Freie Universität Berlin
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International Student Support
Grafik Banner Information und Beratung International
In September 2023, the new department International Student Support began its work. Building on the expired projects "ISFU - International Students at the FU Berlin" and the "Welcome Open Office Hour", the International Student Support will implement various measures to support international prospective and current students. The measures are geared towards the complete student journey and pursue the following goals: improving the information available to international students, facilitating their connection to the FU Berlin and supporting their academic success. In addition, the International Student Support aims to provide information and advice that is sensitive to diversity and discrimination across all departments. In order to achieve these goals, the International Student Support team will be active in three areas: Advising, Information Management and Event Organization.
Information
A restructuring of the information for international students on the FU website and the creation of infographics, checklists and explanatory videos, e.g. for the uni-assist application, are central means of information management. This also includes the networking function of the International Student Support team, including a stronger exchange with the departments in order to better inform international students about existing support measures. The existing ISFU mailing list has been professionalized so that subscribers have been receiving a monthly newsletter with event announcements and useful information since October 2023.
Peer mentoring for international students
The International Student Support Team has been offering a mentoring program for international students at FU Berlin since the winter semester 2024/25. Our peer mentors, experienced international students at FU Berlin, offer regular meetings for new international students. At these meetings, students exchange views on current issues, share their knowledge and network with each other. These mentoring meetings are accompanied by information events and workshops.
Events
In the area of event organization, the International Student Support team will regularly offer information events in German and English. Digital events for prospective students will provide information on study orientation, the German higher education system, formalities, finding accommodation and the application process. The events have an interactive character in order to incorporate questions from participants directly and to go into more detail in small groups at the end. To make the process of arriving and starting your studies easier, introductory events are held in person and digitally. Workshops on university culture, academic work, stress reduction, etc. are intended to contribute to successful study. In this context, it is important that international students know from the outset which institutions they can contact with which concerns. The International Student Support team will therefore continuously ensure that applicants and new students know and use these contact points.
Advising
The International Student Support Team provides support in the respective areas as general academic student advisors or psychological counselors. The International Student Support team does not offer a regular personal office hour; instead, prospective and current international students should contact the Info-Service Studium with all matters relating to their studies. If their requests cannot be conclusively discussed at the Info-Service Studium, they will be forwarded directly to competent contact personal in the respective areas, such as the General Academic Advising and the Psychological Counseling. In addition to this increase in staff for regular individual counseling, the International Student Support Team will offer group counseling sessions following information events. The team's tasks also include acquiring greater expertise in the field of international affairs and, thanks to a well-functioning knowledge transfer, passing this expertise on to the respective areas of the Center for Academic Advising and Psychological Counseling. In this way, the International Student Support Team supports the internationalization process of our central institution.