Universität Bern
Bern, Switzerland • Founded 1834 • World Rank #227
Updated May 2026
Overview
Established in 1834, the Universität Bern (University of Bern) is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the small city of Bern (population range of 50,000-249,999 inhabitants).
Officially recognized by the Staatssekretariat für Bildung, Forschung und Innovation, Schweiz (State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation of Switzerland), Universität Bern (UniBE) is a large-sized coeducational Swiss higher education institution. Universität Bern (UniBE) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctorate degrees in several areas of study.
This 190-year-old Swiss higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on students' past academic records and grades. International applicants are eligible to apply for enrollment.
UniBE also provides several academic and non-academic facilities and services to students including a library, housing, sports facilities, study abroad and exchange programs, as well as administrative services.
Location & Contact
Universität Bern's campus location, postal address, and the channels students typically use to reach the admissions team. Verified contact points help avoid third-party impersonators.
Academic Details
Key statistics on Universität Bern's student population, faculty size, and external recognition. International vs domestic student split is often missing from these figures but matters for campus culture.
Academic Structures
To understand where programmes live within Universität Bern, the academic structure is mapped below. Some institutions run joint faculties with external bodies — credentialing in those cases is shared.
Unit 8 items
- Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Science
- Faculty of Human Sciences
- Faculty of Humanities
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Theology
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
- Law Faculty
Degrees
Also: Certificate of Advanced Studies and Diploma of Advanced Studies
Bachelor's 48 programs
Bachelor's programmes build foundational expertise, preparing graduates for entry-level professional roles and further postgraduate study.
- Anthropology
- Archaeology
- Art History
- Asian Studies
- Biochemistry
- Biological and Life Sciences
- Biology
- Business Administration
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Cultural Studies
- Dentistry
- Earth Sciences
- Eastern European Studies
- Economics
- Education
- English
- English Studies
- French
- French Studies
- Geography
- German
- History
- Islamic Studies
- Italian
- Law
- Linguistics
- Literature
- Mathematics
- Medicine
- Middle Eastern Studies
- Molecular Biology
- Musicology
- Natural Sciences
- Pharmacology
- Pharmacy
- Philology
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Psychology
- Religious Studies
- Slavic Languages
- Social Sciences
- Spanish
- Sports
- Theatre
- Theology
- Veterinary Science
Master's 69 programs
Master's programmes develop advanced specialised expertise, suited to senior industry positions and applied research.
- Anthropology
- Archaeology
- Art History
- Arts and Humanities
- Asian Studies
- Astronomy and Space Science
- Biochemistry
- Biological and Life Sciences
- Biology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Biomedicine
- Business Administration
- Chemistry
- Comparative Politics
- Computer Science
- Criminal Law
- Cultural Studies
- Dance
- Dentistry
- Earth Sciences
- Eastern European Studies
- Ecology
- Economics
- Education
- Endocrinology
- English
- English Studies
- French
- French Studies
- Gender Studies
- Geography
- German
- Health Sciences
- Hispanic American Studies
- History
- International Law
- International Studies
- Islamic Studies
- Italian
- Jewish Studies
- Law
- Library Science
- Linguistics
- Literature
- Management
- Mathematics
- Medicine
- Meteorology
- Middle Eastern Studies
- Musicology
- Natural Sciences
- Oriental Studies
- Philology
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political Sciences
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Publishing and Book Trade
- Religious Studies
- Slavic Languages
- Social Sciences
- Sociology
- Spanish
- Sports
- Statistics
- Theatre
- Theology
- Veterinary Science
Doctoral 55 programs
Doctoral programmes train independent researchers, leading to academic, scientific, and senior advisory careers.
- Anthropology
- Archaeology
- Art History
- Astronomy and Space Science
- Biochemistry
- Biological and Life Sciences
- Business Administration
- Catholic Theology
- Cell Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Criminal Law
- Cultural Studies
- Dentistry
- Earth Sciences
- Ecology
- Economics
- Education
- English Studies
- French
- French Studies
- Gender Studies
- Geography
- Geology
- German
- History
- Islamic Studies
- Italian
- Jewish Studies
- Law
- Linguistics
- Literature
- Mathematics
- Medicine
- Middle Eastern Studies
- Molecular Biology
- Musicology
- Natural Sciences
- Oriental Studies
- Philology
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political Sciences
- Protestant Theology
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Religious Studies
- Slavic Languages
- Sociology
- Spanish
- Sports
- Statistics
- Theatre
- Theology
- Veterinary Science
Faculties & Divisions
All faculties operate under Staatssekretariat für Bildung, Forschung und Innovation, Schweiz.
