The Centre for British Studies (CBS) at Humboldt-Universit?t zu Berlin (HU) is celebrating its 30th anniversary on 5 June 2025. Since its foundation, the interdisciplinary and internationally networked institute has developed into a unique institution for British regional studies in Germany and beyond.
Prof. Dr Christoph Schneider, Vice President for Research at HU: "Since its foundation, the Centre for British Studies has not only significantly promoted German-British relations, but has also established close partnerships with renowned British institutions such as the University of Oxford and King's College London. On its 30th anniversary, Humboldt-Universit?t can look back on an impressive history of interdisciplinary research and lively cultural exchange at its UK Centre. I wish the Centre every success and continued success in research, teaching and transfer!"
The idea for the centre was initiated by the then British Ambassador, Sir Christopher Mallaby, the British Council and English scholars in East and West. In 1995, the Berlin Senate founded the CBS to honour the services of the British Allies to a divided Berlin. Since then, the CBS has been researching and communicating political, legal, social, literary and cultural studies as well as historical aspects of the United Kingdom and British-German relations.
30 years of teaching, research and dialogue with the public
Since 1999, more than 550 students have completed the international Master's programme in British Studies (M.A.). The Centre's research is closely linked to international networks: The "Writing1900" network, which focuses on cultural history, the interdisciplinary "Berlin Britain Research Network", which focuses on contemporary British society, and a literary history network on classical modernism, which has been in existence since 2023. There are close collaborations with HU partner universities Oxford University and King's College London.
In addition to its academic work, the CBS is regularly open to the public: with lectures, discussions, exhibitions, readings and cultural events, it offers a wide range of insights into the social, political and cultural life of Great Britain - often in dialogue with authors from all four British nations and in workshops with school classes. Today, GBZ graduates work in institutions such as the British Council, the British Embassy, the German-British Society and in science, media and business - in the UK, Germany and worldwide.
Prof Dr Gesa Stedman, Director of the CBS: "We can look back on three decades of successful work at the institute, based on interdisciplinary collaboration and a strong focus on knowledge transfer. In view of the UK's current rapprochement with the EU, we hope that exchange, cooperation and mobility, which were made much more difficult by Brexit, will become easier again in the future."
Further information
To the Centre for British Studies (CBS) of the HU
Picture of the founding of the CBS