Information for Students

Academic Advising

Academic advising is available for all students. Students beginning their studies in the Institute and those about to complete their degree are strongly encouraged to speak with the student mentors and/or with their professors for academic advice and guidance. Current contact information for the student mentors can be found on the department's mentoring page (link in German); contact information for the professors can be found on their individual university homepages and here.

Examination Office of the Department of History and Cultural Studies

Contact information and current office hours can be found on the homepage of the Examination Office.

About the Institute of Religious Studies

Religious studies (German: Religionswissenschaft) is an academic discipline which employs (but is not limited to) historical, philological, and sociological approaches to analyse past and present religions. Religious studies takes a neutral perspective on religion(s) and is concerned with understanding the religious beliefs and practices of different cultures and eras.

The Institute of Religious Studies at the Freie Universität Berlin focuses on the European tradition from Greek antiquity to the modern era, whilst also including both scriptural and non-scriptural cultural traditions outside of Europe in its programme. It emphasises the critical examination of fundamental concepts, theories, and methods relevant to the study of religion. This includes the analysis of specific religious and cultural developments as well as of the transfer and transformation of religious ideas and practices in all areas of culture, such as literature, art, philosophy, and the history of scholarship.

Bachelor Combination Degree (Religious Studies as Minor)

Religious Studies can be studied as a minor in a combination BA programme (essential information on combination BA programmes can be found here). Students can choose between 30-credit module and 60-credit module.

For general questions relating to Bachelor studies, please refer to the Student Services Centre (SSC). For specific questions relating to the BA Combination Degree at the Institute for Religious Studies, please contact either Nicola Zambon (nicola.zambon@fu-berlin.de) or Professor Susanne Goedde (susanne.goedde@fu-berlin.de).

The information given here is subject to change with the publication of the FU-memoranda (official journal of the Freie Universtiät Berlin) which puts into effect the study and examination guidelines of these degree programmes. Further Informationen can be found under the following Links (German and English):

Master Programme (MA Degree in Religious Studies)

Students interested in acquiring a Master's Degree in Religious Studies can find current application deadlines and admissions requirements on the website of the Student Services Centre (SSC): Religious Studies. General information on MA programmes at the Freie Universtität Berlin can be found here.

The information given here is subject to change upon the publication of the FU-memoranda (official journal of the Freie Universtiät Berlin), which puts into effect the study and examination guidelines for these degree programmes. Further information can be found under the following links (German):

For questions relating to the MA programme offered by the Institute for Religious Studies, please contact either Nicola Zambon (nicola.zambon@fu-berlin.de) or Professor Susanne Goedde (susanne.goedde@fu-berlin.de).