Bela studied History, Philosophy and Slavic Studies at the University of Freiburg. There he focused primarily on the cultural history of Russia and the Soviet Union, as well as the relationship between truth and power as fundamental aspects of history and resistance movements. Studying in the Global History Master he wishes to broaden his horizon and learn to work within a framework that transcends the limitations of area studies. He is particulary interested in furthering his research on the history of truth, applying it to a global history of the 20th century. He is chiefly interested in the history of media with a focus on film, having extensively volountered at a student-run cinema during his bachelors.