The course will introduce students to the theory, development, and realities of global cities as centers of knowledge production. Based upon a closer look at the formation of the European and American city as knowledge centers in historical perspective, particularly in terms of traveling educational philosophies and practices of education, the 19^th century German university will be explored as a role model for American educational institutions. In a second step the course will discuss the shifting aims and institutional paradigms of education in Europe and the United States since the 20^th century. Here the emergence of the knowledge relationship between Berlin and New York will serve as a comparative case study in explaining the forms, functions and resources of knowledge production in the contemporary global city.

This discussion will be accompanied by field study projects investigating educational institutions in Berlin in terms of their impact on the politics, economy and culture of the city.

In a final step, the course will address future directions of the knowledge metropolis by exploring competing concepts of education in Europe and the United States in the 21^st century and their functions in a transnational and international perspective, as for instance with regard to the emergence of “Education Cities” in non-Western countries (such as in Arab countries).

Undergraduate and graduate students with an academic background of the topic and strong interest in transatlantic issues, educational systems, contemporary history, social sciences, and European studies.

This course is taught in English, including readings in English. For the understanding of the texts and the discussions in class a language level B2 (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is required.

The minimum age requirement is 18 years.

Furthermore a letter of motivation (one page, in English) and a valid student ID is required.

In two World Wars Germany tried to dominate the globe in the first half of the 20th century and all major decisions had been made in the capital Berlin:

Why was Germany such an aggressive power until 1945? How did Hitler manage to gain and keep power? Why were many Germans Nazis and deeply racist? How was the life of ordinary people during the war? Why did the Nazis kill millions of Jews and other innocent people in concentration camps? What were the long term effects of World War II? What happened to the Nazis after the war?

The course will provide answers to such questions via readings of texts from political science, sociology and history, while also taking the opportunity to explore the grounds on which the events between 1933 and 1945 took place.

The aim of the course is to introduce participants to the history of Nazi Germany. After a brief introduction to the historical and ideological backgrounds which led to the rise of the Nazi Regime we will turn to a detailed analysis of the event history which led to World War II. The course will answer the question why Germany was such an aggressive power and how the Nazi movement managed to gather broad public support within the majority of the German population until the end; while causing war and the death of millions of Jews, opponents etc. at the same time. Finally, we will discuss the effects of World War II, on world history; e.g. the Cold War, European Integration and decolonization.

Undergraduate students of all subjects with an academic background and a strong interest in the various aspects of German History, and Culture.

This course is taught in English, including readings in English. For the understanding of the texts and the discussions in class a language level B2 (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is required.

Participating students need to be at least 18 years old.

Furthermore a motivation letter (about one page in English) and a valid student ID is required.

The course "Berlin's Graveyard Culture – Perspectives on Death and Dying" approaches the subject of life, death and dying from the spatial defined area of cemeteries. This means we are going to look at historical and cultural changes, as well as their implications on society, landscape art, law or upcoming industries.

The course will read texts in cultural and social history as well as in literature around the subject matter of death and dying and will complement these with excursions to different prominent graveyards in Berlin.

The course will focus on the relationship between life and death, on the changes in memorial architecture and landscape art (as far as alternative modes of green funerals and coffins), the transformation of a “culture of mourning”, as well as the varieties of different religions and spirituality cemeteries currently reveal.

Excursions to cemeteries as well as a crematorium are planned.

Undergraduate students of all subjects with a strong interest in the course topic.

In order to follow the course a very good command of English is required (B2). The minimum age requirement is 18 years.

Furthermore a letter of motivation (one page, in English) and a valid student ID is required.

This summer programme is run by the HWR Berlin School of Economics and Law, a public university of applied sciences, situated in the heart of Berlin. HWR Berlin is one of the largest academic institutions for business and management studies in Germany with a very international focus.

This summer programme offers business and economics students alike the chance to address questions of markets and management in Europe in detail. This course explores themes such as intercultural manage-ment, marketing, and economics in order to investigate European business and its interaction with the rest of the world. Students will develop an understanding of the value of cross-cultural/diversity management and its associated concepts, benefits and pitfalls. The topics are:

• Cross-Cultural Management
• Economics of the European Union
• Marketing for the Automotive Industry

Field trips to companies and institutions enable students to combine theory and practice. The module "German Culture & Society: Intercultural Perspectives" allows students to contemplate and highlight the differences and similarities between the students’ home cultures and their host culture. Participants can also look forward to an exciting and diverse culture and leisure time programme.

Targeted to business and economics students after two years of study (Bachelor). The programme is open to graduate students and recent graduates as well. Proof of English proficiency is required for non-native speakers.

For almost 30 years, the Berlin Wall was a symbol of the division of the city of Berlin, of Germany and of Europe during the era of the Cold War between the two superpowers, the United States of America and the Soviet Union. Consequently, the fall of the Wall in 1989 was a hugely symbolic turning point in world history.

But how can we explain the building of such a dividing monument? How can we account for its fall in 1989? And how does the Wall influence our lives today? The course will provide answers to such questions via readings of texts from political science, sociology and history, while also taking the opportunity to explore the ground on which the events between 1961 and 1989 took place.

Undergraduate students of all subjects with a strong interest in contemporary history, social sciences, politics, European studies.

In order to follow the course, a very good command of English is required (B2). The minimum age requirement is 18 years.

Furthermore a letter of motivation (one page, in English) and a valid student ID is required.

Recently, the comedy „Er ist wieder da“ („Look, who’s back!“) was released to German cinema (Director: David Wnendt, 2015). The movie imagines – with historical irony – the reappearance of Adolf Hitler in contemporary, digitalized Germany, bringing the German audience to the very (!) limits of what is permissible and acceptable to laugh at.

The course departs from the grounding thesis that the Holocaust (as being committed by Germans) changed the cultural history of German humor, comedy and everyday forms of laughter in a radical and not reversible way.

This paradigmatic change has been internalized and passed on from the Nazi-Generation to their great grandchildren and has had a remarkable effect on comedic cultural texts of all kinds in literature, film, theater, TV after 1945.

Accordingly, Germany, in the aftermath of WWII and the historical crimes of the Holocaust, has therefore developed a very specific sense of humor and comedy which is not easily to relate to. In our course we will have a closer look on German comedy, which has – both in the GDR and FDR as well as in the reunified country – produced specific formats and traditions (un/consciously) tied to the Holocaust and Nazi Germany.

Through various texts from popular culture (cinema, TV, video and stand up comedy) we will ask for the relations between what is funny for Germans and how this is related to taboos and trauma in the German culture unconscious. Of special interest are questions like: which actors (may) embody that which is humorous and transgressive for Germans and what kinds of laughter are produced in the German audience (e.g. open laughter, embarrassed laughter, hidden laughter, laughter that gets caught in one’s throat)? The course’s aim is to give a historical and a cultural overview of what Germans laugh(ed) about at certain times, the limits of that laughter, and the historical, political and traumatic significance of these limits.

The course also offers practical parts. In a workshop we will develop and produce small performative research units, in which we practice research methods like reenactment, imitation and improvisation. All students who’d like to engage theoretically and performatively with the special case of German comedy and humor and its underlying relations to the historical crimes of the Holocaust are very welcome to the course.

This course is designed for undergraduate students of all subjects with a strong interest in the subject.

This course is taught in English, including readings in English. For the understanding of the texts and the discussions in class a language level B2 (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is required.

The minimum age requirement is 18 years.

Furthermore a letter of motivation (one page, in English) and a valid student ID is required.

This summer programme is run by the HWR Berlin School of Economics and Law, a public university of applied sciences, situated in the heart of Berlin. HWR Berlin is one of the largest academic institutions for business and management studies in Germany with a very international focus.

This summer programme offers business and economics students alike the chance to undertake a demanding, in-depth study of the EU. The classes provide an insight into the structures and trends that influence European business and economics today. Over the course of four modules students will explore the European Union via the themes of politics, intercultural management, marketing and economics The topics are:

• Values and Politics of the European Union
• Cross-Cultural Management
• Economics of the European Union
• Digital Transformation of the Automotive Industry

Field trips to companies and institutions enable students to combine theory and practice. The module "German Culture & Society: Intercultural Perspectives" allows students to contemplate and highlight the differences and similarities between the students’ home cultures and their host culture. Participants can also look forward to an exciting and diverse culture and leisure time programme.

Upper undergraduate students of business and economics (after two years of study) or graduates with good standing. Proof of English proficiency is required for non-native speakers.

This summer programme is run by the HWR Berlin School of Economics and Law, a public university of applied sciences, situated in the heart of Berlin. HWR Berlin is one of the largest academic institutions for business and management studies in Germany with a very international focus.

This business law programme addresses the efforts to unite Europe in the past and take a closer look at the European Integration process. It gives insight into European Governance by dealing with competences of and decision-making by the European Council, the Council of Ministers, the European Commission, and the European Parliament. It will deal with protection of interests of creditors, shareholders, and stakeholders and discuss the attempts of the EU to harmonise national corporate laws. Another focus will be on international labour standards and EU law as well as on European human rights as the basis for corporate employment law. The topics are:

• European Governance
• Human Rights and Labour in the EU
• EU Corporate and Competition Law

Field trips to companies and institutions enable students to combine theory and practice. The module "German Culture & Society: Intercultural Perspectives" allows students to contemplate and highlight the differences and similarities between the students’ home cultures and their host culture. Participants can also look forward to an exciting and diverse culture and leisure time programme.

Targeted to business and law students after two years of study (Bachelor). The programme is open to graduate students and recent graduates as well. Proof of English proficiency is required for non-native speakers.

In the age of climate change and mega urbanization plants, green areas and water are not just a decorative element. They form the basis of the food chain and perform essential tasks. Urban Gardening builds the bridge between agriculture, horticulture, greenery, biodiversity, climate, people, science and sustainable urban development in Cities.

Land and Green - urban agriculture and horticulture provide multiple functions and benefits to urban dwellers and cities. The course showes and discuss new perspectives of how cities can be developed sustainable, greener and resilient.

The classes will deal with the history of urban agriculture and garden cultures for example from the old Persian world and the ancient cultures of Mayas, Aztecs and Incas, as well from North America and Europe.

The urban gardening movement has its obstacles to be involved in the concepts of smart, clean, compact and global cities. The course will discuss the current role and the future of urban gardening in the world.

The classes will equip students with valuable knowledge and skills. Experience, academic research and suggestions in theory and practice are provided for future decision-makers in urban design and planning, civil engineering, architectecture and landscape architecture as well for students from administration, politics and legislations.

The lectures, seminars and excursions will offer the students a deeper insight of green as an integral part of urban sustainable development. The ecological, economic and social advantages are manifold: healthy nutrition, reduced loss of food due to adequate transport and storage, poverty reduction through income opportunities. The variety of urban green infrastructure provides spaces for climate improvement, energy savings, rain water management, recreation, education and biodiversity of urban wildlife.

The Summer School will identify and show examples of the many functions that agriculture and horticulture activities fulfil in large cities, especially in Berlin. Explore different ways to save and create green spaces. Knowledge acquisition and skills about:

• different techniques to protect and create green spaces, in order to identify the -interdisciplinary character of welfare effects on urban life;
• institutional conditions of green infrastructure in urban planning processes through its ecological, economic and social benefits;
• practice on different ways to cultivate and process agricultural products for food security and income-earning reasons in cities, applying new and traditional production methods;
• strategies for mitigation and adaptation to climate change in order to decrease greenhouse gas and the urban heat island (UHI) effect;
• conservation of resources through energy and water cycles as well as recycling of waste (composting);

Meet experts of urban agriculture and horticulture projects in Berlin, such as allotment gardens, community gardens, green roof and walls and market oriented urban farms (vegetable, fish and algae production). The Course addresses the issues of ecological challenges and responsibilities in sustainable urban development, in order to improve planning, design and architecture in cities.

This course is designed for undergraduate students of all subjects with a strong interest in urban planning, ecological, environmental, cultural and agricultural topics.

In order to follow the course, a very good command of English (B2) is required. The minimum age requirement is 18 years.

Furthermore a letter of motivation (one page, in English) and a valid student ID is required.

This summer programme is run by the HWR Berlin School of Economics and Law, a public university of applied sciences, situated in the heart of Berlin. HWR Berlin is one of the largest academic institutions for business and management studies in Germany with a very international focus.

This programme offers a unique blend of business, politics and culture, providing business and economics students the opportunity to undertake a demanding, in-depth study of the European Union and its evolving role within today’s world.

During this course students will gain an insight into the conditions under which European firms operate in a globalised world. They will assess the interrelationships between firms and macroeconomic processes and will discover the impact on the natural environment and human living conditions. Students will explore the challenges posed by the different political cultures within the EU and their impli-cations for further political integration. Students will also become aware of the various types of conflict between global actors and will better understand their causes and potential solutions. The topics are:

• The EU – A Dynamic Economy
• Global Challenges for European Firms
• The EU – Chances and Challenges for Political Integration
• Human Costs of Global Markets: The European Perspective

Field trips to companies and institutions enable students to combine theory and practice. The module "German Culture & Society: Intercultural Perspectives" allows students to contemplate and highlight the differences and similarities between the students’ home cultures and their host culture. Participants can also look forward to an exciting and diverse culture and leisure time programme.

Upper undergraduate students of business, economics or political science (after two years of study) or graduates with good standing. Proof of English proficiency is required for non-native speakers.

In this course the students will explore how Jewish history in Germany, from 1933 to the present, is memorialized.  This will be accomplished through lectures, workshops, and most crucially, visits to relevant sites in and around Berlin.  Such visits form the basis of the empirical material to be related to the readings and theoretical frameworks contained in them and in the lectures.  In addition to the tragic history that has defined the 20^th century experience, students will have an opportunity to explore contemporary Jewish life and topics that continue to shape Berlin and Germany more widely.  This course is anthropologically inflected and treats the museums, memorials, and other urban spaces as field sites to be explored and analyzed critically. The course will be divided into two blocks: First, the larger national memorialization undertaken by largely non-Jewish mainstream German agents.  And second, we will explore how Jews inside and outside of Germany have negotiated and continue to inform and navigate this larger narrative.

The focus is on quality rather than quantity.  The required readings are to be read carefully and discussion questions are to be prepared as assigned in advance of the class in question. (Dates and details will be announced once the schedule is set).  The sites will be explored intensively with specific assignments and methods (conversation walk, field diary, participant observation).  These will be explained during the class prior to each site visit.

This course can stand alone well, but can also be combined with the course offered in Summer Session 2: Interreligious and Intercultural Tensions in Germany.

Undergraduate students of all subjects with an interest in interreligious and intercultural issues.

This course is taught in English, including readings in English. For the understanding of the texts and the discussions in class a language level B2 (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is required.

The minimum age requirement is 18 years.

Furthermore a letter of motivation (one page, in English) and a valid student ID is required.

This summer programme is run by the HWR Berlin School of Economics and Law, a public university of applied sciences, situated in the heart of Berlin. HWR Berlin is one of the largest academic institutions for business and management studies in Germany with a very international focus.

The academic content of this course is specifically focused on entrepreneurship, innovation management and the German startup scene with a focus on Berlin as a model European start-up capital. The programme offers students a strong grounding in how to start and grow a business in a dynamic marketplace. They will write a business plan and present a pitch deck. Classes will focus on the application of models and tools of innovation & technology management, as well as introduce intellectual property rights and venture capital financing. In a workshop, students will work with / for startups in a pre-defined project. Its topics are:

• Entrepreneurship in Berlin
• Innovation Management
• Berlin Startup Safari – workshop with startups

Field trips to companies enable students to combine theory and practice. The module "German Culture & Society: Intercultural Perspectives" allows students to contemplate and highlight the differences and similarities between the students’ home cultures and their host culture. Participants can also look forward to an exciting and diverse culture and leisure time programme.

Advanced undergraduate or graduate students of all fields. Applicants will be asked to hand in a motivation letter (one page) along with the application. A proof of English proficiency is required for non-native speakers.

This course follows the complex trajectories linking interreligious and intercultural narratives in Germany today.   How does the culture of memory in Germany, with its Christian frame and Jewish focus converge and diverge with more recent narratives of migration that have made Islam a visible presence in Germany? How is Holocaust memory and memory of the Nazi past, more generally, linked to present-day racisms? These are the main question this course seeks to address.  Students will interrogate this topic through dedicated lectures, workshops, and site visits to museums and other venues.

The focus is on quality rather than quantity.  The readings are to be read carefully and discussion questions are to be prepared as assigned in advance of the class in question. (Dates and details will be announced once the schedule is set).  The sites will be explored intensively with specific assignments and methods (conversation walk, field diary, participant observation). 

This course can stand alone, but can also be well combined with the course offered in Summer Session 1: Jewish Narratives in Germany: Exploring Memory Past and Present

Undergraduate students of all subjects with an interest in interreligious and intercultural issues.

This course is taught in English, including readings in English. For the understanding of the texts and the discussions in class a language level B2 (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is required.

The minimum age requirement is 18 years.

Furthermore a letter of motivation (one page, in English) and a valid student ID is required.

This summer programme is run by the HWR Berlin School of Economics and Law, a public university of applied sciences, situated in the heart of Berlin. HWR Berlin is one of the largest academic institutions for business and management studies in Germany with a very international focus.

The language courses combine intensive language classes with a taste of culture and history of Berlin / Germany. Two levels are offered:

• Absolute Beginners
• Advanced Beginners (after 1- 2 semesters of German)

Both courses cover general language skills, core grammatical structures, basic vocabulary, and knowledge about German culture and living. A special focus will be on communication and pronunciation (“tongue twister”).  The module "German Culture & Society: Intercultural Perspectives" allows students to contemplate and highlight the differences and similarities between the students’ home cultures and their host culture. A concert or opera performance is one of the highlights. Participants can also look forward to an exciting and diverse culture and leisure time programme.

We welcome all above 18 years of age with an interest in learning German language and in getting to know German culture & society.

This course examines the protection regime pertaining to refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and stateless persons. It gives special attention to the evolving set of legal norms, institutions, and procedures that have emerged from the international community’s resolve to protect refugees and other forced migrants.

The course adopts two complementary methodologies: seminars and case studies combined with presentations by the students. The seminars begin with an introduction to the international human rights and the asylum regimes, and with a review of the relevant concepts and definitions. It then continues with a historical perspective of the pre-United Nations initiatives to protect refugees and introduces the normative ethics and politics of refugee protection. That is followed by an analysis of both the legal and institutional pillars of the refugee regime, i.e. of the refugee definitions captured in various international instruments and of the protection granted by the UNHCR, respectively. The last subjects to be covered by the seminars are the normative and institutional arrangements put in place for the protection of IDPs and stateless persons.

The seminars are complemented by a ‘hands-on’ methodology, namely a major case study and presentations by the students both on the state of refugee protection in their countries of origin/residence and on current significant situations (i.a. Myanmar, Syria, Venezuela, European asylum crisis, Mediterranean situation, Eastern Congo-DRC).

Advanced undergraduate law students and students with an academic background that qualifies them to participate in the course

This course is taught in English, including readings in English. For the understanding of the texts and the discussions in class a language level B2 (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is required.

The minimum age requirement is 18 years.

Furthermore, a letter of motivation (in English, one page) and a valid student ID is required.

According to self-assessment and “Sprachpass”, the participants are placed in groups of different language levels. The following descriptions of the courses concern the respective language level, teaching method, focus, topics for discussion as well as the course objective (learning outcome).

Beginners A1+A2

This course is designed for students with no previous or only little knowledge of German and focuses on the development of communicative competence in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. With regard to content, one of the foci of this course is Berlin and the region. Therefore, authentic material will be used in the course along with the course book.

• By the end of the course you will be able to engage in simple conversations about familiar things.
• You will know greetings and everyday expressions, you will be able to count and tell time and use sentences in day-to-day contexts.
• Furthermore, you will be able to talk about yourself and your family and friends.
• You can expect to be able to order food and beverages, purchase things and rent a hotel room.
• Furthermore, you will be able to talk about your studies and about your dreams and aspirations.
• In addition, you will feel more able to understand information when you hear German speakers talking about topics familiar to you.

Intermediate B1+B2

This course is designed to improve your writing and speaking competence in German, to increase your vocabulary and to help you developing effective reading and listening strategies. One of the foci is the development of self-correction in oral and written production. Our in-class discussions are based on readings of texts to facilitate exchange of information, ideas, reactions, and opinions. In addition, the readings provide cultural and historical background information. You will expand and deepen your knowledge of grammar through specific grammar exercises.

Course topics, e.g.:

• People in Germany, German history and social situation (esp. Berlin)
• Multicultural Berlin / Migration in Germany
• German media and music: topics from newspaper articles, films, popular songs

By the end of the course, students will be able to talk, read and write about historical, cultural and social topics, many of them in connection with Berlin and Germany, and use vocabulary and structures accordingly.

Advanced C1+C2

This course is designed to deepen your competence in speaking and writing, and to expand and refine your vocabulary usage. In particular, this course focuses on the development of your academic register. You work across literary genres and media as you interpret and analyse cultural, political and historical moments in German-speaking countries.

Course topics, e.g.:

• History of Berlin (like e. g. East-West, mentality, Berlin dialect, multicultural Berlin)
• Germany (history, politics and economy);
• Environmental issues
• Foreigners in Germany
• German media and music…

By the end of the course, students will be able to talk, read and write about different topics, many of them connected with the history, culture/mentality, economy and politics in Berlin and Germany in an in-depth way and use structures of the language on a highly advanced level, as well as vocabulary.

Undergraduate, graduate students as well as Ph.D. candidates who are interested in a semi-intensive language course which can be combined with a subject course.

Students without previous knowledge of German can participate in the course as well as students of German from elementary level (A1/ A2) to upper intermediate level (B1/B2).

The levels are based on the guidelines set by the "Common European Framework of Reference for Languages".

The course is especially suitable for participants who are primarily seeking instruction in the German language and prefer to discover Berlin on their own as well as for students who would like to combine the German course with a content course taught in English.

Participants must be at least 18 years old.

Placement in language courses:

Preliminary allocation to a certain language level is based on information provided during registration (language self-assessment, questionnaire) and a placement test, which is done online before the course starts or on the first day of the course in written or oral form.

“Get out of the classroom, dip into the city” – this motto of the course can be taken literally as the  combination of language class, academic lessons and cultural activities allows a hands-on experience of the German language and culture and how it is practiced in daily and social life.

The syllabus is comprised of traditional language instructions where you can improve your foreign language skills, academic lessons with weekly foci on aspects of German culture and a cultural program.

Principles of action-oriented and individual learning are focused in the course and therefore, interests and motivation of the participants are important conditions. The willingness to question factual knowledge as well as producing creativity and individual perspectives do not only form the work and results of this course in a special way, but also support the social skills and self-confidence for dealing with the foreign language.

Effective acquisition of the language as a way of communication is the reason why speaking is essential in this course. The improvement of passive language competence, like the understanding of new vocabulary or grammar structures, is combined with productive skills.

In this course, the vocabulary is always seen in context and refers to the participants’ daily life and own experiences in the city as well as to the following: culture, interculturality, history, politics, literature and social aspects. All this sectors are part of the course program. Further, colloquial language, particles, idioms and proverbs are focused, because of their significance in daily spoken German language.

German: B1 - proof will be required

This course is designed for students of German Studies/German Literature and all interested students, who do not only want to take language classes, but are also interested in topics concerning culture, literature, history and society.

For optimal success in this course, we recommend having a German fluency level of Advanced (C1/C2) or Average (B1/B2).

The fluency levels of the language test are based on the guidelines set by the "Common European Framework of Reference for Languages".

The minimum age requirement is 18 years.

Placement in language courses:

Preliminary allocation to a certain language level is based on information provided during registration (language self-assessment, questionnaire) and a placement test, which is done online before the course starts or on the first day of the course in written or oral form.

According to self-assessment and “Sprachpass”, the participants are placed in groups of different language levels. The following descriptions of the courses concern the respective language level, teaching method, focus, topics for discussion as well as the course objective (learning outcome).

Beginners A1 + A2

This course is designed for students with no previous or only little knowledge of German and focuses on the development of communicative competence in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. With regard to content, one of the foci of this course is Berlin and the region. Therefore, authentic material will be used in the course along with the course book.

• By the end of the course you will be able to engage in simple conversations about familiar things.
• You will know greetings and everyday expressions, you will be able to count and tell time and use sentences in day-to-day contexts.
• Furthermore, you will be able to talk about yourself and your family and friends.
• You can expect to be able to order food and beverages, purchase things and rent a hotel room.
• Furthermore, you will be able to talk about your studies and about your dreams and aspirations.
• In addition, you will feel more able to understand information when you hear German speakers talking about topics familiar to you.

Intermediate B1+B2

This course is designed to improve your writing and speaking competence in German, to increase your vocabulary and to help you developing effective reading and listening strategies. One of the foci is the development of self-correction in oral and written production. Our in-class discussions are based on readings of texts to facilitate exchange of information, ideas, reactions, and opinions. In addition, the readings provide cultural and historical background information. You will expand and deepen your knowledge of grammar through specific grammar exercises.

Course topics, e.g.:

• People in Germany, German history and social situation (esp. Berlin)
• Multicultural Berlin / Migration in Germany
• German media and music: topics from newspaper articles, films, popular songs

By the end of the course, students will be able to talk, read and write about historical, cultural and social topics, many of them in connection with Berlin and Germany, and use vocabulary and structures accordingly.

Advanced C1+C2

This course is designed to deepen your competence in speaking and writing, and to expand and refine your vocabulary usage. In particular, this course focuses on the development of your academic register. You work across literary genres and media as you interpret and analyse cultural, political and historical moments in German-speaking countries.

Course topics, e.g.:

• History of Berlin (like e. g. East-West, mentality, Berlin dialect, multicultural Berlin)
• Germany (history, politics and economy);
• Environmental issues
• Foreigners in Germany
• German media and music…

By the end of the course, students will be able to talk, read and write about different topics, many of them connected with the history, culture/mentality, economy and politics in Berlin and Germany in an in-depth way and use structures of the language on a highly advanced level, as well as vocabulary.

This course is specifically designed for those who are primarily seeking instruction in the German language. It is for undergraduate, graduate students as well as Ph.D. candidates who are interested in a semi-intensive language course which can be combined with a subject course.

Students without previous knowledge of German can participate in the course as well as students of German from elementary level (A1/ A2), intermediate level (B1/ B2) and advanced level (C1/C2).

Participants must be at least 18 years old.

Placement in language courses:

Preliminary allocation to a certain language level is based on information provided during registration (language self-assessment, questionnaire) and a placement test, which is done online before the course starts or on the first day of the course in written or oral form.

Deutsch:

Berlin ist am Puls der Zeit - und das nicht erst seit heute. Die Stadt und ihre Umgebung haben Künstler*innen schon immer angezogen und beeinflusst. Legendär sind die „goldenen“ zwanziger und dreißiger Jahre des zwanzigsten Jahrhunderts, in denen nicht nur die Stadt selbst viel Stoff für Romane, Musik, Theater und die Bildende Kunst lieferte, sondern auch all die Zufluchtsorte, die aus der hektischen Spannung  hinaus in die innere Einkehr führten.

Im Seminar befassen wir uns mit einigen Schriftsteller*innen, deren Leben und Werk besonders mit Berlin, aber auch mit dem Abtauchen in die beschaulichen Kleinstadtidyllen verbunden sind. Wie wirkt sich dieser Kontrast auf ihr Schreiben aus? Und welche Schlüsse lassen sich eventuell  auf eigene kreative Prozesse und Tätigkeiten ziehen?

Dazu lesen wir Auszüge aus aktuellen Texten und sehen uns die Orte an, die als Inspiration dienten. Wir  folgen Theodor Fontane in die Vergangenheit, besuchen Bertolt Brecht in seiner noch authentisch erhaltenen Stadtwohnung nahe dem Theater und fahren zu ihm aufs Land in sein Sommerhaus, wo er über vieles reflektierte.

Im Seminar wird gelesen und geschrieben, diskutiert, geschaut, gelaufen und gefahren: Verschiedene Exkursionen, u.a. nach Buckow, ca. zwei Stunden von der Stadt entfernt, ein Theaterbesuch und einige Filmausschnitte bringen Ihnen die Verbindung von Text/Stil und Atmosphäre näher.

English:

Berlin is a vibrant city – and has always been. The City and its surroundings have always attracted and influenced artists. The “Golden Twenties and Thirties” of the 20^th Century are legendary – not only the city provided inspiration and material for novels, music, theatre and fine arts, but also all the places of retreat that led from the external hectic pace to inner reflection.

The course is concerned with several writers, whose lives and work are closely connected to Berlin and the escape to the idylls of small towns. How did this contrast impact their writing process? What can we learn by that for our own creative processes?

We read excerpts from contemporary texts and visit places that have been inspiration to writers. We follow Theodor Fontane to the past, visit Bertolt Brecht in his authentically maintained apartment and in his country retreat, a place for contemplation.

