Business + Culture

Location & Culture

Berlin is a thriving global city of 3.5 million, swirling with innovation and energy. Political and economic decisions made in the German capital reverberate throughout the EU and around the world. The city is home to countless small start-ups, with growing communications, life sciences, environmental services, media, music, and digital sectors. With reasonable living costs, excellent public transportation, plenty of green space, and tons to do, Berliners enjoy high quality of life. They are very welcoming to students and visitors from all over the world.

The Culture

EXCURSIONS & ACTIVITIES

Get to know Berlin with a walking/biking/river tour.
Take an inside-look at a range of businesses - from manufacturing facilities to small start-ups.
Travel overnight to another economic and cultural hub like Hamburg, Frankfurt, Dresden, or Munich to visit companies and historic sites.
See the stark contrast between the former West and East political and economic systems with a guided tour of Berlin, and visit the East Side Gallery, the Holocaust Memorial, or Tempelhof Airport Park.
Explore the historic Reichstag building and the palaces in nearby Potsdam.

PROJECTS

Language support. In addition to language classes at the Berlin School of Economics and Law, students take part in CIEE’s German-language activities including conversation hours and film nights.

Daily Life

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HOUSING

Residence Hall: Most student live in the CIEE Global Institute Residence Hall with CIEE students and Resident Assistants (RAs) – CIEE-trained German students who help newcomers adjust to Berlin. Students live in double, triple, or quad rooms with private bathrooms, and have access to full kitchens. The hall has a café and large common areas.

Homestays and Shared Apartments: Depending on availability, a small number of students may share nearby apartments or live with Berlin hosts.
MEALS

Residence Hall: Meals are not included. Students can prepare meals at the hall dorm, get snacks at the café, and eat at the many nearby restaurants.

Homestay: Hosts provided two meals a day. Shared apartment: Meals are not included.

Berlin, Germany

Where You'll Study

A

CIEE GLOBAL INSTITUTE

Berlin G27
B

BERLIN SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS AND LAW

(BESL)
C

Getting Around

Berlin’s 24-hour public transportation system is extensive and quickly connects to all areas of the city. Berlin is also very bike-friendly and bikes are available at the Global Institute.

Program Details

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What you need to know

The program details

Students focus on the fundamentals of business practice, administration and law, in addition to studying the German language. Those with high German language proficiency can take courses in German and have access to legal studies courses in the Department of Public Administration and Department of Policing and Security Management held on the Berlin-Lichtenberg Campus, 25 minutes from the main Berlin-Schöneberg campus by subway.

The Berlin School of Economics and Law (Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Recht Berlin; BSEL) BSEL focuses on building business, management, and administration skills for the private and public sector. It is one of Berlin’s largest universities of applied sciences with 14 Research Centers and Institutes and enrolls more than 11,000 students.

Academics

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Academics

CLASS FORMAT

BSEL business courses are taught seminar-style, and typically meeting once-a-week for three hours. Students are able to pose questions and hold discussions with instructors and peers. Business courses include up to 40 students; German language classes do not exceed 25 students, and may meet more frequently.
GRADING

Many courses at BSEL emphasize performance on assessments such as cumulative exams and term papers to determine the final course grade.
ACADEMIC CULTURE

Students are expected to work independently and responsibly, and progress through course materials with minimal guidance. Classes often meet just once a week, so students need to stay engaged in their work, research, and reading independently throughout the week. BSEL follows the German academic calendar, which begins and ends later than the average semester in the U.S.. The BSEL fall semester begins in September and ends in late February/early March. The spring semester begins in March and ends in late July/early August. Students are required to stay for the entire program.

Eligibility

OVERALL GPA

Students need to have a GPA of at least 3.0.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

3 semesters of college-level micro or macroeconomics, accounting, finance, management, marketing, or statistics.

Students begin the program with two weeks of required intensive German language study and then start the semester at the Berlin School of Economics and Law (BSEL). A semester-long Business German language course is required with the remainder of courses chosen from BSEL electives.

