Contributing Disciplines

Arabic Studies

The Arabic Studies department at Freie Universität has a major focus on classical and modern Arabic literature, Arabic palaeography and book culture, Arabic scholarship and intellectual history, transfer of knowledge in Arabic literature, literature from al-Andalus, folklore and traditions of the Arabic-speaking world, and literature of the Arabic diaspora. It supports the study program with courses on Arabic literature, cultural and intellectual history of the Arabic-speaking world, Qur’an –Tafsir – Hadith, as well as Arabic language courses.

Arabic Studies website

Iranian Studies

One focus of Iranian Studies is the diversity of Iranian languages, cultures, history, and religions from antiquity to late antiquity; thus, the area considered in Iranian studies and research at Freie Universität extends beyond the modern political borders of modern Iran and also includes areas of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. Iranian Studies feed our program with courses from fields such as Iranian history, Iranian literatures and linguistics, and Iranian religions.

Institute of Iranian Studies website

Islamic Studies

Islamic Studies in Berlin focuses on how Islam shaped societies in past and present and also deals with Muslim life in non-Muslim majority societies (including Europe). The Institute for Islamic Studies at Freie Universität Berlin emphasises methodological and theoretical reflection and its research and teaching agenda is characterised by three methodological approaches: cultural studies, history and social sciences. To our program, it contributes with courses on Middle Eastern history as well as Muslim life in Europe.

Institute for Islamic Studies website

Jewish Studies

The Institute of Jewish Studies at Freie Universität Berlin is the oldest institute of its kind at a German university. Its focus areas include Hebrew language, classical Judaism, Jewish intellectual history, Judaism and Islam, and Holocaust Studies. The institute is part of the Selma Stern Center for Jewish Studies Berlin-Brandenburg.

Institute for Jewish Studies website

Semitic Studies

The programme benefits from the focus of Semitic Studies on modern Semitic languages and religious minorities of the Near and Middle East. Areas of study include Arabic linguistics and dialectology, Aramaic linguistics and dialectology, comparative Semitics, and Eastern Christianity.