Our BA Architecture student Ema is talking about studying at Berlin International and answering the most frequently asked questions to prospective students of BI!
The BA Architecture program provides students with the skills and specialized knowledge to develop and apply creative and responsible solutions in the field of architecture. The program is firmly grounded in the vibrant city of Berlin but taught exclusively in English. It is designed to help students understand their role and responsibility as architects in any given physical and cultural context – on either a local or a global level.
Applications at Berlin International are now open! Apply now until August 31st, 2024.
“Hi, I’m Emma! I’m 19 and I’m from Slovakia. I’m currently studying a bachelor’s in architecture and I’m in my second year. The reason why I chose architecture is that I wanted to combine my favorite subjects into one major – art and math or physics. This major really provided that combination in a very balanced way.
Some of the best experiences I’ve had over the past 3 semesters at this university would definitely, first and foremost, be getting to know the community. Because the university is so multicultural, not just in the representation of students but also the professors, there are so many different kinds of cultures and stories that make it such a fascinating community. Especially because our professors and lecturers are from all over the world we get all these different inputs on architecture that will definitely help us in our future careers.
I chose Berlin International for several reasons but the main was because it is a small university. Personally, I always found it hard to learn in really large classes as the learning approach is so generalized and here it’s very personalized. We get many one-on-one feedback sessions with the professors and in many classes, we’re separated into even smaller groups so that we can discuss what we’re missing or what we don’t understand.
Another reason was definitely its location. Berlin is just such a fascinating city full of so many different kinds of architecture, which is a great addition to our studies because we can see so many examples of things we’re studying just around the corner. Studying in such an international environment, besides getting to know people from all over the world, has really helped me grow as an individual because there are just so many different people there’s really no judgement or anyone not fitting in. Everyone is so inviting and eager to get to know you and your story that everyone really has a place.
The special thing about Berlin is, that it’s Berlin. There really isn’t much more to it. Studying and living in Berlin is such a unique experience. It’s a very historically dense city so we get to go on many excursions to visit museums or galleries but it’s also a very cultural and artistic city. So in my opinion it’s definitely one of the best places to study anything design-related.
Regarding my future career plans, I still don’t have much of an idea of what I want to do with my degree. But because many of our professors and lecturers are also working in the field in various ways, we’re given an insight into the real-life workings of our major and that really lets us understand it and then further choose which direction we’re going to take. And because our professors are working in the field, it might open up potential opportunities to work with them right after graduating.
The advice I would give to prospective BI students, especially in the field of architecture, would be to really keep an open mind. In terms of the material, we’re taught in lectures of the opinions of others. If you have an open mind, it opens up so many doors. You may not understand why the material you’re learning is relevant or whether someone’s opinion is right or not but honestly, just trust the process. The professors know what they’re doing and often the material I thought was completely irrelevant turned out to be the most helpful. And the varying opinions of my classmates opened up my eyes to different possibilities and perspectives.
If I were to describe BI in three words it would definitely be exciting, inviting and multicultural. My program in three words is definitely stressful but it’s also fulfilling and eye-opening. Berlin in three words would be fascinating, diverse and lively.”
Thank you for taking the time to read our article about studying at Berlin International, from our student Ema Humajova. If you are interested in pursuing your studies in Berlin, take a look at our BA Architecture program. Feel free to reach out to our Admissions Team at any time via application@berlin-international.de.
