Understand the city
Berlin is very big and the neighbourhoods are very different and diverse from each other. Once you can navigate the city, everything makes much more sense and you understand the space better.
Campuses
Student Life in Berlin
The third and final year of the Forward expedition takes place in Berlin, the European Union’s most populous city. With incredible architecture and extensive green areas full of parks, gardens, canals, and lakes near the city centre, the German capital is perfect for enjoying sunny days.
Berlin is also famous for its many museums such as the Dahlem Museums, the Egyptian Museum, and the Berlin Cultural Forum, home of the New National Gallery. The city is also renowned for its technology industries, being home to some of the world’s largest and best-known companies.
The Student Residence – Spreepolis
Our students will live together in Spreepolis – a residence for international students located in the Schöneweide district, a former important industrial area on the bank of the river Spree, now renovated and home to studios, galleries, and museums. Spreepolis is a 25-minute bike ride from the Factory and 40 minutes by public transport.
Spreepolis is situated in a central area, two minutes from the Kaisersteg Promenade park, close to supermarkets and served by public transport.
Discover more about Spreepolis here
Student life, activities, sports and more
Berlin has a world-famous nightlife that attracts around three million people annually but beyond that it’s a great city for galleries and museums, to go for walks in the parks, or just to explore by bike or the extensive public transport system.
Cost of living in Berlin
Let’s take a look at some of the costs you may have in your third year studying at Forward’s Berlin campus.
| Activities | Costs per week | Cost per month | Cost per academic year (52 weeks) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student home | From €175 to €250 | From €700 to €1000 | From €9,100 to €13,000 |
| Private health insurance | €30 | €120 | €1,560 |
| Public transport pass | €12.25 | €49 | €637 |
| Groceries | From €50 to €75 | From €200 to €300 | From €2,600 to €3,900 |
| Mobile Phone Plan | €2.50 | €10 | €130 |
| Leisure activities and daily expenses* | From €25 to €50 | From €100 to €200 | From €1,300 to €2,600 |
| Activity | Costs |
|---|---|
| Meal in a average restaurant | €18 |
| Take away in a bakery (lunch menus, sandwiches…) | €10 |
| Coffee | €2.50 |
| Cinema ticket | €10 |
| Nightclub entry | €10 |
| Single metro ticket | €3 |
*includes gym, nightlife, cinema and other types of entertainment.
10 tips from our students before joining the Berlin campus
Studying abroad is one of the most important decisions in your life. By deciding to join Forward you will be pushed out of your comfort zones on a number of occasions: you will transition from high school to university, learn autonomy, live away from your family in a new country, be immersed in a multicultural student body so it’s a good idea to get prepared before arriving. Here are a few tips from our students:
Fresh Groceries
Buy your groceries at one of the many weekly markets around the city. Producers from the region sell their fruit and vegetables fresher and cheaper than in the supermarket.
Our favourite is the market on Maybachufer, a 10-minute walking distance from the Learning Centre.
How to party
Berlin is the world capital of techno. You won’t be able to avoid going to at least one or two techno parties while you are here – go into it with an open mind and you’ll have a lot of fun!
Connect with locals
Berlin has many universities – the city is full of teenagers and young adults, make friends and socialise to get the best experience.
Take the essentials
This will be your third year, by which time you will be a pro at packing well to deal with different eventualities.
Find your go-to Späti
Spätis are small kiosks that are open around the clock and offer everything you need in terms of drinks, snacks, and essentials. There are about 1,200 Spätis in Berlin, but soon you’ll have your favourite Späti Guy where you get your Mate-drink and sit on the benches in front of it.
Prepare for winter
The summer in Berlin is beautiful, but the winter is very cold – so you should dress well and warmly. Layers on the body, and thick socks with good footwear are the key.
No language barrier
German is a very difficult language to learn if you didn’t grow up speaking a Germanic language, but don’t worry. Berlin is a super international city – in most cafés the baristas only speak English, as they are international students themselves!
Turkish Greengrocers
You can find fresh produce, snacks and desserts in the Turkish grocery shops that are everywhere in the city.
Best coffee places
- “Zeit für Brot” for the best cinnamon buns
- “St. Oberholz” for the best study cafe
- “Annelies” for the best coffee and sandwich/brunch (it’s right next to the factory where we have classes)
