New student in Germany? Here's how to find your Berlin community
An international school in an international city
ESMT Berlin is a highly international business school. Depending on the degree program, between 60 and 90 percent of our students come from outside Germany – and often from outside Europe.
This means that the majority of our students move to Berlin for their studies, usually without knowing anyone in the city. If this sounds like your situation, it is important to know two things. One: you aren't alone (in fact, you already have something in common with your future classmates!). Two: you are in an internationally minded city that is a great place to explore new ways to make connections.
The search starts at ESMT
Your search for community starts at ESMT: our intimate class sizes and focus on cooperative learning mean that you will easily be able to find opportunities to meet people during lectures and group work. But connections here are not just confined to your cohort. In fact, we have multiple networking events right here on campus.
These are opportunities to get to know the wider ESMT Berlin community: students from other programs, alumni, even staff and faculty. What is even better is that many of our campus events are places where people expect to talk to someone new: meaning you don't need to be shy about starting a conversation.
My tip: spend time in the garden during class breaks. That's where you'll find people outside your master's to talk to, and you'll probably end up becoming friends with them too.
I love my cohort. We've become really close – and also with students from the Master in Global Management and the Master in Analytics and AI.
What to keep in mind when looking for meetups and events
So how do you choose which meetups will suit you? The first step in finding your Berlin community should be to take some time to think about what you like and how you like to connect. Think about your hobbies, your lifestyle, your passions, and what makes you curious, and then look for gatherings of people who share those motivations.
10 tips for finding your Berlin community
Still need help narrowing it down? We have found ten great tips for making new friends: five at ESMT and five in Berlin. From campus to kiez (neighborhood), here are ten ways to look for community events in your corner of the city.
5 ways to find community at ESMT
We are starting hyperlocally: we have rounded up five of our favorite ways to meet people at ESMT to start building your campus community.
In summer, we play table tennis in the garden, and one of my favorite memories so far is definitely a karaoke evening with the group.
You spend time together not only in class, but also during breaks, dinners, or evening activities.
1. Attend Bergfest
Bergfest is ESMT's informal, student-run monthly gathering. Run by our Community Coordinators (usually members of our Full-time MBA), Bergfest is open to all current ESMT students, and is a great way to connect with people outside your cohort. What makes it extra special is how it has a fresh theme each month: previous iterations have included everything from barbecuing in the ESMT garden to kayaking on the Spree.
We organize a different experience every month, like enjoying a beer in the garden, having a picnic by the lake, hosting game nights, or even experiencing one of Berlin's iconic clubs together
In this role, I also had the opportunity to create ESMT's first Book Club. We're only in our first few months, but it has already been a wonderful experience.
Personally, what I enjoy most is thinking about how we can make our students feel more welcomed, connected, and embraced. I also love that this role allows me to meet people I probably wouldn't have crossed paths with if I had only attended my regular classes. On top of all that, it has been an amazing opportunity to gain my first professional experience in Germany and contribute to a community that has already given me so much.
2. Join a student club or group
Another way to tap into the wider ESMT culture is by joining a student club. These groups can give you opportunities to grow both on and off campus – like our Pride Impact Club, who run regular events that help LGBTQIA+ students find queer community in Berlin. Or our Consulting Club, who recently saw some members travel all the way to Shanghai, China, where they competed in – and won – the ZIBS Consulting Competition.
3. Try a new sport
Want to bond via sports? ESMT's Student Services Office rents table tennis bats and other equipment you can use in the campus garden between classes. If you prefer something more formal, ESMT's membership in the Hochschulsport (University Sports) network means that you have the chance to try sports at universities around Berlin – meeting students from other schools in the process. And, if you long for team spirit, you can try gatherings like the ESMT Running Club, which unites students, faculty, and alumni for running meetups and even competitions.
Everybody is welcome to join: faculty, students, alumni, and guests....the conversational pace means that we mostly talk next to running, so the social aspect is a key factor in coming together.
Most Sundays we run together at Tempelhofer Feld, a lap or two at a pace slow enough that you can hold a conversation. Our professor Eric Quintane started the Running Club in early 2025 and it grew from there.
Genuinely, it has been one of the easiest ways to get to know people from programs and cohorts I'd otherwise barely have met and the Berliner Wasserbetriebe TEAMstaffel, which we ran again this year with 30 people, has become something of a tradition and the highlight of the club's calendar.
4. Help organize an extracurricular event
You can also tap into the wider community by becoming part of the organizing teams behind our annual, student-run events on campus. Generations Talk is a day of panels and workshops designed to build intergenerational discussion and connection. TEDxESMT Berlin is an independent TED event where students can connect with everyone from Olympians to CEOs. Both can provide access to the kind of community that comes when you know you have made something truly great together.
5. Suggest a group outing with your cohort
When you join ESMT, you join a very international student body, many of whom will also be new to Germany, and looking for friends. So why not reach out and see if anyone in your class wants to meet up? After all, no one else in Berlin will understand what you are going through quite like your cohort.
You even may be able to meet up with your classmates before you've even had your first day at ESMT. Once you get your acceptance letter, ask if there is a messaging thread organized for your cohort, and get active in it right away. That's how our Full-time MBA Class of 2027 and Class of 2029 master's cohorts planned group get-togethers – before they had even officially met during orientation!
Our MBA cohort is also very social. We celebrate each other’s birthdays, meet up at cafés and bars, organize sporting activities, and go cycling or explore Berlin together.
We even have a separate WhatsApp group where people share events or activities they’re interested in, and others can join if they want to. It makes organizing plans quite spontaneous and has helped us build a strong sense of community.
