Paths to Science: Young Talents and Careers in Berlin
Berlin's centers for science and research not only train highly qualified talents, but are also some of the city's largest employers.
More than 26,000 people in Berlin are employed in research and development and work at university and non-university research institutions and companies. Just under 200,000 students currently take advantage of Berlin's outstanding educational opportunities in the sciences (as of May, 2023).
Each year, more than 33,000 students graduate with degrees in more than a thousand programs. 20% of the students come from abroad.
Studying in Berlin – at universities, universities of applied sciences or private universities
Studying for a degree can be done full-time, part-time, while completing an apprenticeship or even though you're already fully employed. The opportunities for prospective students in Berlin are wide-ranging and each offers different advantages. The selection of universities in Berlin is also very extensive:
- Universities: one city, four universities: Berlin is home to three of the world's most renowned universities: the Freie Universität Berlin, the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and the Technische Universität Berlin, as well as Europe's largest art academy, the Berlin University of the Arts. In addition, there is the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, the city's medical school and teaching hospital.
Further information on Berlin universities
- Universities of applied sciences: More than a quarter of all students are enrolled at one of the seven universities of applied sciences in Berlin. They offer research focuses ranging from robotics at the Berliner Hochschule für Technik (BHT) to economics at the Berlin School of Economics and Law (HWR Berlin), whereby the links between science and business are always in the center of interest.
Further information on Berlin's universities of applied sciences
- Private universities: Berlin is now home to about 30 state-approved private universities, each with a specific research focus, such as applied pedagogy (at the Hochschule für angewandte Pädagogik – University of Applied Sciences Berlin), psychology (at the Psychologischen Hochschule Berlin (PHB)), or sustainable entrepreneurship (at the ESCP Europe Campus Berlin).
Further information on Berlin's private universities
- Other post-secondary schools: more than 5,000 budding artists are enrolled at the city's four art academies. They shape the Berlin art scene and have make the capital a true center for art and creativity in Europe. In addition, Berlin is home to two accredited universities of applied sciences under church sponsorship: the Evangelische Hochschule Berlin (EHB) and the Katholische Hochschule für Sozialwesen (KHSB).
Scientific theory combined with work experience: dual studies in Berlin
A dual study combines scientific theory with professional practice. Students learn both in the classroom and in a company, hence the dual aspect of this form of study. Interest in dual studies is growing: the number of programs offering it has tripled in the last ten years. The reason is that both students and companies benefit from it. For example, the Steinbeis University Berlin (SHB) offers a part-time course in marketing and management, while the HMKW University of Applied Sciences for Media, Communication, and Management is the first university in Germany to offer a dual study degree in media (e.g. the dual bachelor's degree in media and event management).
Further information on dual studies in Berlin:
- The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Berlin (CCI Berlin) on the subject of dual studies
- The largest provider of dual degree programs in Berlin: the Berlin School of Economics and Law (HWR Berlin)
- Guide to dual studies for companies, universities, and students
- Another tool for finding a matching dual study program: the Higher Education Compass
Career opportunities after graduation - Berlin opens many doors for academics
Science and research in Berlin offer a very broad spectrum of career opportunities. Interested parties can search different job offers in Berlin science and work in the following areas:
Science is vibrant and research never stands still. Once you graduate, you've only just started to learn. If you are looking for a career that requires a degree or want to develop your professional skills, you can take advantage of Berlin's extensive continuing education offerings.
Opportunities for further training in Berlin are, for example:
- postgraduate degrees
- advanced certificates
- auditing courses (for example at FU Berlin or HU Berlin)
- lecture series (for example at TU Berlin, HU Berlin, or FU Berlin)
If you decide to go for the doctorate, you can take advantage of various offers of support for the promotion of young talent in Berlin. For an overview of doctoral programs in the capital, check out the Einstein Foundations Website, while various umbrella organizations offer support to doctoral students at universities.
Umbrella organisations of Berlin universities:
- Dahlem Research School (Freie Universität Berlin)
- Humboldt Graduate School (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin)
- TU-DOC (Technische Universität Berlin)
The city's graduate schools, funded as part of the Excellence Initiative, also contribute to the training of young researchers. They are strengthening the internationalization of Berlin as a center for science and play a key role in providing Berlin's top research institutions with the next generation of talent. Graduate schools in Berlin include: