You have been admitted – that's great news. Follow these steps to easily start your studies on campus in Berli

Note: ISME can only provide information and support related to the ISME program itself. For general questions about admission, enrollment, housing, visas, etc., please refer to the Freie Universität Berlin resources listed below.

Important Dates

• October 1–4, 2024: central orientation dates for so-called international students, see more info here (LINK).
• October 1 – November 1, 2024: course registration period
• October 10, 2024, 10:15 – 11:45 AM (Berlin time): online ISME program orientation (including Q&A session)
• October 11: deadline to indicate preferences for courses with limited spots
• October 14, 2024: classes begin

Steps to Start Your ISME Studies

Step 1: Check ISME website

• Review the ISME program website for information about the program, courses, faculty, events, etc.

Step 2: Complete enrollment formalities

• Respond to your admission letter by the deadline stated to confirm you will be enrolling.Inform ISME about your intended enrollment.
• Pay any required enrollment fees by the relevant deadline.
• Submit any other required enrollment documents by the deadline.
• Check if you need to apply for a student visa. If you need a late arrival letter confirming that you may even start your studies if arriving after October 2024, please request such a letter from the academic advisors by the last week of July at the latest or use the information from our faq section (LINK).

Step 3: Set up student accounts

• Set up your university email address, intranet/portal account, and any other student accounts required.

Step 4: Arrange housing

• Research housing options in Berlin. Student dorms, shared apartments, and private rentals are common options.
• Apply for housing well in advance. The market is highly competitive!

Step 5: Get settled in Berlin

• Arrange travel to Berlin.
• Set up your housing.
• Complete any residency registration required.
• Open a German bank account if needed.
• Create and validate your Campuscard for public transport options.
• Make sure you can access your student email and accounts before orientation.
• Use only your @fu-berlin.de mail for communication within Freie Universität.

Step 6: Inform yourselves about courses and regulations

• Read study and exam regulations.
• Find courses in the course catalog that meet your modules.
• Pay attention to special registration procedures for some departments or central units (e.g. for German courses from the language center)

Step 7: Attend orientation events

• If you are an international students, attend central orientation for international students between October 1–4, Audimax in the Henry Ford building.
• Attend ISME program orientation on Oct 10, 10:15 – 11:45 AM online.
• Attend ISME collective office hours on Oct 17, 11:00 – 11:45 AM online – here you may already meet students from the other cohorts.

Step 8: Set up campus technology access

• Set up access to the university WiFi network (eduroam).
• Set up remote access via VPN or ZEDAT proxy if needed.
• Watch the introduction to the campus management video.

Step 9: Register for courses

• Registration period is Oct 1 – Nov 1, 2024.
• Indicate course preferences by Oct 11 for limited capacity courses – usually all of the courses in ISME.
• Only ISME courses can be directly registered via the campus management.
• Check whether you have been allocated to your desired courses by Oct 12.
• Register for free spots from Oct 12 – Nov 1, 2024.
• Check course status regularly in case of cancellations.
• Withdraw from unneeded courses to free up spaces, until Nov 1, 2024.
• Check wehther you are enrolled for the relevant courses in the blackboard which is the learning management system of Freie Universität; otherwise contact the relevant lecturer. Course materials and communications may soleley be processes through blackboard, so make sure to have access to all of your courses.

Step 10: Begin classes

• Classes will begin the week of October 14, 2024. Be sure to attend from day one!

Important Links

• Provisional ISME Course Catalog for Winter 2024
• Freie Universität Berlin: General Information for New Students
• Campus Management Introduction Video

For any ISME-specific questions or concerns, please contact isme@geschkult.fu-berlin.de.

For general questions about admission, enrollment, housing, visas, etc., please refer to the Freie Universität Berlin resources.