Student Guide Freie Universität Berlin International Summer and Winter University Term III July 22 - August 19, 2017 TAB L E OF CONTENTS WELCOME TO FUBiS Term III 3 OVERVIEW CALENDAR 4 I. BEFORE YOU LEAVE - Checklist 5 II. ARRIVAL - Saturday, July 22, 2017 6-14 A. Arrival - General Information 6 B. Public Transportation 6 C. Important Accommodation Information 6 D. Directions to Student Accommodations 7-10 E. Accommodation Area Maps 11-13 III. WELCOME & ORIENTATION (Dahlem Campus) - Sunday, July 23, 2017 14-17 A. Orientation Meeting 14 B. Directions to the Orientation Meeting 15-16 C. Campus Map Dahlem 17 IV. FREIE UNIVERSITÄT BERLIN & FUBiS (Lankwitz Campus) 18 A. Lankwitz Campus of Freie Universität Berlin 18 B. FUBiS Office 18 C. Mensa (Dining Hall) 18 D. Computer and Internet: General Information 18 V. FIRST DAY OF CLASS (Lankwitz Campus) 19 A. German Language Courses (A-Track and C-Track) 19 B. Subject Courses (A-Track and B-Track) 19 C. Class Schedule 19 D. Campus Tours 19 E. Lankwitz Campus Map 20 F. Directions to Lankwitz Campus 21-22 VI. COMPUTER LABS & INTERNET 23 A. Computer Lab Guidelines 23 B. Computer Account and Wireless Internet 23 C. Printing 23 VII. EVENTS & EXCURSIONS 24 VIII. MAIL & TELEPHONE 25 A. Receiving Mail 25 B. Calling (from) abroad 25 IX. ENGLISH-SPEAKING DOCTORS 26 X. IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS & SYMBOLS 27 A. Important Telephone Numbers 27 B. Important Symbols 27 XI. STUDY ABROAD TIPS 28 Page 2 WELCOME TO FUBiS TERM III 2017! Dear FUBiS Students, Welcome to Term III of Freie Universität Berlin International Summer and Winter University FUBiS! As your program coordinator, I am excited that you are joining us for a stimulating and rewarding experience in one of Europe’s most fascinating cities. As you will soon discover, Berlin is a city of exciting contrasts: East meets West, history collides with future, art fuses with underground. The German capital is not only bustling with representatives and lobbyists but foremost with people who are attracted by Berlin’s cultural variety and antithetic life styles. As a future FUBiS participant you will soon have the opportunity to discover the city’s countless museums, monuments and memorials, concert halls and opera houses as well as its various districts, pubs and clubs. Freie Universität Berlin was founded in 1948 with considerable U.S. support and ranks among today’s leading universities in Germany and Europe. It will be your academic home this summer. Freie Universität Berlin is located in a charming and mostly residential area in Berlin’s green southwest; yet, due to Berlin’s superb public transportation network, it is within easy reach of the city’s downtown areas. As an officially enrolled student you will have full access to its facilities. Look forward to a diverse and exciting FUBiS program! Our faculty will be teaching a series of stimulating subject and German language courses, in which you will find yourself making solid progress, both academically and linguistically. In addition, we will offer a wealth of extracurricular activities which will help you get to know and understand Berlin and Germany even better. The purpose of this FUBiS Student Guide is to give you a brief overview of what to expect in Berlin, at Freie Universität Berlin, and during the FUBiS program. Please read it carefully. This information will be of assistance to you, especially during your first days at Freie Universität Berlin. You will find out that even everyday things can be different from your own country’s customs – be brave enough to embrace and experience these differences! Keep an open mind and bring a sense of humor. And perhaps you will discover new things about yourself, too: Maybe there is a Berliner in you waiting to be found! We hope that in the end you will share the FUBiS passion with us – and who knows maybe we will see you again in another FUBiS term. But for now, have a good time at FUBiS! Perhaps not all of your questions will be answered once you have finished reading this Student Guide. If there is something you wish to discuss which we have not covered, please check our website www.fubis.org or contact us at [email protected]. We look forward to meeting you in Berlin! All the best, Dorothee Mackowiak Program Coordinator Page 3 TERM III OVERVIEW: JULY 22 - AUGUST 19, 2 017 Wednesday Monday Tuesday Thursday Friday German course Saturday Sunday Track A & C Track B & C Track A & C Track B & C field trips 17.07. 18.07. 19.07. 20.07. 21.07. 22.07. 23.07. Arrival Orientation (2 pm) 24.07. 25.07. 26.07. 27.07. 28.07. 29.07. 