University of Bern
Universität Bern
A full-scale university in the Swiss capital, strong in medicine, climate science and space research.
- Students
- 19,741
- 8,014 undergraduates
- International
- 21%
- of students
- Tuition
- CHF 5,218
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 1834
About UniBE
The University of Bern grew out of a Reformation-era school for training pastors, became an academy with four faculties in 1805, and was turned into a university in 1834. It is a full-scale university with 19,741 students in 2025, eight faculties, 39 bachelor's and 74 master's programmes, and a campus spread through the Länggasse district next to the city centre rather than on the edge of town.
Bern has a distinctive profile for its size. Medicine is closely linked to the Inselspital university hospital, the Vetsuisse Faculty trains veterinarians jointly with Zurich, and the university's research priorities include sustainability and climate (the Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research), health and medicine, and space and particle physics through the Center for Space and Habitability and the NCCR PlanetS. Albert Einstein taught theoretical physics here in 1908 and 1909, and surgeon Theodor Kocher won the 1909 Nobel Prize in Medicine while a professor.
About 21 percent of students are foreign nationals, and 41 percent study at bachelor's level. Bachelor's teaching is mainly in German, so non-native speakers need C1 German or must pass the university's own German test. Bern suits students who want a comprehensive research university in a compact, livable capital city.
Why students choose UniBE
A comprehensive choice of 39 bachelor's programmes across eight faculties, including human, dental and veterinary medicine.
Research in space science and planetary habitability through the Center for Space and Habitability and the NCCR PlanetS.
A leading climate research centre: the Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research is Bern's competence centre on climate change.
More than 150 Unisport activities free of charge for students, in a walkable university district next to the old town.
Admissions
Fall semester 2027 entry (dates shown are the published annual deadlines)
Selectivity
Most bachelor's programmes admit all applicants who meet the country-specific entry requirements; there is no published acceptance rate. Medicine, dental medicine and veterinary medicine have additional admission requirements and an earlier deadline.
Typical entry requirements
| Swiss Maturität | Gives direct access to bachelor's programmes (medicine and sport science have extra requirements) |
|---|---|
| IB Diploma | At least 32 of 42 points (without bonus points) in six subjects, with at least three at Higher Level including Mathematics or a science |
| German Abitur | Allgemeine Hochschulreife with an average of 2.0 or better, or with proof of admission to a German university; proof of admission is mandatory for Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Psychology |
| A-levels (UK) | Six general-education subjects: three at A-level (two at B or above, one at C or above, including Mathematics or a science) plus three GCSE/AS subjects at minimum grades |
| US High School Diploma | High school diploma plus six AP exams in the required subject areas with scores of 3 or higher |
| English language | Bachelor's programmes require German, not English. Non-native speakers need C1 German (for example Goethe C1, telc Deutsch C1, TestDaF with at least 4 in each part, DSD II, DSH-2 or 3) or must pass the University of Bern's German test, held about three weeks before the fall semester (registration via the Admissions Office by 31 July). Exemptions are possible only for some faculties, such as Theology and Humanities. |
Deadlines
- Medicine, Dental Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Sport Science (first semester) Non-binding15 February
No late applications. Medical programmes have additional admission requirements.
- Bachelor's programmes, regular deadline Non-binding30 April
Applications for the fall semester are processed from 1 January.
- Bachelor's programmes, late application Non-binding31 August
Extra CHF 100 fee. Applicants with international qualifications can only apply late if they do not need a visa for Switzerland.
These are the University of Bern's standing fall-semester deadlines as published in 2026 (15 February for medicine and sport science, 30 April regular, 31 August late). Check the deadlines page for the fall 2027 intake.
How to apply
Apply online through the University of Bern's application portal (from 1 January for the fall semester), then send the required documents in paper form, with certified copies and translations as specified. The application fee is CHF 150 and counts as the registration fee if you enrol. Medicine, dental medicine and veterinary medicine have their own procedure and earlier deadline.
What admissions looks for
- A school-leaving certificate that meets the country-specific requirements for the academic year, with six general-education subjects.
- For some qualifications, a minimum grade average or proof of admission to a university in the home country.
- German at C1 level, shown by a recognised certificate or the University of Bern's own German test.
- For certificates that differ significantly from the Swiss Matura, a pass in the supplementary examination (ECUS).
Tips for applying to UniBE
- 1 Download the Admission Requirements 2026/27 PDF and find your country: it spells out grade averages, required subjects and whether you need proof of admission or ECUS.
- 2 If you need a Swiss visa, apply by 30 April: late applications are only possible for applicants who don't need one.
- 3 Without a recognised C1 German certificate, register for the university's German test by 31 July; you can only enrol after passing it.
