Starting your studies of ISME
Welcome to Berlin
You're about to study the Middle East in one of Europe's most vibrant, complex cities. Moving here—whether from another country or just another city—is exciting and disorienting. You'll figure out the U-Bahn, find your favorite döner spot, discover which library has the best quiet corners, and build a community with your cohort.
This page walks you through the practical steps of starting at ISME. Some of it is administrative (unavoidable, sorry), but we've tried to make it as clear as possible.
Important: ISME helps with program-specific questions. For visas, housing, enrollment, and general university matters, Freie Universität has dedicated offices—we'll link to them throughout.
Key Dates for Winter 2025/26
Before you arrive:
- September 2025: Pre-arrival peer mentoring online—connect with current students (details here)
- By late September: If you're arriving after October starts, request a late-arrival letter from us: isme@geschkult.fu-berlin.de
Orientation week (October 1-10):
- Oct 1, 10 AM-12 PM: Central orientation for international students (Henry Ford Building) (more info)
- Oct 1-31: Course registration period (you have the whole month!)
- Oct 9, 10:15-11:45 AM: ISME program orientation online—don't miss this
- Oct 9, 2 PM: Q&A with Office for Academic Affairs (join here)
- Oct 10: Deadline to indicate course preferences for limited-capacity courses
Classes and community:
- Oct 13: Classes begin
- Oct 15, 2-3 PM: Introduction for new international MA students at Dept of History & Cultural Studies (room 2.2059)
- Oct 15, 6-9:30 PM: Welcome party at Café Holzkopf—meet your peers!
- Oct 28, 7 PM: Matriculation ceremony at Dept of History & Cultural Studies (Lecture Hall 1a, Habelschwerdter Allee 45)
- Oct 31: Course registration closes
Getting Started: The Essentials
Confirm your enrollment
You'll receive an admission letter with a deadline to confirm you're coming. Respond by that date. Pay any enrollment fees. Submit required documents. Check if you need a student visa—if yes, start that process immediately.
Email us at isme@geschkult.fu-berlin.de once you've confirmed enrollment, especially if you have questions or need that late-arrival letter.
Find housing (start early!)
Berlin's housing market is competitive. Student dorms, WGs (shared apartments), and private rentals all fill up fast. Start looking months in advance.
FU has housing resources, but honestly: use multiple platforms, be persistent, consider temporary options first. Everyone struggles with this—you're not alone.
Set up your accounts
Once enrolled, you'll get your Zedat account—this is your key to everything:
- University email (@fu-berlin.de)
- Campus management system
- Blackboard (learning platform)
- WiFi (eduroam)
Use only your @fu-berlin.de email for all university communication. Set it up before orientation.
Arrive and settle in
When you get to Berlin:
- Register your address (Anmeldung)—legally required within 2 weeks
- Validate your Campuscard for public transport (semester ticket)
- Open a German bank account if needed (helpful but not urgent)
- Get familiar with campus—it's big!
Learn the systems
Watch the campus management introduction video to understand how course registration works.
Explore the course catalog to see what's offered this semester. You won't understand everything yet—that's fine. Just get a sense of the landscape.
Read the study and examination regulations (at least skim them). You don't need to memorize this, but knowing where to find information helps.
Attend orientation
Oct 9, 10:15-11:45 AM: This is the ISME program orientation—we'll walk you through modules, course registration, examinations, and answer your questions. Show up with your confusion and curiosity.
If you're an international student, the Oct 1 central orientation is also helpful for general university logistics.
Register for courses
Registration period: Oct 1-31
By Oct 10: Indicate your preferences for limited-capacity courses (most ISME courses have limited spots)
Oct 11: Check if you got your preferred courses
Oct 11-31: Register for remaining open spots, adjust as needed
You register through campus management for ISME courses. For courses from other departments, use this form.
Important: Once registered, check that you're enrolled in each course on Blackboard (the learning platform). If you're not there, contact the instructor—course materials and communication happen through Blackboard.
Show up on Oct 13
Classes start. Attend from day one. Syllabi get distributed, expectations are set, reading lists are shared. You'll meet your fellow sudents. It begins.
Your First Semester: What to Expect
In your first semester, you'll take 3-4 courses across three modules. These introduce you to ISME's interdisciplinary approach—studying the Middle East through multiple lenses, languages, and methods.
Module 1: Studying the Middle East
What it is:
A course exploring "the Middle East in Berlin" PLUS a writing course.
What you do:
Attend both. At the end, write one 5000-word paper with the writing course instructor.
Grading: Pass/fail
Why it matters: This gives you the opportunity to explore Berlin and different forms of writing that are not just your standard Oxford paper.
Module 2: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Middle East
What it is:
An advanced seminar (offered only in winter) and a methods course (offered only in summer).
What you do in semester 1:
Take the advanced seminar. You'll complete the methods course next semester; you can write your 5000-word paper with one of the two instructors, so either in the winter or in summer.
Grading: Graded—counts toward your final grade
Important: You can't finish this module in one semester. Plan accordingly.
Module 3: Reading the Middle East
What it is:
Two courses focused on reading primary sources.
Your options:
- Reading the Middle East: Texts in English
- Reading the Middle East Through Its Languages: Texts in original languages (Arabic, Persian, Hebrew, Turkish, Armenian, etc.)
You cannot unfortunately mix and match—to complete the program, you need either module, but of course, if you have the capacities, you can always study more ;-)
What you do:
Participate actively. Read carefully. Discuss.
Grading: No exam! Just show up and engage.
Can I take other courses?
Yes! If you're ready, you can also take courses from the advanced area (Histories, Traditions, Languages, Literatures). Most students stick to the three core modules in semester 1, but there's flexibility.
How much is this?
About 30 ECTS for the semester—a full workload but manageable.
Important Resources
For ISME-specific questions:
isme@geschkult.fu-berlin.de
Provisional course catalog:
ISME Winter 2025 courses
FU general resources:
- Information for new students
- Campus management introduction
- Center for Academic Advising has fact sheets: "Newly enrolled—what next?" and "Getting Started at FU" and "studying 101 – a simple guide for students".
Still have questions?
Contact the academic advisors: isme@geschkult.fu-berlin.de
Yes! Especially for your complementary area (15 ECTS). You'll need to register using this form and get approval. Check our Credits page for the full process.
No. ISME accommodates late arrivals (we know visas are unpredictable). Classes start Oct 13, but you can catch up. If you need an official late-arrival letter for your visa, email isme@geschkult.fu-berlin.de by late September or October.
