University of Bern

Located in Bern, Switzerland, the University of Bern, is a public research university, founded in 1834. It is financed and regulated by the Canton of Bern. In terms of academics, there are 8 faculties at the University of Bern. As of 2025, the total number of students enrolled at the University of Bern was 19,741. Out of this, 4,200+ students are foreign nationals. Also Check: Top 10 Reasons to Study in Switzerland

The student enrollment makes the University of Bern the third largest university in Switzerland. The University of Bern acceptance rate is around 20%, making it a very selective university. Notable faculty members are associated with the Uni of Bern. Albert Einstein taught Theoretical Physics and Anna Tumarkin became the Russian Philosopher.

University of Bern Information

Bern University conducts cutting-edge research. The focus areas of research the Uni of Bern are Matter and the Universe, Sustainability, Intercultural Knowledge, Health and Medicine, and Politics and Administration. A few of the facts about the University of Bern are given below-

History

Though UniBE formally came to be known as a university in 1834, its history can be traced back almost 200 years to its official establishment, when the Reformation forced the creation of a higher education institution, i.e. the University of Bern. The Bern government converted what was previously a School of Theology into an Academy comprising of four faculties. The institute educated ministers, lawyers & physicians along with the priests.

Want to know more about the University of Bern? Then check out its latest annual report: University of Bern Annual Report

• The University of Bern application deadline for Bachelor's and Master's Non-Medical study programs is Apr 30, 2026
• ETH Zurich and the University of Bern lead a new centre of Competence in Research. The researchers from the Uni of Bern are also involved in the NCCR Genesis, which shall investigate the origin of life and possibility of life in universe. 

Located in Bern, Switzerland, the University of Bern, is a public research university, founded in 1834. It is financed and regulated by the Canton of Bern. In terms of academics, there are 8 faculties at the University of Bern. As of 2025, the total number of students enrolled at the University of Bern was 19,741. Out of this, 4,200+ students are foreign nationals. Also Check: Top 10 Reasons to Study in Switzerland

The student enrollment makes the University of Bern the third largest university in Switzerland. The University of Bern acceptance rate is around 20%, making it a very selective university. Notable faculty members are associated with the Uni of Bern. Albert Einstein taught Theoretical Physics and Anna Tumarkin became the Russian Philosopher.

University of Bern Information

Bern University conducts cutting-edge research. The focus areas of research the Uni of Bern are Matter and the Universe, Sustainability, Intercultural Knowledge, Health and Medicine, and Politics and Administration. A few of the facts about the University of Bern are given below-

History

Though UniBE formally came to be known as a university in 1834, its history can be traced back almost 200 years to its official establishment, when the Reformation forced the creation of a higher education institution, i.e. the University of Bern. The Bern government converted what was previously a School of Theology into an Academy comprising of four faculties. The institute educated ministers, lawyers & physicians along with the priests.

Want to know more about the University of Bern? Then check out its latest annual report: University of Bern Annual Report

University of Bern offers generous scholarships to their international audience through the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships. Some of the most popular University of Bern scholarships for international students are:

1. Research Scholarships: Available to post-graduate researchers in any discipline (who hold a master’s degree is the minimum qualification required).
2. Art scholarships: Art scholarships are open to art students wishing to pursue an initial arts master’s degree in Switzerland.

Applicants must appply separately for these scholarships in order to avail the financial aid, along with fulfilling the eligibility criteria listed below:

• Candidate profile;
• Quality of the research project or artistic work; and
• Synergies and potential for future research cooperation.

University of Bern offers courses at the UG and PG levels. Over 15 courses are offered by Bern University. Study areas for the courses available at the Uni of Bern are Business Administration, Computer Science, Psychology, Linguistics, English, etc.

University of Bern Popular Courses

The University of Bern popular courses are MSc in Computer Science, MSc in Statistics and Data Science, MSc in Bio-informatics and Computational Biology, etc. Though the university offers many courses, some courses are more relevant among students than others including, M.Sc, MS and M.A. at the graduate level. The overall duration of a course varies with the level of the course and the specialization, with graduate course having an average duration of 18 months to 2 years.

• University of Bern Undergraduate Courses
• University of Bern Graduate Courses

The University of Bern notable alumni includes prominent writers, politicians, media & public figures with the likes of John le Carre, Christa Rigozzi, Friedrich Durrenmatt, Walter Benjamin & Carla Del Ponte pursuing their higher education from Bern. The table mentioned below shows a desrciption of each of these individuals & their backgrounds:

Alumni Name	Profession	Alumni
John le Carre	Spy Novelist Best known for: The Spy Who Came in from the World, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy & The Honourable Schoolboy Pursued a degree in Foreign Languages at the institute between 1948-1949
Christa Rigozzi	Model Best known for: Miss Switzerland winner in 2006 & represented Switzerland in Miss Universe 2007 Pursued a degree in criminal law & criminology at Bern
Friedrich Durrenmatt	Author & Dramatist Best known for his plays: "The Visit" & "The Physicists" and novels: "The Pledge" & " The Judge & his Hangman" Pursued a degree in Natural Science at University of Bern
Carla Del Ponte	Public Prosecutor Former Chief Prosecutor of international criminal law tribunals at the United Nations Studied Law at the University of Bern

The University of Bern Placement rate is around 75%, per data curated from multiple unofficial sources, with Bern graduates receiving job offers from the likes of Insel Gruppe, Selbsttandig, UBS & University of Bern itself among some other top Swiss companies.

