Study PhD Programmes in Bern, Switzerland

Bern at a glance

Ranked among the world’s top ten cities for the best quality of life, Bern is a great place for following a degree abroad. Follow the path of Albert Einstein, as the illuminous scientists worked on his theory of relativity in this city. Bern has been drawing thousands of international students, as the top universities here focus on outstanding research projects with a great impact in real life and meant to overcome global challenges. Bern is the capital of Switzerland, lying on the Swiss plateau in the Canton of Bern. The Swiss call this city Bundesstadt, or "federal city".

130K

Population
1655 - 2130 CHF/month

Living Costs
1

Universities

Studying

Studying in Bern

Universities in Bern provide a wide range of programmes for Bachelor and Master’ degree level and you can also apply for vocational training programmes. Most Bachelor degrees are conducted in German, therefore you need to prove German language proficiency. For this, you can either present Goethe-Zertifikat, TestDaF, DSH or other German tests, or in some cases, simply pass a German language test at the university. Always check with the general requirements of the study programme you choose to enrol in.

At Master’s level, several courses are taught in either German or English and a small number are taught in French. Some programmes are even conducted in one of the mentioned languages, with the possibility of taking the exam or assessments in another language.

For proving English language proficiency, TOEFL or IELTS are accepted, or in some cases no English test is required (just basic knowledge of English) and you have the option to follow English courses within the language centre of the university.

Become an expert in subject areas, such as: archaeology, business administration, medicine, law, education, psychology, theatre, sport science, economics, earth sciences, linguistics, languages, political science, art, music, communication, engineering. You can find Master of Science programmes in several fields, including in those mentioned above.

Career

Career opportunities in Bern

Bern has a stable and prosperous economy. The main industries supporting Bern’s growth are: agriculture, manufacturing, mining, construction, insurance and finance, health care.

Names of important companies in Bern are: Swisscom, La Poste, Galenica, La Mobilière, eBay, Swiss Federal Railways, Alcon, Swatch, Breitling, Ericsson, Novartis Pharmaceuticals.

Any international student looking for an internship opportunity can choose from several offers available in local companies, either based in Switzerland, or a multinational company.

Life

Bern city life

Explore Bern in your spare time and discover the city’s unique charm, especially around the historic old town in the centre, area which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Important attractions in Bern are:

"Time Bell" – an elaborate medieval clock tower with moving puppets
The Federal Palace (Bundeshaus)
The Münster – a 15th century Gothic cathedral
Alpine Museum
Einstein Museum (Einsteinhaus)
The Holy Ghost Church – one of the largest Swiss Reformed churches in Switzerland
The Kindlifresserbrunnen (Child Eater Fountain)

Check out the Rose Garden (Rosengarten), a Rosarium located on a hill, today transformed into a park, offering you nice views of the medieval town centre. Gurten is a splendid hill just outside the city where you can also admire landscapes of the whole city and another natural, relaxing spot is the Bear Park (bear is the emblem of Bern).

Bern has one of the longest covered shopping promenades in Europe so you can wander around many fashion stores.

If you feel like seeing a play, go to Bern Theatre or Tojo Theatre among the theatres you can find here.

At night, you can choose from many cafes, trendy night clubs and fancy bars and simply relax and have fun.

Anytime you feel the need to change the scenery, take trips to Zurich and Basel – around an hour away by train, or to Geneva – about two hours away.

International atmosphere in Bern

Apart from the international student population, Bern counts several foreign residents: Germans, Italians, Spanish, Portuguese, Turkish, Macedonians.

The whole Switzerland is rated as one of the most attractive countries for doing business in the world and Bern makes no exception. With a relaxed attitude towards foreign investment, many international entrepreneurs, including multinational managers are attracted to Bern due to the economic and political stability, efficient capital markets, highly skilled labour force and high quality of life.

Weather Bern

In Bern you will experience mild winters, but with significant amounts of snow, and the summers are moderately warm. Daily mean temperatures in December – January are around 0 °C (31 °F) and in the summer they ranges between 16 and 18 °C (60 – 64 °F). June and July are the wettest months, recording many rainfalls.

Universities in Bern

University of Bern

The University of Bern offers top quality across the board: it enjoys special recognition in leading-edge disciplines, is reputed for the excellent quality of its teaching, offers a delightful setting, and a campus environment intimately linked to the social, economic and political life of the city.

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