Curriculum

Program Credit
Total credit: 16-18 U.S. semester/24-27 quarter credits

Course Credit

BSEL Intensive German Language courses: 2 U.S. semester/3 quarter credits; 30 contact hours
BSEL Semester Business German Language courses: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits; 50 contact hours
BSEL Elective Courses: typically, 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits; 50 contact hours

Language of Instruction
German and English

Requirements

One two-week pre-semester intensive German language course
One regular semester business German language course
Additional electives taken at BSEL

Course Notes
Students with a very advanced level of German and who pass a placement test on site may take business courses in German, many of which are offered in parallel to the English-taught courses

Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.

Spring 2020 Courses

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REQUIRED INTENSIVE LANGUAGE COURSES

Required intensive language courses have 30 contact hours and CIEE will award 2 U.S. credits.

REQUIRED INTENSIVE LANGUAGE COURSES

Required intensive language courses have 30 contact hours and CIEE will award 2 U.S. credits.

Intensive Beginning German
This course is designed for students who have never studied German or have had one semester of German prior to enrolling in the study abroad program. The class opens with sessions on survival language skills and is designed from a communicative perspective to help true beginners of German language develop fundamental linguistic language skills in listening comprehension, oral communication, reading, and writing. The course encompasses all of the key areas of grammar and vocabulary typically encountered in a first semester German course.

Intensive Intermediate German
This class is designed for students with intermediate language skills. The syllabus is organized functionally around objectives that students need to adjust to living and studying in the German culture and Berlin. Through a communicative methodology, students work to improve their language skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking German. Students focus on real-life application of language. By the end of the course, students cover the basic range of grammatical tools necessary to communicate effectively. These include the present, past, and future tenses, direct and indirect object pronouns, prepositions and adverbs, and selected aspects of the subjective and conditional moods.

Intensive Advanced German
This class is designed to challenge students with increasing language ability to improve on the skills they have already acquired. The syllabus is organized functionally around objectives that students need to adjust to living and studying in the German culture. The course covers all four communicative skills (listening comprehension, oral communication, reading, and writing) with special emphasis on complex aspects of the language that are particularly challenging for English speakers. The course covers abstract functions of language such as expressing opinions, resolving conflicts, formulating complaints, making arguments, and negotiating. Grammatically, emphasis is placed on the correct use of the tools needed to achieve these aims - complex aspects of the various past tenses, the full range of subjunctive and conditional moods, and formal and informal registers.

SEMESTER COURSES

REQUIRED SEMESTER-LONG GERMAN LANGUAGE COURSES

All Berlin School of Economics and Law semester-long German language courses will introduce vocabulary related to banking, business communications, meetings, résumé terms, taxes, marketing, finance, etc. Semester-long German language courses are 50 contact hours and CIEE will award 3 U.S. credits. All students must enroll in one of the following:

Business German Beginner 1
Business German Beginner 2
Business German Beginner 3
Business German Beginner 4
Business German Intermediate 1
Business German Intermediate 2
Business German Intermediate 3
Business German Intermediate 4
Business German Advanced

ELECTIVE COURSES TAUGHT IN ENGLISH AT THE BERLIN SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS AND LAW*

*Not all courses are offered every semester, and some courses have prerequisites. The final list of courses is made available during the enrollment process on-site.

Business Applications
Business Mathematics and Economics
Business Simulation
Communication and Interaction in a Professional Context
Communication Strategies and Consumer Behavior
European Economic Policy
Corporate Finance
Fundamentals of Business Law
Principles of Corporate Finance
Group Accounting and Managerial Accounting
History, Politics, and Economics of the Host Country
Human Resource Management
Human Resources and Organization
Management Accounting and Controlling
Intercultural Communication
International Business Accounting
International Management
Internationalization of Economic Processes - Goals, Instruments, & Actors of Regulation
Principles of Business Information Systems
Principles of Financial Accounting
Macroeconomics: The Economic Cycle and Employment
Management Accounting and Controlling
Management Issues: Business Ethics
Management Issues: International Project Management
Management Issues: Multinational Enterprises in Emerging Markets
Market Research
Marketing
Mathematics for Business and Economics
Microeconomics: Allocation and Distribution
National and International Financial Relations
Operations Management
Organizational Behavior in International Companies
Political Economy and Social Structure of Modern Society
Product and Distribution Management
Regional Studies
Selected Issues in Business Finance
Selected Issues in Marketing
Statistics
Strategic Management
Work, Business, and Society

Students with a very advanced level of German, who pass a placement test on site, may take business courses in German, many of which are offered in parallel to courses taught in English.

