International

In­for­ma­tion for our part­ner uni­ver­si­ties

From course information to admission requirements, from the nomination process to student application guidelines: All the facts for our partners in one place!

Dear partners! We are glad you are visiting us in our virtual home and hope you will find the information you need to counsel and nominate your students for a semester or two at Humboldt-Universität. Should you need further details or assistance, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Humboldt international: Our profile

With strategic partnerships and a large network currently consisting of 375 partner universities, Humboldt-Universität maintains a global profile from the heart of Berlin, keeping pace with international trends and playing a key role in shaping social change around the world. HU Berlin is also an active participant in the Erasmus+ programme, providing students and staff with the opportunity to study abroad at one of more than 300 partner universities in the Erasmus+ programme countries. Erasmus+ opportunities also include exchange agreements with more than 50 partner universities outside the European Union.

Term dates

  • Winter term: 1 October 1 – 31 March
  • Summer term: 1 April 1 – 30 September

Available exchange period

One term or one year

Minimum grade point average (GPA) 2.5/4.0 GPA or equivalent

Degree levels

Undergraduate and graduate

Course catalogue

Browse our course offers here.

Please note: Undergraduate students are free to select courses at no more than two departments. Graduate students can choose courses from one department only.

Disciplines and programmes

With a few exceptions, exchange students may enrol in any degree programme. The exceptions are:

  • Medicine
  • M.A. Global History
  • M.A. Global Studies

Further restrictions may apply to:

  • Law
  • B.A. History
  • B.Sc. Computer Science
  • M.A. Mind and Brain

Additionally, students have the option to enrol in language courses and the Berlin Perspectives programme.

German language requirements

To study at Humboldt-Universität as an exchange student, the minimum required level of German language skills is B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The certificates we accept are the Goethe-Zertifikat, (link: Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (DSH) or Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache (TestDaF).

Alternatively, students can take an online language placement test (C-Test). The required score is 60 points. If students fail to achieve the required score, they have the option to enrol in an Intensive Language Course (600 euros) prior to the start of the semester. Please visit the HU Language Centre‘s website for more information.

English language requirements

Applicants who plan to participate in English speaking courses only and are not native speakers, are required to prove their language skills through the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 80 or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with minimum result of 6.0.

Please note that not all departments at HU offer courses in English, especially on the undergraduate level.

Special requirements: English and American Studies

To study at the Department of English and American Studies, undergraduate students must prove English language proficiency at B2 level or higher. Graduate students need to prove English language proficiency at C1 level or higher.

Special requirements: School of Business and Economics

The language of instruction of all the department's Master programmes is English. The courses at the School of Business and Economics have a strong emphasis on imparting rigorous and quantitative methods of economic analysis and management science. A strong background in mathematics is essential.

All prospective exchange students need to be nominated by their home university – no matter which programme they are applying for. To do this, please us our partner portal.

Here, you can nominate students for a single semester or an entire academic year. Our term dates apply:    Winter term: October – March (nomination deadline: 15 May)  Summer term: April – September (nomination deadline: 15 November)  Academic year: October – September (nomination deadline: 15 May)

Please note that a student's stay can only be extended within the same academic year, so only from the winter to the summer term.

Winter term application period: 15 April – 31 May Summer term application period: October 15 – November 30

To apply, students must provide the following documents:

  • language certificate (German or English)
  • letter of motivation
  • official transcript of records
  • CV/résumé
  • study plan

For more information, here is our complete guide for prospective exchange students.

Contact