Berlin Consortium for German Studies (BCGS)

The City

Bundestag interior

Since the city’s reunification in 1990, Berlin has been characterized by change and invention. Emerging from the fall of the Berlin wall as a cultural and economic capital city, Berlin is alive with a sense of transformation and progress. A vibrant nightlife, exciting art scene, and myriad cultural venues contribute to Berlin’s status as one of Europe’s most cosmopolitan and sophisticated urban centers. As a student at the Freie Universität (FU), Berlin’s largest university, students will have countless opportunities to absorb the lessons of the city and its inhabitants.

 

 

The Consortium

The Berlin Consortium for German Studies (BCGS) was founded in 1995 by a group of top U.S. universities who together represent the leading"Be prepared to take things as they come, but don't let your first impressions narrow your perspective. Look deeper, try for understanding and come prepared to adapt." departments of German language and literature instruction in America.

The program was developed to support advanced language students in their direct enrollment in courses at the Freie Universität Berlin for one semester or, ideally, a full academic year.

Consortium Members

University of Chicago * Columbia University/Barnard College * Cornell University * The Johns Hopkins University * University of Pennsylvania * Princeton University * In association with Vassar College

The BCGS is dedicated to:

• Maintaining the high academic standards of its member institutions
• Helping participants improve their German language skills
• Encouraging participants to function independently in the German university system
• Offering a program that allows participants to fully experience German life, customs, and culture