UN SDGs in Action in Berlin
Key Information
Information
Application Deadline: 26/05/26 at 9:00 am
Opportunity type: Extra-curricular opportunities, Volunteering
Ref: 10010330
Dates
Departure Date: 14/09/26
Return Date: 18/09/26
Student cost
£278: This is your estimated cost for travel and accommodation after deducting the £200 DMU Global bursary. It also includes a £3 carbon levy to help offset emissions from your flight.
What’s not included: UK and in-country transfers (£50), public transport (£15), food & drink, and visa (if applicable).
Booking
Accommodation: Shared rooms in a hotel or hostel booked by DMU
Travel: Flights booked by DMU (students travel as a group)
Contact
General Enquiries: Global Mobility Office - dmuglobal@dmu.ac.uk
Trip Lead: Mark Charlton - mcharlton@dmu.ac.uk
How to pay
Payment details: If offered a place, students will receive further information and will be asked to pay the student cost listed above. As mentioned, the DMU Global bursary has already been deducted from this.
Your application
Important: The use of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot and others to write or generate content for your application is not permitted. DMU Global reserves the right to reject applications that have been created using these tools. To learn more, visit our application process page.
Trip Profile
Independence
Independence
Trip price
Trip price
Trip duration
Trip duration
Eligibility
All DMU students are eligible to participate on this opportunity but it would be particularly relevant for students with a demonstrable interest in politics, law, human rights, social justice and more broadly the United Nations SDGs. There are a maximum of 20 places available, with a minimum of 15 participants required for this opportunity to take place. Students are recommend to check the eligibility criteria before applying.
About
Trip description
De Montfort University’s United Nations Academic Impact Hub for SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) uses Berlin and its rich history as a platform for student-led civic engagement.
Through DMU Global, students travelling to the city are not simply observers of urban sustainability challenges, they become active participants in addressing them. In Berlin, a place where global agendas intersect with lived realities, students will work alongside grassroots organisations to encounter sustainability not as an abstract policy issue, but as a deeply human experience embedded within the urban fabric.
Contributions take multiple forms from preparing and serving food, creating informal spaces for conversation, organising and distributing clothing parcels, creating play areas for children. Beyond this, students support educational and integration initiatives, working directly with individuals and families navigating displacement, language barriers, and uncertain futures.
This trip encourages students to bring energy, curiosity, and a commitment to global citizenship; in return, they gain grounded insights into resilience, solidarity, and the complexities of urban inclusion while they enjoy time in one of Europe’s most exciting cities.
During the trip students will have the opportunity to volunteer with a range of local organisations:
Learning Objectives
Participating in a DMU Global opportunity can help you develop knowledge, skills, and competencies that enhance your studies. The objectives of this trip to Berlin are for students to:
Skill development
This opportunity has been designed to help develop the following DMU Graduate Attributes:
Communication skills
Critical thinking
Empathy
Collaboration
Cultural Activities
Alongside structured volunteering, students engaging with the SDG 11 Hub in Berlin can participate in a range of activities in Berlin. As part of the itinerary, a guided tour of famous landmarks like the iconic Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag Building, remaining sections of the Berlin Wall and more. Students will see Berlin’s Cold War history and learn about the country’s reunification to provide important context for contemporary debates around borders, identity, and displacement.
Students are encouraged to engage with Berlin’s rich cultural landscape. visiting museums, galleries, and public spaces. Food offers something for everyone covering all budgets. Famous street food like Currywurst or Döner kebab are popular everywhere. Traditional dishes such as Schnitzel and Eisbein reflect a heartier culinary past, still present in local restaurants. Berlin’s food culture reflects its history of migration and creativity, with Asian cafés, Middle Eastern kitchens, and a thriving vegan scene which students are encouraged to enjoy.
Visa information
Due to various external factors and an unprecedented demand for international travel, there are significant delays in visa processing, as well as very limited availability of application appointment slots for some countries and embassies.
We recommend that you take all appropriate steps to secure a visa as soon as practically possible, and to notify DMU Global if you face any issues. It is your responsibility to meet the entry requirements of the country you are travelling to. Failing to do so may mean that you’re liable for the costs incurred to the university (including repayment of the DMU Global bursary). Visit our visa information page to learn more.