ELECTIVE COURSES TAUGHT IN ENGLISH AT THE BERLIN SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS AND LAW*

*Not all courses are offered every semester, and some courses have prerequisites. The final list of courses is made available during the enrollment process on-site.

Business Applications
Business Mathematics and Economics
Business Simulation
Communication and Interaction in a Professional Context
Communication Strategies and Consumer Behavior
European Economic Policy
Corporate Finance
Fundamentals of Business Law
Principles of Corporate Finance
Group Accounting and Managerial Accounting
History, Politics, and Economics of the Host Country
Human Resource Management
Human Resources and Organization
Management Accounting and Controlling
Intercultural Communication
International Business Accounting
International Management
Internationalization of Economic Processes - Goals, Instruments, & Actors of Regulation
Principles of Business Information Systems
Principles of Financial Accounting
Macroeconomics: The Economic Cycle and Employment
Management Accounting and Controlling
Management Issues: Business Ethics
Management Issues: International Project Management
Management Issues: Multinational Enterprises in Emerging Markets
Market Research
Marketing
Mathematics for Business and Economics
Microeconomics: Allocation and Distribution
National and International Financial Relations
Operations Management
Organizational Behavior in International Companies
Political Economy and Social Structure of Modern Society
Product and Distribution Management
Regional Studies
Selected Issues in Business Finance
Selected Issues in Marketing
Statistics
Strategic Management
Work, Business, and Society

Students with a very advanced level of German, who pass a placement test on site, may take business courses in German, many of which are offered in parallel to courses taught in English.

Fall 2019 Courses

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REQUIRED INTENSIVE LANGUAGE COURSES

Required intensive language courses have 30 contact hours and CIEE will award 2 U.S. credits.

Intensive Beginning German
This course is designed for students who have never studied German or have had one semester of German prior to enrolling in the study abroad program. The class opens with sessions on survival language skills and is designed from a communicative perspective to help true beginners of German language develop fundamental linguistic language skills in listening comprehension, oral communication, reading, and writing. The course encompasses all of the key areas of grammar and vocabulary typically encountered in a first semester German course.

Intensive Intermediate German
This class is designed for students with intermediate language skills. The syllabus is organized functionally around objectives that students need to adjust to living and studying in the German culture and Berlin. Through a communicative methodology, students work to improve their language skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking German. Students focus on real-life application of language. By the end of the course, students cover the basic range of grammatical tools necessary to communicate effectively. These include the present, past, and future tenses, direct and indirect object pronouns, prepositions and adverbs, and selected aspects of the subjective and conditional moods.

Intensive Advanced German
This class is designed to challenge students with increasing language ability to improve on the skills they have already acquired. The syllabus is organized functionally around objectives that students need to adjust to living and studying in the German culture. The course covers all four communicative skills (listening comprehension, oral communication, reading, and writing) with special emphasis on complex aspects of the language that are particularly challenging for English speakers. The course covers abstract functions of language such as expressing opinions, resolving conflicts, formulating complaints, making arguments, and negotiating. Grammatically, emphasis is placed on the correct use of the tools needed to achieve these aims -complex aspects of the various past tenses, the full range of subjunctive and conditional moods, and formal and informal registers.

