History
The foundations of the University of Bern were laid in the 16th century, when the Reformation made it necessary for new priests to be educated in a higher education establishment. In 1805, as part of the reorganization of higher education, the Bern government converted the former School of Theology into an Academy with four faculties.
Education
The university's comprehensive offering includes 8 faculties, some 180 institutes, 9 Competence Centers, 7 Graduate Schools, 60 Bachelor, 83 Master programmes, PhD in all disciplines and more than 200 executive programs. Courses include theology, humanities, law, the economic and social sciences, medicine, veterinary medicine and sciences. It’s your option to make various combinations, including across different faculties. Whether you want to combine economics with archaeology or psychology with computer science, you will not be short of choices.
Research
The University of Bern excels in five major areas:
- Sustainability (focusing on climate, coping with global change, and regulation of world trade, biodiversity and resources research)
- Health and medicine (with top achievements in the medical, natural, human and veterinary sciences)
- Matter and the universe (with basic research in the fields of particle physics and space research)
- Intercultural knowledge (to exchange and understand our own and other cultures)
- Politics and administration (as the university for the capital city region)
Career
The modern spirit of the University of Bern is at home in a traditional environment. In a central location, new and historical buildings are spread across an entire neighborhood that has nevertheless remained familiar. Regardless of the age of the buildings, we offer a modern infrastructure everywhere.The workplaces can be reached easily and quickly from all over Switzerland on public transport.
University of Bern Key Statistics & Highlights
- #108 Ranking
- 29 Masters
- 55 Scholarships
- 696 Academic Staff
- 11,556 Students
- 1,849 Students (int'l)
- 6,587 Students (female)
- Public Institution Type
University of Bern Overview
University of Bern Scholarships
University of Bern Scholarships
Below you will find scholarships related to University of Bern. Distinction can be made between scholarships provided by the University and those provided by independent providers.
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University of Bern Student Reviews & Awards
Based on 11 reviews
- 5 Star 6 Reviews
- 4 Star 3 Reviews
- 3 Star 1 Review
- 2 Star 0 Reviews
- 1 Star 1 Review
Have to start to study yet
I need to start studying to write a good an fair review.
A place I will call home
University of Bern has greatly changed my life, and I am happy to call it "home." This feeling of belonging goes far beyond the academic area and includes the whole university, the beautiful city of Bern, and overall Swiss life. I feel great being part of the University of Bern's Department of Political, Legal, and Economic Philosophy. The unique mix of distinguished faculty members and a curriculum that encourages views from different fields has consistently broadened my knowledge in the area of global affairs. Through interesting seminars, thought-provoking talks, and group research projects, I have learned more about how politics, law, economics, and philosophy all affect each other through complex interactions. Beyond helping me do better in school, this area has taught me important skills like critical thinking and creative problem-solving that will definitely affect what I do in the future. The University of Bern is known for its unwavering dedication to academic success within the whole institution. With its cutting-edge buildings, diverse student body, and intellectually stimulating culture, it creates an atmosphere that helps students grow both personally and academically. A strong sense of belonging and the ability to do well in both school and personal growth have been fostered by the teachers and staff's unwavering support. Beyond the university's walls, Bern, the beautiful city of Switzerland, has become an important part of my career. The city's long past, beautiful old town, and lively arts and culture scene make it a great place for both formal and informal learning and activity. Safety, good quality of life, and an excellent public transportation system make Bern a great place to live and learn. While I was in Bern, I enjoyed walking along the cobblestone streets, eating delicious Swiss food, and seeing how this charming city's mix of tradition and modernity makes it special. Overall, Switzerland has made a lasting impact on my intellectual and personal growth. Its stunning scenery, like the mighty Swiss Alps and calm lakes, are a constant reminder of how important it is to protect the environment and live in a way that does not harm other living things. This country's dedication to political neutrality and its multicultural society also show how important global cooperation and diversity are, which are ideals I personally hold dear.
Studying English at University of Bern
I liked the classes I attended and the professors as well. The environment in my department was really nice.
University of Bern Rankings
Study Portals Meta Ranking
Studyportals ranking look at the scores of the most used ranking systems and present you with one number of how well this University performs.
