University of Bern
University of Bern overview
The University of Bern is a public university in Bern, the capital of Switzerland. Its roots reach back to the sixteenth century. It served as a high school from 1500 to 1834 and as an “old university” from 1834 to 1900. It was a “new university” from 1900 to 1950 and a “modern university” from 1950 to 2000. The Bologna reforms that began in 2000 brought it to its current status. It is the third-largest university in Switzerland. It provides higher education opportunities to more than 19,000 students across eight faculties and more than 150 institutes.
Over 2,200 of those students are international students.
About University of Bern
The University of Bern is a public university in Bern, the capital of Switzerland. Its roots reach back to the sixteenth century. It served as a high school from 1500 to 1834 and as an “old university” from 1834 to 1900. It was a “new university” from 1900 to 1950 and a “modern university” from 1950 to 2000. The Bologna reforms that began in 2000 brought it to its current status. It is the third-largest university in Switzerland. It provides higher education opportunities to more than 19,000 students across eight faculties and more than 150 institutes.
Over 2,200 of those students are international students.
University of Bern faculties and programs
Science of Religion
Economics
Education
Religious Studies
Slavic Languages and Literatures
Social Anthropology
Social Science
Spanish Linguistics and Literature
Sport Science
Theatre Studies
University of Bern scholarships and financial aid
The University of Bern does not provide scholarships directly to undergraduate or graduate students. If you want to apply for scholarship programs offered by institutions and organizations in Switzerland and by the Swiss Government, you can browse the available scholarships and funding programs through the link below.
University of Bern Exam Requirements
Submitting at least one of the exams below with the required score is a prerequisite for application. The score threshold may vary by program.
How to get into University of Bern
If you want to apply to an undergraduate program at the University of Bern, you must meet the following admission requirements.
- Anadolu High School Diploma
or - Science High School Diploma
and - Coursework completed in the final 3 years of high school, including:
- First Language
- Second Foreign Language
- Mathematics
- Natural Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
- Humanities and Social Sciences (Geography, History, or Economics/Law)
- Elective Courses (at least one course from the categories of second foreign language, natural sciences, or humanities and social sciences, or computer science or philosophy)
and
- Placement through the YKS exam in the program you want to study at the University of Bern. Your university in Turkey must offer 4-year undergraduate education and be recognized by the University of Bern.
- The University of Bern may ask to see your YKS exam results, in line with its admission requirements.
- German Language Proficiency Certificate (a certificate based on scores from German proficiency exams administered by TestDaF, Telc, or the Goethe-Institut)
- English Language Proficiency Certificate, if the admission conditions of the program you apply to require one (a certificate based on scores from exams such as IELTS or TOEFL)
If you want to apply to a graduate program at the University of Bern, you must meet the following admission requirements.
- 4-Year Bachelor's Degree Diploma
- The University of Bern must recognize the university that awarded your diploma.
- High GPA
- German Language Proficiency Certificate (a certificate based on scores from German proficiency exams administered by TestDaF, Telc, or the Goethe-Institut)
- English Language Proficiency Certificate (a certificate based on scores from exams such as IELTS or TOEFL)
- A GRE/GMAT score may be required, depending on the admission conditions of the program you apply to.
Application Deadlines
* These dates are subject to change. Get in touch with our Dream Uni advisors to learn the up-to-date deadlines and all the details about the University of Bern application process.
Take a closer look at University of Bern
The University of Bern is in the heart of Bern, the capital of Switzerland. Most of its buildings stand in Länggasse, a traditional university district next to the city center.
Because nearly all of these buildings are within walking distance of one another, the university has chosen not to become a campus university. Instead, it prefers to renovate old and unused buildings in the city center and make them suitable for teaching and study. Some institutes in the Faculty of Humanities, for example, are now housed in Unitobler, a former chocolate factory.
A former hospital was renovated in a project completed in 2005. It now serves as a hub for institutes in the Faculty of Law and the Department of Economics.
Almost every university building is within walking distance of the others. As a capital city, Bern also has an extensive urban public transit network of trams, buses, and taxis.
The University of Bern sits in the heart of the city and is home to 29 separate libraries at various points across Bern. They give students and faculty members reading rooms, group meeting rooms, and the technical infrastructure they need. You will also find books, professional publications, electronic publications, bulletins, and specialized databases. The libraries run courses in professional research, writing, and citation, and they provide support and infrastructure for academic publishing.
The university is in the center of Bern, the capital of Switzerland. A large number of restaurants, cafes, pubs, and shops are within walking distance. Its Online Store also lets you shop online for products across various categories.
The University of Bern also hosts a student bookstore where you can buy the books you need, and the University of Bern Student Union, which represents University of Bern students. The university hosts restaurants, cafes, and bars of its own, along with more than 120 student clubs and organizations you can join. It also allocates sports facilities for students to be physically active.
The University of Bern has a broad alumni network of people who have made their mark in a variety of fields. Its notable alumni include:
- Emil Theodor Kocher
- Georg von Békésy
- Kurt Wüthrich
- Walter Rudolf Hess
- Charles Albert Gobat
- John le Carré
- Walter Benjamin
- Friedrich Dürrenmatt
- Grigory Zinoviev
- Liselotte Pulver
University of Bern Location
Bern, Switzerland
University of Bern Contact
University of Bern
Take a Closer Look
How to Get Into University of Bern
In your first meeting with a Dream Uni advisor, your academic background, goals, and expectations are analyzed in detail.
By assessing your English level and academic grades, your eligibility for the universities and colleges Dream Uni partners with is determined.
The application process is managed meticulously by our professional team, and your acceptance letter is delivered to you.
Why University of Bern?
Other Universities in Switzerland
Università della Svizzera italiana (USI)
Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland
ETH ZURICH – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
EPFL - École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Université de Lausanne (University of Lausanne)
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