30.07. Week First day of class First day of class River Boat Tour Movie Time (3:30 pm) Potsdam Reichstag 1 A-Track and C-Track B-Track German Language Placement Interviews 31.07. 01.08. 02.08. 03.08. 04.08. 05.08. 06.08. Week AUGUST Movie Time (3:30 pm) Dresden Dresden 2 07.08. 08.08. 09.08. 10.08. 11.08. 12.08. 13.08. Movie Time (3:30 pm) Leipzig Week 3 14.08. 15.08. 16.08. 17.08. 18.08. 19.08. 20.08. Farewell Ceremony Departure Week (2 pm) (2 pm) 4 Page 4 I . B E F O RE YOU LEAVE Checklist Please print out this Student Guide and bring it with you! Valid passport (and visa, if you need one). Make photocopies of your passport and other important documents (visa, plane tickets, etc.) and put them in your carry-on luggage. International health/accident insurance (if not contracted through FUBiS). Credit card (Master/VISA), debit card (Maestro/EC), or traveler’s checks. Keep a copy of your credit card numbers and the phone numbers to cancel cards in case they are lost or stolen. Keep this information separate from your wallet. At least 300 € in cash: You will need it to purchase a transportation pass, pay the deposit for your accommodation, and cover other living expenses during your first days in Berlin. Mark your luggage with your home address as well as with the address of FUBiS (Freie Universität Berlin International Summer and Winter University FUBiS, c/o ERG Universitätsservice GmbH, „Your Name,“ Malteserstr. 74-100, 12249 Berlin, Germany). If your luggage gets lost, ask to have it delivered to the FUBiS office (and not to your accommodation). Pack some clothes in your carry-on luggage just in case your suitcase gets lost. Bring an adequate supply of any prescription medications you need (in original containers). Toiletry brands may differ from those in your home country, so you may want to pack your own. Please bring your own towels, as they will not be provided for you in the various accommodations booked through FUBiS. Bed linen, however, will be provided. Electrical transformer/adaptors: You may need a transformer for your electrical appliances in order to use 220-volt German/European current. An adaptor is needed to make the plug fit into outlets. In most cases, a laptop will only need an adaptor. Laptop computer with Wi-Fi capability (highly recommended). International Student Identity Card (ISIC) (recommended). Berlin guide (e.g. Lonely Planet Travel Guides or Let’s Go series). A word of advice: Be realistic about what you need and what you can/should bring! It is best NOT to have many things sent to you in Germany by mail. In the past students have faced unpleasant bills from the German customs office. Page 5 II. ARRIVAL - SATU RDAY, JULY 22, 2 017 A. Arrival - General Information Please bring at least 300 € in cash and a credit or debit card so that you can withdraw money. You will need the 300 € to purchase a monthly public transportation pass, pay the deposit for your accommodation, and cover other living expenses during your first days in Berlin. On the following pages you will find directions on how to get from Berlin’s airports and central station to the various FUBiS accommodations using public transportation. If you have arranged for your own housing or have chosen the homestay option, the following links may be useful to you in finding your way to your accommodation: http://www.bvg.de/en (Berlin’s public transportation website) http://www.bvg.de/de/Fahrinfo/Jederzeit-mobil (Berlin’s public transportation App) http://www.berlin-airport.de/en/index.php (Berlin’s airport information website) If you do not wish to use public transportation on the first day, you can take a taxi, which can be found at the airport or train station taxi stands. However, it is still a good idea to purchase your public transportation pass directly when you arrive, as you will soon need it. Please note that in Germany most stores are closed on Sundays. It is therefore advisable to buy some food on Saturday. If you arrive late on Saturday, you may want to purchase some food at the airport or close-by when you arrive. For additional information regarding grocery stores, please see the last page of the Student Guide. B. Public Transportation To use Berlin’s public transportation system, you will need to purchase a flexible monthly ticket (a transportation pass valid for one month from the day you purchase it onward) for Berlin public transportation zones AB. This ticket costs 81.00 € and is valid for all means of public transportation: U-Bahn (subway/metro), S-Bahn (city train), bus, tram and Regionalexpress (RE)/ Regionalbahn (RB) (regional trains) inside the Berlin tariff zones. Please note: There is unfortunately no discount available for short-term students.