Free University of Berlin
The Free University of Berlin (Freie Universität Berlin, FU) is a public research university in Berlin, Germany. Founded on 4 December 1948 in West Berlin, it emerged during the Cold War as a Western counterpart to the East Berlin university system. Its name reflected the university’s place in the free, democratic world of the western sectors.
FU Berlin sits mainly in the Dahlem area, on a campus designed to resemble a “university town” with several connected building complexes. Notable features include the Henry Ford Building, the Rost- und Silberlaube complex, and the brain-shaped Philological Library by architect Norman Foster. The university is also linked to the city’s famous Berlin Botanical Garden nearby.
Today, about 38,000 students study at FU Berlin, supported by around 2,850 academic staff and 2,700 administrative staff. The university offers more than 190 degree programs across numerous disciplines. It does not charge traditional tuition fees; students pay a small semester contribution to cover administration and public transport.
FU Berlin is part of Germany’s top-tier research landscape. It is a member of the Berlin University Alliance and has earned recognition through national and international excellence programs. The university collaborates closely with Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (the shared medical school with Humboldt University), and it hosts several interdisciplinary research centers. Internationally, FU Berlin maintains hundreds of partnerships and hosts many visiting scholars each year, with active programs like ERASMUS and the FUBiS international study offerings.
The university emphasizes a broad, liberal-arts approach alongside strong science and humanities research. Its motto, Veritas, Iustitia, Libertas — Truth, Justice, Liberty — reflects its historical roots in promoting academic freedom and open inquiry. FU Berlin has a long tradition of influential scholarship, Nobel laureates, and contributions to culture and public life, including notable lectures and collaborations that reach beyond Germany.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 08:57 (CET).