5 more ways to find community in Berlin
Of course, while there is plenty to do at ESMT, your search for community doesn't need to be confined to campus. In fact, a key part of the ESMT experience is that we are located in the heart of Berlin. And we do mean the heart – we're located in Mitte, the central district of the city, and just steps from the cultural hub of Museum Island. That means, when you come to ESMT, you will have an excellent base for finding a wider Berlin community, often within walking distance of campus.
We've found five more ways to meet new people in Berlin on a student-friendly budget.
Scroll down the page for a list of useful links.
1. Volunteer
It doesn't get more budget-and-community friendly than volunteering. You get the glow of helping – while also experiencing something new and connecting with those who share your passions.
Tip: Volunteering opportunities in Berlin cover everything from helping run events, to planting trees, to teaching vulnerable groups, and so much more. Start by working out how many hours you can give and then look for volunteer opportunities on topics that speak to you.
2. Join a creative meetup
If meeting strangers makes you self-conscious, get creative! Having something to do with your hands eases awkwardness, while sharing an activity means you already have a topic to talk about.
Tip: While Berlin has workshops covering almost every hobby, private classes can get expensive. Instead, look at your local library, museum, or makers' space to find student-friendly prices for classes in every topic imaginable. Many even have tools like 3D printers and sewing machines you can use once you are part of the community.
3. Explore ways to make offline connection
There are many positives about the digital age, such as instant connection to anyone around the world, any time. Yet, if you long for a local Berlin community, the answer might actually be offline, with a group who meets in real life to enjoy tangible connection.
Tip: In a city the size of Berlin, there are multiple offline meetups. Instead of just looking for offline hangs, try filtering it to what you like to do: think book club and reading meetups in the park, hiking meetups to explore Berlin and Brandenburg, and so much more.
4. Find the people who understand where you came from
Sometimes you just want familiarity: an accent, a dish from home, a shared passion for a sports team. In a big international city like Berlin, chances are there are others from your home country. Finding this compatriot community can connect you to new friends – and help with homesickness.
Tip: Not sure where to start looking? Try your country's embassy! Many embassies in Berlin have regular social events, lectures, and workshops. Alternatively, try a social media platform: many have groups aimed at connecting immigrants in Germany. You can even see if there is a cafe or bar in Berlin run by people from your area as they are often the best places to find the tastes of home.
5. Meet the people who understand where you want to go
In a tech hub like Berlin, there are meetups to suit every passion and career plan. These can be an ideal way to build a wide network that can help with future job and internship prospects, but also to meet the community who understands what drives you.
Tip: Not sure how to start? Try LinkedIn. The events tab will have a list of suggested local meetups and seminars based on the topics you interact with and people you follow. Or, ask your classmates for tips! Many ESMT students are active members of Berlin communities covering everything from innovation and entrepreneurship to AI and marketing.
Useful links to communities and resources in Berlin
Inspired to find your Berlin community? As well as the tips above, we've found resources to help you meet the people who get you.
Tip: If you are an ESMT student, start on the ESMT Intranet. Our wonderful Student Services team has advice on how to get involved with all sorts of social activities. Learn how you can join the ESMT choir or a student club, how to get a student discount for cultural events, and so much more.
Or, try the links below for more ways to meet your new Berlin friends.
General places to find meetups and events:
- Meetup.com: a mega list of events and meetups in Berlin. Find and filter events on everything from travel to hobbies to wellbeing to sports. There is truly something for everyone
- Offline Club Berlin chapter: a worldwide movement to create more IRL connections, from forest walks to silent reading groups to musical outings and more
- Luma: a list of the best meetups in Berlin on a huge variety of topics, from career breakfasts to padel tournaments, and even speed dating
- Rausgegangen: your guide to concerts, theater, exhibitions, movies, workshops – and so many more events in Berlin
Social media groups:
- Berlin Social Club: a Reddit group where members share meetup ideas and invitations
- Girl Gone International (GGI) Berlin: the Berlin chapter of a Facebook group for female expats – particularly those who are in their 20s and early 30s
- Berlin Events Weekly: an Instagram group of what’s on in the city, updated every week
- LinkedIn events: a personal, suggested list of local and relevant career events
Volunteering:
- VOSTEL.DE: hub where you can find volunteering opportunities for every passion and skillset
- Hejmo Berlin: community hub that offers lessons in music, cooking, creating, and more. Join a free class, or become a long-term part of the community by volunteering
Creative lessons and spaces:
- Make it and take it at the Humboldt forum: free, twice-monthly classes in screen printing, 3D printing, and more (registration required). Right across the road from ESMT!
- Makers spaces at Berlin libraries in Mitte: classes and events at libraries in Berlin
- GLASBOX at BHT: a weekly free drop-in lab for things like 3D printing and sewing, and (registration-required) workshops on upcycling, repairs, and more
- Modulor: the art store is not only a creative paradise, they also offer several creative workshops (many in English); some free and some for a small fee.
Tech and career communities:
- Handpicked Berlin: Igor Ranc, the man behind the beloved Handpicked Berlin newsletter, also makes a curated list of tech events in the city. These include his own AI meetups – some run with an ESMT alum!
- START Berlin: START is one of the largest student start-up networks worldwide. Become a member and you may even meet other ESMT students once you are there
- Venture cafe Berlin: a weekly meeting (plus other events) where you can connect with founders, students, innovators, and more to workshop ideas and form community
Cultural connection groups:
- Embassies in Berlin: find your local embassy to see what workshops and social events are planned
- IAmExpat's list of religious communities: a (by no means exhaustive) list of houses of worship that specifically welcome an international audience
- Elternpop: a list of verified communities for international families in Berlin, particularly focused on those with children
See more from the ESMT Berlin community
