Languages and Literatures, the Institute of English Language and Literature, the Institute of Theater Studies and the Institute of Arts and Media Management. Department of Physics Traditionally rooted in fundamental research, the Department of Physics is divided into the institutes of experimental physics, theoretical physics and physics education. Major areas of focus in the research activities within the department are solid-state physics, cluster physics, surface physics, biophysics and physics education. Department of Political and Social Science The Otto-Suhr-Institute for Political Science is the biggest and most reputable political science institution in Germany. Divided into nine units, research at the Institute of Media and Communication Studies focuses on media change, uncertainty, crisis, and risk communication and political communication and transformation of the public sphere. Institute of Sociology and the Institute for Social and Cultural Anthropology Medical School Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin The joint department with the Humboldt University Berlin is now one of Europe's largest university hospitals. Department of Veterinary Medicine The department is one of five sites in Germany offering veterinary education and training and contains 20 academic units. The veterinary research performed within the department traditionally lies in emphasis especially on food safety and product quality in foods from animal sources. Despite the variety of subjects, apart from computer science, studies in the field of engineering can only be done at the Technical University or universities of applied science (Fachhochschulen). Interdisciplinary Central Institutes John F. Kennedy Institute for North American Studies Institute for East European Studies Institute for Latin American Studies Academics Admissions With 33,000 applicants for the undergraduate programs (Bachelor) in 2013, admissions at Free University of Berlin remain highly competitive as the university only offers about 4,300 places each year. Due to the high numbers of applicants, most undergraduate programs at Free University of Berlin have limitations determined through the NC. The general deadline for students directly from high school applying to limited programs in the coming winter semester is 15 July every year at all universities in Germany. In some cases (especially Medicine, Psychology and Political Science), the NC every year is as high as 1.0 (see Grades in Germany and Abitur). Critical applicants which just scored slightly below the NC can be invited to a selective interview or an entry exam, depending on the department/faculty. Applicants at Charité medical school who do not directly fulfill the NC-criteria have to pass an entry exam, which covers