Semester Courses

REQUIRED SEMESTER-LONG GERMAN LANGUAGE COURSES

All Berlin School of Economics and Law semester-long German language courses will introduce vocabulary related to banking, business communications, meetings, résumé terms, taxes, marketing, finance, etc. Semester-long German Language Courses are 50 contact hours and CIEE will award 3 U.S. credits. All students must enroll in one of the following:

Business German Beginner 1
Business German Beginner 2
Business German Beginner 3
Business German Beginner 4
Business German Intermediate 1
Business German Intermediate 2
Business German Intermediate 3
Business German Intermediate 4
Business German Advanced

Elective Courses taught in English at the Berlin School of Economics and Law*

*Not all courses are offered every semester, and some courses have prerequisites. The final list of courses is made available during the enrollment process.

Basics of External Accounting
Basics of Internal Accounting/Controlling
Business Application
Business Mathematics
Business Organization, Company, Work Seen from the Perspective of History and the Social Sciences
Business Simulation
Communication and Interaction on the Job
Communication Strategies and Consumer Behavior
Cost Accounting
European Economic Policy
Finance and Investment Policies in Business
Financial Analysis and Valuation
Fundamentals of Business Law
Fundamentals of Corporate Finance
Group Accounting and Managerial Accounting
History, Politics, and Economics of the Host Country
Human Resource Management
Human Resources and Organization
Instruments of Controlling
Intercultural Communications
International Business Accounting
International Law & Human Conflicts in Regions of Africa
International Management
Internationalization of Economic Processes - Goals, Instruments, & Actors of Regulation
Introduction to Business Information Systems
Introduction to Financial Accounting
Investment and Finance
Labor Market and Social Welfare State in Europe
Macroeconomics I: The Economic Cycle and Employment
Macroeconomics II: World Market and Currency
Management Accounting and Controlling
Management Issues: Management Consulting
Management Issues: Total Quality Management
Market Research
Marketing
Mathematics for Business and Economics
Microeconomics: Allocation and Distribution
National and International Financial Relations
Operations Management
Organizational Behavior in International Companies
Political Economy and Social Structure of Modern Society
Product and Distribution Management
Regional Studies
Selected Issues in Business Finance
Selected Issues in Marketing
Self-Management
Statistics
Strategic Management
Work, Business, and Society

Students with a very advanced level of German, who pass a placement test on site, may take business courses in German, many of which are offered in parallel to courses taught in English.

Scholarships

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Scholarships & Grants

CIEE offers more than $8 million in scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.

Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:

Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant

To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application. Learn more at the Scholarships & Grants section of our website.

See more scholarship info

Dates & Fees

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Dates & Fees

You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.

YOUR FEE INCLUDES:

Tuition
Housing
Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions
Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet
Orientation – an introduction to German culture, your academic program, and the city, plus practical information about living in your host city
Full-time program leadership and support in your host city
Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities
Excursions and/or Study Tours
Insurance and other travel benefits, with CIEE iNext
24/7 emergency on-site support

To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, ask your college or university study abroad advisor if your school charges additional fees for study abroad.

