Few cities match the historical importance of Berlin. First documented in the 13th century, Berlin has served as the capital of the Kingdom of Prussia, the German Empire, the Weimar Republic, the Third Reich and the current unified Germany. It bore witness to the actions of the Nazi party, the divide into East and West Berlin and later, a sentence that echoed around the world: "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall." Throughout these years, Berlin has developed into an international hotspot that serves as an ideal location to study, learn and live.

Berlin -- one of the sixteen federal states of the Federal Republic of Germany -- is the largest city in the country, and with 3.4 million citizens, is the second most populous city in the entire European Union. Because of its size and importance, it serves as one of the most influential centers in European politics, culture and science, and therefore makes a great study abroad destination for anyone interested in virtually any field of study.

Berlin is also a key European city for higher education and research, with an average of 110,000 students annually attending the three largest universities -- Freie Universität Berlin (FU), the Humboldt Universität zu Berlin (HU) and the Universität der Künste (UdK) -- and 140,000 students attending technical universities such as the Technische Universität Berlin. Fraunhofer and the Max Planck Society are two examples of research institutions that populate the city, where more than 60,000 scientists are currently working on various research and development. And the Charité, the largest university hospital in Europe, serves as the medical school for both the FU and the HU.

Berlin is also known for having a rich and diverse art scene, playing host to hundreds of art galleries as well as annual international art fairs, such as Art Forum. The city has more than 150 museums, and even has a sector called Museum Island, located in the center of the city. Artists from all over the world have moved to Berlin, helping to establish it as a hub for popular culture. While that makes Berlin perfect for art students and culture lovers (as well as historians, since many of the museums showcase history, such as the Jewish Museum, the Pergamon Museum, and the Egyptian Museum), the city is also a good location for music majors and proud members of the MTV generation. Europe's largest music industry convention, Popkomm, moved to Berlin in 2003, after 15 years in Cologne, and the Universal Music Group and MTV have moved their European headquarters there. Germany's capital also contains more than 50 theaters, seven symphony orchestras and three opera houses.

In addition to being the headquarters for several large media companies, Berlin is home to many other influential companies including the pharmaceutical companies BayerSchering Pharma and Berlin Chemie, the railway company Deutsche Bahn AG, the local public transport company BVG and the service provider Dussmann. Students may also recognize Siemens, DaimlerChrysler, BMW or Sony. Berlin also boasts one of the biggest scientific and technological parks in the world, the Science and Business Park of Berlin-Adlershof.

Berlin has been recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as a City of Design. This is because it consists of a unique blend of ancient and modern. The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church is a prime example of classic, gothic architecture, while the new Reichstag glass dome and the Potsdamer Platz/Sony Center are a stunning, shimmering display of modern building ingenuity. The Brandenburg Gate is acknowledged as a symbol of all of Germany, and the innovative Weltzeituhr world time clock has been viewed by millions of tourists throughout its lifetime. Architecture and engineering majors will have plenty to study, no matter what their specialty may be. To gain a greater appreciation for Berlin's architecture and its role in German politics, all students will want to check out both the Schloss Bellevue (home to Germany's president, currently Horst Köhler) and the Reichstag building, which houses the German parliament.

For future zoologists or students of the environment, Zoologischer Garten Berlin is an almost 150-year-old zoo with the most diverse group of animal species in the world, and Tierpark Friedrichsfelde is the largest zoo in Europe. Additionally, Berlin's botanical garden is the largest in Europe, proving that even sprawling cityscapes can have lush foliage within their borders.

What all this adds up to is an internationally diverse and cultural European gem that has a fascinating history and an exciting present. Students can come to Berlin and engross themselves in the German language and lifestyle, or they can open themselves to a path to the rest of the world. They can let the city feel small and intimate or expansive and far-reaching. They can marvel at buildings and animals, enjoy music and art or embrace any other aspect of their education that they feel needs enriching. With more universities than just about any city in Europe, Berlin is truly one of the world's greatest locations in which to study abroad.

Resources -

DAAD - German Academic Exchange Service: http://www.daad.org
Freie Universität Berlin: http://www.fu-berlin.de/
Humboldt Universität zu Berlin: http://www.hu-berlin.de/indexe.html
Berlin Tourism: http://www.berlin-tourist-information.de/
Berlin.de: http://www.berlin.de/english/
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program: http://www.iie.org/gilman
National Security Education Program: http://www.iie.org/NSEP