Top Industries

The table below lists the top industries employing University of Bern graduates:

Top Courses Pursued

The University of Bern graduates have access to a wide variety of courses across different levels of studies, however, they tend to pursue some courses more than others. Mentioned below are the top courses & the percentage of graduates who pursued them:

Top Employers

University of Bern graduates are always of demand to a number of top companies in Switzerland, thanks to their in-depth knowledge of respective areas of studies, attention to detail, & ability to solve complex tasks efficiently.

Given below are some of the top recruiters at the University of Bern:

The University of Bern fees (average) is CHF 809 (INR 95 K) per semester, with international students also subject to an additional fee of CHF 200 (INR 21.5 K) per semester. The actual per semester cost of studies may vary with the course & the specialisation, students opt for. Students can check the course-wise University of Bern tuition fee from this page.

Registration & Application Fee

University of Bern Cost of Living

The estimated cost of living at Bern University ranges between CHF 1,500 -CHF 2,200 (INR 1.6 L-INR 2.37 L) per month. The cost of living varies based on the standard of living a student opts to pursue in Switzerland. The table below gives a detailed breakdown of the cost of living at Bern:

• The University of Bern application deadline for Bachelor's and Master's Non-Medical study programs is Apr 30, 2026
• ETH Zurich and the University of Bern lead a new centre of Competence in Research. The researchers from the Uni of Bern are also involved in the NCCR Genesis, which shall investigate the origin of life and possibility of life in universe. 

Students who want to take admission to the University of Bern can apply via the university's application form. An application fee of CHF 100 (Around INR 11k) has to be paid too.

University of Bern Application Deadlines

Two admission intakes are there at the University of Bern, Spring and Fall. The application deadlines for the Uni of Bern are-

Bern University Eligibility for Indian Students

Here are some of the documents that are required for admission to the University of Bern-

• CV
• Academic studies transcripts
• German or English language profiency score
• Valid passport
• Any other course-specific document

Postgraduate Admission Requirements

Indian students must have a Bachelor's degree from a recognized foreign university for admission to the Uni of Bern PG courses. German or English language proficiency as required by the courses must be submitted.

Undergraduate Admission Requirememts

Those who want to take admission to the UG courses of the Uni of Bern must have completed an upper secondary school qualification. C1 German language proof is required.

University of Bern is one of the finest universities for higher education in the Switzerland. When it comes to University of Bern rankings, it is one of the top ranked universities worldwide. In the Shiksha Popularity Rankings 2026, University of Bern has an overall ranking of #6 in the Switzerland and #114 in the world. Shiksha Popularity Rankings also ranked University of Bern courses that are listed below-

By Other Ranking Bodies

Apart from Shiksha Popularity ranking, QS has also ranked the university globally. It ranks University of Bern at #184 in 2026. University of Bern ranking stood at #114 as per US News in 2025 and #108 by THE in 2026, globally.

Based in Bern, Switzerland, University of Bern does not have single unified campus . Instead, it has a number of faculties & institutes across the city of Bern, that offer English & German taught education to Swiss & international students.

The University of Bern campus life is known for its inclusivity & diversity. The students are welcoming, & faculty are well versed in their respective areas of study. Student events are a regular theme, providing ample opportunities to students to interact, learn & grow their network.

Mentioned below are some key resources available to students as part of the University of Bern campus:

Student Support

The University of Bern provides a number of support services to its international students to make their transition easier. UniBE maintains a dedicated online support portal that can guide them with regards to a number of key things, including: Career Counselling, Mental Health, Tech Support, Food on campus & more.

Funding Entrepreneurs

Uni of Bern in collaboration with some external Swiss organizations such as bench2biz, Sef.NEXTGEN, Wave Fellowship & Talent Kick, guides & funds the dreams of aspiring entrepreneurs.

Student events such as ted talks & workshops are a regular feature which run every two to three weeks, that aims to provide ample support to future entrepreneurs.

Housing

Bern University does not maintain on-campus accommodation for its students. However, it does operate a dedicated online portal, listing some of the best sources to find student housing near the university facilities.

These include: studentlodge.ch, Stuwo, Housing Anywhere, StudentInnen Logierhaus Immoplus & Studentenresidenz Stöckacker among others.