No Hidden Fees

Program	Application Due	Start Date	End Date	Fees & Housing
Fall 2019 24 weeks	Deadline Passed	Sep 2, 2019*	Feb 14, 2020*	$19,450 Click to Close Program Fees CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel insurance with benefits. Participation Confirmation = $300 * Educational Costs = $14,558 Housing = $4,425 * Insurance = $167 Total Fees = $19,450 Estimated Costs Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration. Meals not included in program fee = $2,800 ^† International Airfare = $1,250 ^†† Local Transportation = $100 ^††† Books & Supplies = $300 Visa Fees = $80 Personal expenses = $2,800 Total Estimated Costs = $7,330 Financial Aid CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants. See Scholarships This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time. Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $500 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed. * non-refundable direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students * Students in the homestay option have two meals per day provided as part of the program fee. No meals are included in the on-campus residence hall option. ^† for students in residence hall or shared apartment; homestay students should budget $1000 per semester for meals not included in fees ^†† round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure ^††† Public transit pass included in student fees
Academic year 2019-2020 49 weeks	Deadline Passed	Sep 2, 2019*	Aug 9, 2020*	$36,955 Click to Close Program Fees CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel insurance with benefits. Participation Confirmation = $300 * Educational Costs = $27,638 Housing = $8,850 * Insurance = $167 Total Fees = $36,955 Estimated Costs Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration. Meals not included in program fee = $5,600 ^† International Airfare = $1,250 ^†† Local Transportation = $200 ^††† Books & Supplies = $600 Visa Fees = $80 Personal expenses = $5,600 Expenses during break = $700 ^†††† Total Estimated Costs = $14,030 Financial Aid CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants. See Scholarships This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time. Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $500 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed. * non-refundable direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students * No meals are included in the on-campus residence hall option. ^† for students in residence hall or shared apartment; homestay students should budget $1000 per semester for meals not included in fees ^†† round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure ^††† Public transit pass included in student fees ^†††† academic year students who wish to stay onsite are responsible for arranging their housing and meals during the semester break
Spring 2020 23 weeks	Nov 1, 2019	Mar 2, 2020*	Aug 9, 2020*	$19,850 Click to Close Program Fees CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel insurance with benefits. Participation Confirmation = $300 * Educational Costs = $14,958 Housing = $4,425 * Insurance = $167 Total Fees = $19,850 Estimated Costs Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration. Meals not included in program fee = $2,800 ^† International Airfare = $1,250 ^†† Local Transportation = $100 ^††† Books & Supplies = $300 Visa Fees = $80 Personal expenses = $2,800 Total Estimated Costs = $7,330 Financial Aid CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants. See Scholarships This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time. Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $500 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed. * non-refundable direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students * Students in the homestay option have two meals per day provided as part of the program fee. No meals are included in the on-campus residence hall option. ^† for students in residence hall or shared apartment; homestay students should budget $1000 per semester for meals not included in fees ^†† round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure ^††† Public transit pass included in student fees

*Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.

Looking for funding?

See Our Scholarships

Our Staff

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Our Staff

Martin-Kley Ph.D.

Director

Martin studied at the Universities of Augsburg (Germany), Pittsburgh, and Texas. He taught German language and culture, as well as film studies, at Gettysburg College before returning to his native Germany.
John Roper, Ph.D.

Academic Director

Since summer 2014, John has taught courses at CIEE focusing on German cultural history, art, and architecture, as well as gender and sexuality in contemporary Germany.

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Business + Culture

Information for term Business + Culture

Application deadline, and cost information.

Application Deadline

Program Deadlines and Pricing Info

Application Deadline

Program Deadlines and Pricing Info

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Program Deadlines and Pricing Info

Overview

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Unique Experiences

Build a stronger knowledge base

Get a handle

Live in a thriving multicultural neighborhood

colleges and universities

research scientists

miles of bike paths

Location & Culture

Your Destination

The Culture

EXCURSIONS & ACTIVITIES

PROJECTS

Daily Life

HOUSING

MEALS

Berlin, Germany

Where You'll Study

A

CIEE GLOBAL INSTITUTE

B

BERLIN SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS AND LAW

C

Getting Around

Like what you're seeing so far?

Program Details

What you need to know

Academics

Academics

CLASS FORMAT

GRADING

ACADEMIC CULTURE

Eligibility

OVERALL GPA

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Curriculum

Spring 2020 Courses

REQUIRED INTENSIVE LANGUAGE COURSES

ELECTIVE COURSES TAUGHT IN ENGLISH AT THE BERLIN SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS AND LAW*

Fall 2019 Courses

REQUIRED INTENSIVE LANGUAGE COURSES

Elective Courses taught in English at the Berlin School of Economics and Law*

Scholarships

Scholarships & Grants

Dates & Fees

Dates & Fees

No Hidden Fees

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Fees & Housing

Program Fees

Estimated Costs

Financial Aid

Program Fees

Estimated Costs

Financial Aid

Program Fees

Estimated Costs

Financial Aid

Looking for funding?

Our Staff

Our Staff

Martin-Kley Ph.D.

Director

John Roper, Ph.D.

Academic Director

Get Started