World University Rankings
By Times Higher Education
Dropped 4 places compared to 2025
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend World University Rankings
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 116 | 104 | 108 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Best Global Universities Rankings
By U.S. News & World Report
Dropped 3 places compared to 2025
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
3 year trend Best Global Universities Rankings
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 107 | 111 | 114 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Academic Ranking of World Universities
By Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Dropped 50 places compared to 2024
ARWU World University rankings is the first world university ranking. It ranks the world's top 1000 colleges and universities based on objective indicator. They look at the number of award-winning (Fields Medals and Nobel Prize) scientists who are located there, how much of their research is cited and referenced around the world, and how much they've contributed to different academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, ARWU ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend Academic Ranking of World Universities
| 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 101 | 101 | 151 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
QS World University Rankings
By TopUniversities
Dropped 23 places compared to 2025
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend QS World University Rankings
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 126 | 161 | 184 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Student services
Office for gender equality - The university is committed to gender equality for men and women. It promotes the success of both men and women in academia with effective instruments of gender equality and career models.
International Office - The University of Bern has numerous exchange contracts with partners in Europe and all over the world that make it possible for students from the University of Bern to gain experience at a foreign university for one or two semesters. Interested students obtain information from us on possible destinations, how to register and how to prepare for an experience abroad.Housing services
Irrespective of whether you are alone or with your partner or family - allow sufficient time to look for a room or apartment. If you come from abroad, we particularly recommend dealing with accommodation several weeks before you arrive (e.g. temporary accommodation, a room in a student residence etc.).
Many apartments on offer are not available for occupation immediately due to the period of notice and are only free after a period of 1 to 3 months.The Welcome Center publishes offers accommodation from landlords in Bern and the surrounding area. They do not, however, act as direct intermediaries – please contact the landlords yourself.Library services
The University Library of Bern not only provides books and journals in print and electronic format and access to subject-specific databases, but also offers courses in topics such as research methods, academic writing and citation, as well as support and equipment for electronic publishing.
ICT services
The IT Services Office (ID) offers a wide range of IT-related services, support and advice. It supports students, central administration staff and the institutes' IT managers.
We are responsible for planning and installation, and for ensuring uninterrupted, secure operation of the entire wired and wireless network.
Medical services
People in further and continuing education can apply to be exempted from the compulsory health insurance in Switzerland, providing they can prove they are in possession of a comparable foreign health insurance. In the canton of Bern, the application must be submitted in writing to the Office for Social Insurance within three months of your entering Switzerland.
Campus life
Most of the institutes are located in the Länggasse, a lively student quarter that offers a wide range of places to eat and drink: snack bars, restaurants and cafes are an invitation to wind down. The railway station and city center with an abundance of shops are just a few minutes' walk from the different university buildings.
The city of Bern is listed among the cities that offer excellent quality of life in the world. The people of Bern are welcoming and peaceable, and the old town of Bern, nestling in a breath-taking setting surrounded by the Swiss Alps, is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. The Swiss capital also has an broad range of cultural activities.
Sports facilities
We offer a diverse sports and exercise program for students and staff at the university and the university of teacher education. University Sports organizes guided training sessions, courses, competitions and events, offers advice and provides infrastructure for independent training. University Sports is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Center for Sport and Sport Science as well as other sports infrastructure.
Sports areas:
- Alpine sports and climbing
- Fitness
- Combat sport / martial arts
- Running and cycling
- Snow sports
- Games
- Dance
- Water sports
Student clubs
Student Union - The Student Union of the University of Bern (SUB) represents the concerns and interests of the students of the University of Bern. It is a public law entity based on the University Law of the canton of Bern. Over 90% of students in Bern are SUB members. As well as political representation, the SUB offers the students of the University of Bern a comprehensive and varied range of services and advice, such as jobs, accommodation, free tickets to cultural events, legal and financial advice and help.
Cultural associations:- BEST Bern Student Theater
- Jazzorchester
- University Choir
- University Orchestra
Accreditation
The Swiss Accreditation Council has accredited the University of Bern as a university without conditions. With the accreditation decision, which the University of Bern received on 24 September 2021, the institutional accreditation procedure have been completed.