjoyed my time with The FU best program through the AIFS office. the office provided many activities to do if you didn't have your own plans and the education at the FU best will without a doubt improve your German language skills. I hope not to soon forget this expiries as I hold many people there near and dear to my heart

Studying abroad in Berlin is one of the best decisions I have made. I fell in love with the city of Berlin, seeing how it changes from winter to spring, the opportunities it offers, it's combination of liveliness and peacefulness, and the amount of distinct areas you can discover and appreciate.

I really enjoyed my semester abroad in Berlin with AIFS! My German language skills improved greatly, and I was able to make amazing friends and community connections through volunteering. I would love to come back to Germany after this experience; it was incredibly hard to leave.

The AIF Berlin European Studies program was an incredible experience that gave me a deeper understanding of European life and history while living in one of the most exciting cities in the world. Nele made everything run smoothly and created a welcoming environment where it was easy to thrive and feel supported. I’m really grateful for how much I got out of the program, and I’d absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a meaningful and memorable semester abroad.

Previously I lived in Stuttgart for 3 years, so I chose the Berlin program because I really wanted to back to Germany. This program was SO much fun, got to meet so many amazing people from all across the US and the world. Activities were always worth going to, even got to go to a hockey game for the first time!

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I really enjoyed the academic rigor associated with this program. I was able to take an intensive German language course as well as a German literature course which really pushed me out of my comfort zone! Berlin is such a unique city to live and study in, and the AIFS team did a great job making sure we were making the most of our time. Nele, Julia, and Angelica always made sure to provide food, activity, and museum recommendations. The partnership with Humboldt is also a great program for students looking to improve their German skills, the professors were amazing! I would recommend this program to anyone looking for a more independent study, I enjoyed the freedom of being able to travel alone and make my own plans or attend the group events if I wanted.

Studying abroad in Berlin was one of the best experiences of my life! Through my time there I switched my major to focus on international business in the hopes of coming back. Since, I have been working at my home schools study abroad and away office to help send more students away!

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I knew that I wanted to study abroad in Germany from my first German class in HS, however I was unsure if it would actually happen. After looking for several program and attending my schools abroad fair, i decided on the AIFS program in Berlin. It was hands down one of the best decesions of my life. I was able to immerse myself in the culture, learn basics of the langauge, and make friends that are gonna last a lifetime. AIFS had apartments that were super close to the city center in Charlottenburg, and super close to both the bus and the U-Bahn (subway). With this program we also traveled to several cities in Germany with AIFS and I chosse the option to travle to Prauge and Nuremberg with the FU-Best program, which is one of the programs that your courses are done through. The FU-Best course were good, especially the German courses. German courses were everyday Mon-Thurs. There are also elective course in which i took a german cinema class that covered films before 1945 and a Berlin Architecture class that covered from the 1920's to Modern day. The courses had some heavy workloads at time due to many of the grades being research papers. Overall the program was one of the best decesions of my life.

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I did the AIFS summer program in Berlin, Germany. I absolutely recommend it! Having an apartment all ready to go in a beautiful, quiet part of the city was absolutely wonderful. I felt very safe and there was a great support system. The most unexpected thing happened while I was there - I had to go to the doctor and get a small procedure done. I was helped every step of the way, the doctor was amazing, and the program insurance paid for it all. Besides that, every cultural activity was great and I learned so much. Don't miss out on the tour of the Olympic Stadium! That was a highlight for me. Having a cohort of students who were also getting used to the new city was comforting as well. I felt like I was always part of a bigger group. I highly recommend this program!

I had the best experience and would do it over again 1,000 times. I loved being able to meet new people and experience so many different cultures. I had the best opportunities and loved getting to hang out with the new friends I made. I would recommend this program to anyone!

I cannot write the full extent of how impactful my study abroad was in memories and experiences that shaped me into the person I am today. I was immersed into an unforgettable city, with a rich and diverse culture, amazing staff, and education unlike anything I’ve received at an American institution. This would not have been possible without Nele, who could never have executed the experience better. Her pure love of Berlin and her career was intoxicating to be around. Her optimism, friendly demeanor, and understanding attitude made arriving and settling into Berlin possible. I knew that if I did not get close to anyone else on my travels, Nele would be there for me in a heartbeat. I could not get enough of the city. Coming from a suburban town in Texas, I had no concept of public transportation and was aghast at how accessible Berlin was without a car. If I wanted to visit something, I could easily! The food is also amazing and can cater to any cuisine. I loved walking around historic Berlin in my free time, taking in the architecture and rich history of the city. As a history major, I cannot imagine a better place to visit. I still reminisce on my classes at Humboldt. My European Constitutional Law professor, Jakob, was a notable part of this experience. His class, along with the classmates from all over the world (from 5 continents), was something that fired up a part of me that had burned out while in college back home. I loved the content, along with the encouraging environment that simply wanted you to exceed. The people who studied abroad with me are some of my closest friends to this day. While it seems nerve wracking to not know anyone, every one else studying abroad with you is in the same boat. This made it easy to get to know each other and grow close quickly. I still keep in contact with multiple people from the program who made the experience so unique.

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Going abroad was a super valuable experience for me. I learned a lot about Germany and now I understand its perspective much better than I did before. It taught me that jumping in head first into something with little idea of what the future may bring me isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The best way to learn more about yourself is to just go for it instead of hesitantly preparing for it. Not that planning is not important, it absolutely is, but sometimes it is just better to throw yourself into the unknown without fear of failure. Ultimately you will fail and you will make mistakes. The important thing is getting back up again learning from those mistakes. You will try a lot of new things abroad and you will make plenty of mistakes. Through it all, you will learn that you are still you, or maybe an even better version of yourself, all because you tried something that seemed crazy before.

My Semester abroad in Berlin was certainly a life experience that will be always be fondly remembered. The program was extremely well organized and Nele was a joy be around. Berlin itself had everything that one could desire and was very friendly to younger people.

I decided to go alone for the January term study abroad in Berlin, Germany. I met so many amazing people that I hung out with the whole time. The whole experience was perfect. Our group leader was personable, knowledgeable, and helpful. She walked us through how to use the train system, how to get a SIM card, and any other questions we had. The class instructor was also very nice. Our group instructor gave us great recommendations on things to do. It was the best month of my life and I miss it so much. I would recommend this to everyone. I learned a lot about myself during this trip and gained some new friends and lifelong memories. We were immersed in the culture of Berlin and took an extra add-on trip to Warsaw, Poland.. which was absolutely breathtaking as well. I would go back and do it all over again a hundred times. Thank you AIFS!!

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Overall, the program was amazing! I felt like there was a balance between having my own time and getting involved with AIFS programming. Nele was amazing, per usual. I had the opportunity to travel around Europe, but I also looked forward to the group dinners and day trips that Nele planned. On the Aifs side, everything was great. Something that could be worked on is communicating with students who qualify for the intensive German courses that they will be doing 12 hours a week of course load in addition to the subject course. That was nowhere on the syllabus and I had to scramble to ask for re-approval for credits from my US university because what fu-best said did not match the in-time classroom.

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