International summer schools

With the Viadrinicum, the Viadrina offers an annual international, transdisciplinary summer school in Frankfurt (Oder). The event, which is organised jointly with the Centre for East European and International Studies (ZOiS) in Berlin and the Eberhard Schöck Foundation in Baden-Baden, focuses on the countries of the Eastern Partnership and the wider context of Central and Eastern Europe. Each year, a special focus topic is set, enabling discussions on topics such as the post-migrant society, the effects and problems of digitalisation or participatory urban development. The special feature of the transdisciplinary concept is that it opens up a special learning space that transcends disciplinary and sectoral boundaries: in addition to (young) academics, stakeholders from civil society, the arts, politics and administration are invited to address an overarching issue from a variety of perspectives. The diversity of approaches is also reflected in the formats. They range from an urban intervention in the urban space to project work on urban planning or short films to classic seminars. Scholarships are available for participation.

This summer school is part of the programme of the DAAD-funded Competence Network Interdisciplinary Ukrainian Studies Frankfurt (Oder) - Berlin (KIU). It brings together students and academics interested in historical, cultural, social, political, economic, legal and conflict-related questions on and about Ukraine. In addition to academic seminars, the summer school programme includes Ukrainian language courses, public discussions, excursions to the partner organisations and Ukrainian civil society organisations in Berlin, open space formats and cultural events. Participation is open to students of various disciplines and doctoral students from Germany and abroad who are interested in Ukraine. Scholarships are available for the participation.

The Centre for Interdisciplinary Polish Studies has organised or helped to organise more than a dozen summer courses. Since 2014, Interdisciplinary German-Polish Studies has aimed to offer an intensive language and research programme to international students interested in regional studies. Over the course of two to six weeks in June and July, the summer courses offered valuable research insights into topics such as migration, political transformation and border regions. They included contributions from the fields of linguistics, sociolinguistics, cultural history, political science, literary studies and sociology. They also offered intensive language training and were open to students from abroad, especially students who receive the Foreign Language Acquisition Scholarship (FLAS) from US institutions. During the summer courses, the Centre also offered several academic seminars at both Viadrina and Collegium Polonicum, conducted by local scholars as well as lecturers from Wrocław, Prague, Berlin and the United States, among others. The participants were very international, with a focus on the Anglo-American region.

With the founding of the Viadrina Center of Polish and Ukrainian Studies, a tri-national summer school for students from Germany, Poland and Ukraine was developed, which took place at Viadrina/CP in 2023 and at the University of Thorn in 2024.

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The annual summer school organised by the Faculty of Law at Viadrina focuses on the European system for the protection of human rights. In contrast to numerous similar study programmes on human rights protection offered in Europe, this summer school focuses on different European systems and the specifically European issues of human rights protection. It thus addresses important issues relevant to over forty European countries with different political, economic and social systems. The subject matter includes human rights protection within the systems of the Council of Europe (European Convention on Human Rights and European Social Charter), the European Community, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Accords) as well as protection at the universal level of international law. The treatment of the substantive regimes and their specific catalogues of rights takes place against the background of a consideration of the philosophical, historical, political, economic and sociological aspects of human rights and includes practical institutional issues such as complaints procedures and developments in the field of "new rights".

As part of the International Network of Universities (INU), Viadrina is involved in organising the International Student Seminar for Global Citizenship and Peace. The event, which has been held at the University of Hiroshima, Japan, since 2006, brings together around 60 students from the partner universities in the INU every year. The aim of the seminar is to develop practical knowledge about global citizenship and peace with a focus on interdisciplinary problems and the solution of real political, economic, social and cultural problems. The workshops of the seminar are offered by lecturers from different disciplines from all INU member universities. The 10-day programme includes lectures, case studies and small group discussions and provides an ideal environment for students to present their views on current issues and exchange their different points of view. The programme also includes excursions to local places of interest, cultural learning experiences such as participation in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony offered on 6 August and a 'United Nations' role play in which groups of students represent different countries and negotiate to pass a fictional draft resolution.

The Student Conference, organised at Parahyangan Catholic University in Bandung, Indonesia, has been bringing together around 60 students from the partner universities in the International Network of Universities (INU) every year since 2016. The conference combines classroom-based activities in the form of workshops and lectures with practice-based activities in the form of site visits and cultural activities. It is dedicated to different themes (in January 2025 to innovative, sustainable and inclusive education) and organised around specific, interconnected sub-themes that build on each other. The involvement of academics and key stakeholders from different fields will provide participants with new insights into the development and implementation of the topics covered.

The Viadrina supports partner universities in carrying out study-related programmes abroad under the direction of their lecturers in Frankfurt (Oder) and the surrounding area. We combine academic learning with cultural experience. Our programmes offer structured support, promote intercultural competence and personal development. Practical activities deepen the understanding of the programme content. The programmes create unique learning environments, strengthen a sense of community and provide networking opportunities for future careers. Three Viadrina summer courses are specially designed for Bachelor students who can only study abroad for a short period of time. These courses take place between the beginning of June and the end of July and focus on current European topics. All participants study together with Viadrina students, giving them the opportunity to immerse themselves in a new academic environment, gain intercultural experience and develop both professionally and personally. Students receive 6 ECTS per course.

The summer programme at the European University Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder) combines excellent English-language courses with a unique international experience in the heart of Europe and offers you all the advantages of a short exchange semester for those interested in undergraduate studies. During the six-week stay, students from all over the world earn academic credits (up to 18 ECTS), make international contacts and experience cultural exchange. More information