Refugees welcome

From April 2016 refugees can study as guest students at the Berlin School of Economics and Law free of charge. The Central Student Advisory provides information on the courses offered in German and English, the admission requirements and the application procedures.

“When can we begin studying?” Mohammad Salim asked the First Vice President of the Berlin School of Economics and Law, Professor Dr. Andreas Zaby, after he had explained the German higher education system, the Berlin School of Economics and Law programme portfolio, special advisory services and support services for refugees as well as the admission requirements for guest students and for regular Bachelors and Masters studies. The 34 year old Syrian, who graduated in Law and Business Administration in Damascus, came to an information event at the Schöneberg campus in mid-February 2016, held especially for refugees, providing advice on “what the German market needs” and the study and further education options provided by the Berlin School of Economics and Law. Because he, like many of the other participants in the packed hall, wants to kick start his professional career in Germany and gain the appropriate qualifications.

The audience of approximately 100 - many having already completed degrees or some study semesters, almost all with knowledge of English, and some already with good knowledge of German - discover during the lectures on the Schöneberg and Lichtenberg campuses that free participation in the chosen courses is also possible for refugees who live in Berlin, even if they have not yet secured a place on a regular degree course.

Zaby advises the highly motivated new Berliners on the opportunity to firstly be a guest student on English-speaking courses, if necessary, and to undertake an intensive German course alongside. Because proof of passing German as a foreign language at level C1 is generally required to study a regular Bachelors or Masters at a German higher education institution, university entrance qualifications or first degrees must be reviewed by the central accreditation office of the Senate Administration for Education, Youth and Science.

For an easier entry into studying, the Berlin School of Economics and Law - supported financially by the Berlin Senate - provides supplementary courses for refugees in maths and other introductory classes in business topics, offers them the General Studies programme with a wide spectrum of modules across various disciplines, and offers a special mentoring programme.