In this course we will be reading and writing, discussing, looking around, walking and going out: various field trips, e.g. to Buckow, located about two hours from the city, a visit to a theatre and some movie clips will show the relation between texts, style and atmosphere.

Students of all subjects (Undergraduate, Graduate and PhD-Candidates) with an interest in creative writing (German language), culture and literature.

The course is designed for everybody who is interested in literature, creative writing (German language)and exploring Berlin as well as its surroundings.

Participants in this course should share an interest in literature and life in Berlin, as well as a willingness to explore the own writing and joy in playing with the German language.

For participants who are learning German and for whom German is not the first language, a language level B2 (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is required for the understanding of the texts and the discussions in class. A language level of C1 or C2 is recommended.

Mistakes in own texts are corrected but not discussed in class. They do not have any effect on the overall assessment of the participant’s performance. Of course, native speakers are also welcome.

The minimum age requirement is 18 years.

To some, the city is a text that asks to be read; to others, the city is a multi-layered phenomenon that defies readability. None of this has ever prevented writers from writing about the city – and write about the city is what you will do in this course!

In numerous writing exercises, students will develop their creative and their critical selves. Writing assignments will draw on your own experiences of Berlin: capture the moment of your arrival, the strangeness of the new environment, the possible misunderstandings, and turn them into texts. Walk through a neighborhood, ride your bike or the subway looking for motifs and stories. Describe people you meet and turn them into characters. Research the history of a person, a building, a trend, a scene and take ownership of your urban experience – observe how you become a writer of Berlin. Writing will take place in-class, on-site and in take-home exercises. Be prepared to share some of your writing in class and to learn to give and receive constructive feedback.

Your writing will be supported by a class reader with various examples of urban writing, which we will use to study modes of narration, motifs, and kinds of composition. Reading assignments will be from European and American city texts but will eventually zoom in on representations of Berlin. How can literature, through the work of images, narrative perspective, plot structure, rhythms and juxtapositions capture the voices, spaces and characters of the city? What meanings of the city do individual texts create? With these questions in mind, you will venture out into the city and look for your own ways of capturing its essence, and/or the events that can unfold in its space.

Make sure you have a computer with you on which you can write your longer texts.

Students of all subjects with a strong interest in writing.

In order to follow the course, a very good command of English is required (C1). The minimum age requirement is 18 years.

Furthermore a letter of motivation (one page, in English) and a valid student ID is required.

Welcome to the Berlin Summer University of the Arts! Every summer since 2012, we’ve been opening our doors for workshops across the range of disciplines: Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Design, Music, Creative Entrepreneurship, Arts Management, and interdisciplinary courses. All that in the heart of Germany’s biggest and most inspiring city!

A team of passionate teachers and coaches offers a supportive environment where you can challenge yourself in creative expression and critical thinking, find your artistic voice and visual language, bring your ideas to life, share them with like-minded people, and build up a professional network. 

Join us in Berlin and meet artists and creatives from around the globe. Get inspired by the unique atmosphere, explore your interests and dive into the creativity at one of the biggest and most multi-faceted art universities in Europe.

The new program will be announced in December 2019. Sign up for our newsletter to stay tuned!

For details please check out our FAQs or contact us at summer-courses@udk.berlin.de

How have surveillance technologies transformed culture and identity in post-9/11 worlds? As Jonathan Finn has stated, through digitalisation as well as public space cameras, surveillance has become a “way of seeing, a way of being” (2012). Social media users contribute by sharing their personal information in the online public domain – today’s “Funopticon” (Lewis 2017) is all about self-exposure. This course will examine the impact of surveillance technology on society by looking at the multifaceted ways technologies and societies interact. We will explore how surveillance is represented in contemporary art, literature, film and popular culture. The omnipresence of surveillance jeopardizes the hard-fought enlightened right to privacy, individuality and freedom. The course will map out important themes revolving around surveillance and its repercussions (e.g. visibility, identity, privacy and control as essential elements of today's culture of surveillance). The course provides an overview of the interdisciplinary field of surveillance and covers the latest research in the following major areas: 1. Relationship between surveillance, power and social control; 2. The concept of privacy; 3. Surveillance in the arts and popular culture. The first unit of the course offers an introduction into the history and theory of surveillance and surveillance technology (e.g. close-circuit television (CCTV) in public and quasi-public spaces, biometrics, data mining, monitoring technologies in cyberspaces, workplaces and private spaces). The second unit investigates films, novels, art and popular culture (e.g. Reality Television and Social Networking Sites) that prominently address the subject. Readings will be drawn from the social sciences, contemporary fiction and popular media. Several films will be shown to facilitate critical inquiry.

Undergraduate students of all subjects with an academic background and a strong interest in the various aspects of Culture, Literature, Film and Visual Arts, as well as Surveillance Studies.

This course is taught in English, including readings in English. For the understanding of the texts and the discussions in class a language level B2 (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is required.

Participating students need to be at least 18 years old.

