Representatives from business, research, politics and administration confirm a growing demand for experts on Eastern Europe, yet appropriate education and training is scarce. Thus, Freie Universität Berlin has taken the initiative to respond to this obvious need. The FU Institute for East European Studies is well reputed for its East-West competence. East European Studies Online are set out to be multidisciplinary and contain political, social, historical, cultural, economic, and legal knowledge. Students are to be enabled to analyze and interpret developments and situations in Eastern Europe and to assess them within their respective political, social, legal, economic, historical and cultural contexts. Moreover, students will be equipped with the skills that are necessary to work out regional questions and problems in a multidisciplinary and comparative way. The emphasis is placed on distance learning. Multimedia, in particular electronic media, is used to convey the contents. The units will be presented online. However, there will be four obligatory in-house classes. The working language is English. Successful completion is rewarded with a master's degree (M.A.). The program is mainly directed at postgraduates who wish to gain further qualification. They receive preparation for a professional career, research work or further study.