Berlin Consortium for German Studies (BCGS)

Bundestag interior

The City

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 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 and 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