Furthermore, a motivation letter (one page, in English) and a valid student ID are required.

Script is language. Language is communication and communication is the key to successful intercultural exchange. Due to globalization and cross-cultural interactions, multilingualism plays an eminent role in the world. Why is it important to work with both Latin and non-Latin script and type? What are the challenges of combining different scripts with varying visual precepts and habits? What are the social premises and technical requirements for multilingual visual communication? Researching different script systems and analyzing countless samples of contemporary graphic and type design. In order to get deeper into the topic, we want to visit several international designers based in Berlin who will tell us about their experiences of working with multiple scripts. Moving on to the topic of multilingual editorial design we will create, design and produce at intercultural publication. The focus does not want to disagree with disparate script systems but can arrange, combine and integrate all content within a clear structural concept.

Proof of student enrolment

Copy of passport

• One-Time application fee: 100€
• Early-Bird booking until 15th of January to save 100€
• Fee per course: 750€
• For 2 courses: 1.390€
• For 3 courses: 1.990€ 

Where & What: Discover the rich, multicultural street culture in a Berlin KIEZ (vernacular "district"). You can dive into Far Eastern atmosphere of Kantstrasse - Berlin's Chinatown, where Chinese residents settled down 100 years ago, or stroll along the colorful Turkish cloth market in Kreuzberg, known as little Istanbul. What are the specific visual codes that make the area reveal its special character? What about the historical background of these places? How do foreign visual elements blend with German local culture?

How: During this workshop, KIEZ, observing a design perspective and investigating street typography and other visual elements through various techniques of mapping, photography, filming, interviewing or drawing. The collected material will be the basis for the design of your own journey book.

Aim: > Understand to "read" the city as a creative source > Identify and understand the specific visual typographic expressions of the place > Learn about typography and the process of book making with analog and digital media > Enjoy the summer in berlin

What to bring: > For expedition: camera, sketchbook, tools for interviews and documentation > Comfortable clothes, sun / rain protection and enough to drink, public transport ticket or bicycle

Proof of student enrolment

Copy of passport

• One-Time application fee: 100€
• Early-Bird booking until 15th of January to save 100€
• Fee per course: 750€
• For 2 courses: 1.390€
• For 3 courses: 1.990€

Deadline: May, 1st 2020

Berlin has countless restaurants serving international food. Imagine a new restaurant opens, and you are in charge of the design including the conception of the menu. How do you help your client to visualize their food other than showing photos of the plates? How can you help your customers to be somewhere else without using stereotypes? How are you going to use a second language or script? Is your menu a classic print booklet, app for smartphones, or even both? We will go out on a research trip first, and dive into Berlin's multicultural cuisine scene to sketch, take pictures and interview restaurant owners and analyze the situation. Afterwards we are going to develop a narrative for a chosen restaurant and transform it into a design concept. We'll figure out the design of a functional and inspiring menu design. Finally, we want to produce the digital and / or analogue menu using Adobe Creative Suite and Figma for functioning and realistic prototyping.

Proof of student enrolment

Copy of passport

• One-Time application fee: 100€
• Early-Bird booking until 15th of January to save 100€
• Fee per course: 750€
• For 2 courses: 1.390€
• For 3 courses: 1.990€

Application Deadline: May, 1st 2020

This year, Bauhaus has celebrated its’ 100th year anniversary. Not only has architecture and design that was produced in the legendary school had a major impact on society, but also the didactical methods established at the Bauhaus have been adopted in schools of architecture and design all over the world. The course analyses the school and its impact over the past 100 years.

Proof of student enrolment

Copy of passport

• One-Time application fee: 100€
• Early-Bird booking until 15th of January to save 100€
• Fee per course: 750€
• For 2 courses: 1.390€
• For 3 courses: 1.990€

 Application Deadline: May, 1st 2020

This is an introductory course on furniture design that starts with researching contemporary approaching in furniture design, and the use of furniture in different cultural contexts. The course continues into the technical production, aesthetics, ergonomic needs, materials and surfaces of furniture, ending with the design and visualization of a piece of furniture through two and three dimensional drawings, models and mock-ups.

Proof of student enrolment

Copy of passport

• One-Time application fee: 100€
• Early-Bird booking until 15th of January to save 100€
• Fee per course: 750 €
• For 2 courses: 1.390 €
• For 3 courses: 1.990 €

Materials/ Equipment Needed:

• Laptop , cutter, long ruler (min. 50 cm),
• hot glue gun,
• mechanical pencil,
• set square,
• adhesive- tape (Masking Tape)

Application Deadline: May, 1st 2020

With the demographic shift in society and flow towards the cities, the discussion on healthy and affordable housing becomes essential. The course investigates existing models of housing on a global scale and inquires the future of housing.

Proof of student enrolment

Copy of passport

• One-Time application fee: 100€
• Early-Bird booking until 15th of January to save 100€
• Fee per course: 750€
• For 2 courses: 1.390€
• For 3 courses: 1.990€

Application Deadline: May, 1st 2020