- 4 Budget for the international surcharge: students who got their entrance qualification outside Switzerland pay CHF 2,609 per semester instead of CHF 909.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in CHF
Tuition is CHF 850 per semester, and from fall 2026 non-Swiss students who did not live in Switzerland or Liechtenstein when they gained their university entrance qualification pay an extra CHF 1,700 per semester. There is also a one-off CHF 150 application fee. The university does not publish a merit scholarship scheme for international bachelor's students; Swiss residents can apply for cantonal grants.
- CHF 909
- Total fees per semester (Swiss/resident)
- CHF 2,609
- Total fees per semester (international)
- CHF 150 (plus CHF 100 for a late application)
- Application fee
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (fall and spring)
Human Medicine
Taught with close links to the Inselspital university hospital; Nobel laureate Theodor Kocher studied and taught surgery here.
Veterinary Medicine
Taught by the Vetsuisse Faculty, created in 2006 by merging the veterinary faculties of Bern and Zurich, which runs the Bern Veterinary Hospital.
Physics
Bern's Physics Institute contributed to the first Moon landing and builds instruments for NASA and ESA missions.
Climate Sciences (MSc)
Offered through the graduate school of the Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, the university's competence centre for climate research.
Sport Science
Offered by the Faculty of Human Sciences, with an earlier 15 February deadline for first-semester entry.
Law
Studied in the federal capital, alongside the World Trade Institute, which researches world trade and investment regulation.
Research
- Five priority research topics, including sustainability, health and medicine, and space and particle physics.
- The Center for Space and Habitability and the NCCR PlanetS study the origin, evolution and habitability of planets; the CSH led the European CHEOPS exoplanet satellite project.
- The Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research (OCCR) is the university's competence centre for climate research.
- Albert Einstein taught theoretical physics at Bern in 1908-09, and Anna Tumarkin became the first woman professor in Europe entitled to examine doctoral candidates in 1909.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Theology
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences
- Faculty of Medicine
- Vetsuisse Faculty
- Faculty of Humanities
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Human Sciences
Student life
The University of Bern follows the idea of a university in the city: most institutes are in the Länggasse district beside the old town, within walking distance of one another, and some faculties occupy converted buildings such as the former Tobler chocolate factory (Unitobler) and the vonRoll site. Students get more than 150 Unisport activities free, and every student automatically becomes a member of Alumni UniBE. The Student Body of the University of Bern (SUB) represents students and supports student groups and associations.
- More than 150 Unisport activities free of charge.
- The historic main building on the Grosse Schanze, next to Bern's main railway station.
- Unitobler, a former chocolate factory converted into teaching space for theology and humanities.
- Automatic membership of Alumni UniBE for all students.
Location
Bern is Switzerland's federal city and seat of government, a compact capital with a medieval old town. The university sits in the Länggasse quarter, next to the main railway station, so Zurich, Basel and Lausanne are easy train trips away. It is smaller and calmer than Zurich or Geneva, but Swiss living costs still apply.
Nearest airport: Bern Airport (BRN); most international flights use Zurich Airport (ZRH)
Notable alumni
- ET Emil Theodor KocherSurgeon and Nobel laureate in Physiology or Medicine (1909); studied and taught at Bern
- KW Kurt WüthrichNobel Prize in Chemistry 2002 for NMR methods; studied chemistry, physics and mathematics at Bern
- FD Friedrich DürrenmattPlaywright and novelist (The Visit, The Physicists); studied philosophy, German literature and natural science at Bern
- WB Walter BenjaminPhilosopher and cultural critic; transferred to the University of Bern in 1917
- JC John le CarréSpy novelist; studied foreign languages at Bern in 1948-49
- TZ Thomas ZurbuchenAstrophysicist and former head of NASA's Science Mission Directorate; physics PhD from Bern
- DV Daniel VasellaFormer chairman and CEO of Novartis; medical degree from Bern
Frequently asked questions
How much does the University of Bern cost for international students?
From fall 2026, students who gained their entrance qualification outside Switzerland pay CHF 2,609 per semester (CHF 850 tuition, a CHF 1,700 surcharge, plus semester and student union fees). Swiss and resident students pay CHF 909 per semester.
Can I study at the University of Bern in English?
Bachelor's programmes are taught mainly in German, and non-native speakers need C1 German or must pass the university's German test before enrolling.
What is the University of Bern application deadline?
30 April for most bachelor's programmes starting in the fall, with late applications until 31 August (not possible if you need a visa). Medicine, dental and veterinary medicine and first-semester sport science close on 15 February.
What IB score does the University of Bern require?
At least 32 of 42 points without bonus points, in six subjects, with at least three at Higher Level including Mathematics or a science.
Can I get into the University of Bern with a German Abitur?
Yes, with an average of 2.0 or better, or with proof of admission to a German university. Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Psychology always require proof of admission.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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