Business, Economics and Social Sciences (Faculty) 12 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Accountancy
- Business Administration
- Business and Commerce
- Communication Studies
- Economics
- Finance
- Human Resources
- Management
- Marketing
- Political Sciences
- Social Sciences
- Sociology
Common Career Paths
- Business Analyst
- Operations Manager
- Strategy Consultant
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Human Sciences (Faculty) 4 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Education
- Pedagogy
- Psychology
- Sports
Common Career Paths
- Research Scientist
- Lab Technician
- Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Humanities (Faculty) 24 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Archaeology
- Art History
- Arts and Humanities
- Cultural Studies
- English
- French
- Gender Studies
- German
- History
- Islamic Studies
- Italian
- Jewish Studies
- Linguistics
- Literature
- Modern Languages
- Musicology
- Oriental Studies
- Philology
- Philosophy
- Prehistory
- Religious Studies
- Slavic Languages
- Spanish
- Theatre
Common Career Paths
- Researcher
- Editor
- Cultural Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Law (Faculty) 12 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Civil Law
- Commercial Law
- Criminal Law
- European Union Law
- Health Administration
- History of Law
- Human Rights
- International Law
- Law
- Notary Studies
- Private Law
- Public Law
Common Career Paths
- Lawyer
- Legal Consultant
- Compliance Officer
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Medicine (Faculty) 23 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Anaesthesiology
- Anatomy
- Biomedical Engineering
- Biomedicine
- Cardiology
- Clinical Psychology
- Dentistry
- Dermatology
- Diabetology
- Endocrinology
- Forensic Medicine and Dentistry
- Haematology
- Medicine
- Nephrology
- Neurology
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Orthopaedics
- Paediatrics
- Physiology
- Plastic Surgery
- Pneumology
- Radiology
- Rheumatology
Common Career Paths
- Physician
- Medical Researcher
- Clinical Specialist
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Natural Sciences (Faculty) 21 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Anatomy
- Applied Mathematics
- Applied Physics
- Astronomy and Space Science
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Botany
- Cell Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Earth Sciences
- Ecology
- Geography
- Geology
- Mathematics
- Natural Sciences
- Pharmacology
- Pharmacy
- Physics
- Plant Pathology
- Statistics
Common Career Paths
- Research Scientist
- Lab Technician
- Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Theology (Faculty) 7 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Bible
- Catholic Theology
- History of Religion
- Jewish Studies
- New Testament
- Protestant Theology
- Theology
Common Career Paths
- Religious Educator
- Pastoral Counsellor
- Faith Community Leader
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Veterinary Medicine (Faculty) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Veterinary Science
Common Career Paths
- Physician
- Medical Researcher
- Clinical Specialist
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Programs Offered
Search the Universität Bern programme catalogue or scan it by degree level. The catalogue updates periodically; recently added programmes may not yet appear in some search-engine results.
113 programmes on record. Each level below shows a sample. Compare these on the programs page All programs in Switzerland
Bachelor's Degree 40 programmes
Showing 10 of 40.
Master's Degree 46 programmes
Showing 10 of 46.
Doctorate 27 programmes
Showing 10 of 27.
How to apply to Universität Bern
A short guide to applying to Universität Bern — five steps covering the path from programme selection to confirmation of receipt.
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1
Research programmes at Universität Bern
Use the programme finder to browse Universität Bern's 113 active programmes. Filter by keyword or scan by degree level. Read curriculum details on each programme's dedicated page if available.
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2
Review admissions criteria
Programme-level requirements at Universität Bern typically include academic transcripts, language proficiency proof, identity documents, and a personal statement or interview. Confirm specific requirements with the admissions office.
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3
Gather supporting documents
Prepare academic transcripts, ID/passport copies, language proficiency proof, a personal statement, and reference letters. International candidates may need apostilled or notarised translations — start early to avoid deadline pressure.
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4
Lodge your application
Universität Bern processes applications through www.unibe.ch. Create an account, fill out the application form, and submit your documents. Note application deadlines, which vary by intake and programme.
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5
Confirm receipt and track progress
Confirm receipt of your application with the admissions office and keep an eye on your portal for status changes. Reach the institution by phone at +41 (31) 631 3470. Quick responses to any follow-up requests keep your application moving smoothly through the review process.
Frequently Asked Questions about Universität Bern
Common questions students ask about Universität Bern — answers pulled straight from the institution's published profile.
When did Universität Bern open?
Universität Bern traces its founding to 1834 (approximately 192 years ago).
Where is Universität Bern located?
Universität Bern is located in Bern, Switzerland.
Is Universität Bern a public or private institution?
Universität Bern is a public institution.
What is the student enrolment at Universität Bern?
Student enrolment at Universität Bern is around 10,000-14,999.
What is Universität Bern's ranking?
It ranks #227 globally and #4 in Switzerland.
What programmes are available at Universität Bern?
Universität Bern offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
How many faculties does Universität Bern have?
Universität Bern is organised into 8 academic units across its disciplines.
Who recognises Universität Bern?
Universität Bern is accredited by Swiss Agency of Accreditation and Quality Assurance AAQ.
How do I find Universität Bern online?
Universität Bern's official website is www.unibe.ch.
Members of European University Association (EUA)
Joint research grants among European University Association (EUA) members create funded collaborations that often extend to graduate-student opportunities. The network listed below collaborates regularly with Universität Bern.
Faculties at nearby universities
Alumni networks within a region often outlast individual institutional choice. Universities near Universität Bern share post-grad employer connections that benefit students from any of them.
Where Else to Study Religious Studies
Supervision quality at the Religious Studies programme level is hard to assess externally but affects research output and graduate-school placement. Talk to current students or alumni where possible.
Universities Compared with Universität Bern
Rankings methodologies differ across peer institutions to Universität Bern. National, subject-specific, and international rankings can all tell different stories about the same set of universities.
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