30 years of partnership with King's College London
Humboldt -Universit?t zu Berlin (HU) and King's College London (KCL) are celebrating the 30th anniversary of their partnership. The collaboration is one of HU's most diverse and vibrant international relationships – and, against the backdrop of Brexit, can be seen as a model of academic cooperation and resilience in action.
Since the 1990s, the two capital city universities have developed a comprehensive network from initial exchange programmes in law and social sciences: today, there are agreements at university and faculty level, joint degree programmes, an established joint PhD programme with 17 doctorates completed to date, and cooperation on short programmes and summer schools. Currently, around 30 HU students participate in programmes in London each year.
Particular highlights of the partnership are the Humboldt European Law School – a programme unique in Europe offering three law degrees – and the double degree programme in English and German Law. In both programmes, exchanges have been secured even after Brexit through bilateral solutions.
High-level exchange thanks to third-party and budgetary funding
Joint research priorities include climate, environmental justice, history and teacher training. Current third-party funded projects and joint participation in the European university alliance Circle U. strengthen interdisciplinary cooperation.
‘Despite changes in funding conditions, the exchange continues to operate at the highest level,’ says Yoan Vilain, Executive Board Representative for International and European Affairs. ‘Since 2024, HU has also been contributing to this with its own funding, the Flexible Funds. This enables us to support joint initiatives in research, teaching and administration.’
The 30-year collaboration will be honoured on 6 November with a public celebration, at which HU President Prof. Julia von Blumenthal and King's Vice-Chancellor & President Prof. Shitij Kapur, among others, will take part in a panel discussion.