Study at BFH

Full-time bachelor’s degree programmes generally last three years. The standard length of a master’s degree is one and a half to two years.

Most bachelor’s degree programmes can also be taken part-time. You spend eight to twelve semesters studying over at least four years. Some master’s degree programmes can also be taken part-time. Depending on the programme, the course length may be extended to a maximum of six or eight semesters.

We follow the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) and in selected programmes, your learning outcomes are measured in credit points (ECTS credits). ECTS is the European system for the recording, transfer and accumulation of learning achievements.

One ECTS credit is equivalent to 30 student working hours. The workload amounts to 1,800 hours per academic year (full-time studies).

To be admitted onto a bachelor's degree programme, you have to fulfil the following requirements:

Academic requirements

Vocational baccalaureate

You have basic training in a profession related to your desired degree discipline and a federally recognised vocational baccalaureate. You can find a list of related professions on the ‘Admission and Application’ page for your chosen department or in the regulations.

Specialised baccalaureate

You have a specialised baccalaureate in a professional field relevant to the degree discipline. In Health Professions, Social Work, Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences and some of the arts, a specialised baccalaureate (supported, if necessary, by sufficient practical experience) is usually enough for direct entry. For all other programmes, please contact the programme head.

Baccalaureate

You have a federally recognised baccalaureate. You can be admitted onto a bachelor’s degree programme if you can demonstrate one year’s professional experience in a field related to your desired degree discipline (exception: for the Department of Health Professions, you need only complete a two-month work placement before the start of your course). Some programmes at Bern University of the Arts have no work experience requirement.

Equivalent educational background

You have a recognised qualification equivalent to a baccalaureate plus experience or have taken an entrance examination that fulfils the requirements of a vocational baccalaureate.

Higher vocational training

You have a tertiary level education from an institution other than a university. Provided that you demonstrate the required knowledge and fulfil the requirements for the programme, you may be admitted onto the bachelor’s degree programme.

Professional prerequisites

The work experience requirements are generally based on the academic requirements (see above). Depending on the programme, other specific conditions may also apply. You can find more information about these on the Admission and Application pages for each programme or department.

Language skills

The study languages at BFH are German and French. Some individual (master’s) degree programmes are taught in English.

Applying from abroad

Do you have an overseas degree? If so, you have to submit different documents and provide proof of language proficiency. Please contact the appropriate programme head in plenty of time to find out more about the process and required documentation.

Exceptions

If you don't fulfil the required conditions, in exceptional cases, you may be able to apply ‘sur dossier’. This decision is made by the programme head.

Bern University of Applied Sciences offers consecutive master’s degree programmes that follow on directly from its bachelor’s degree programmes.

These programmes are aimed at graduates who have completed their bachelor’s with an above-average grade. We generally require applicants to hold a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent university degree.

Every programme has different admission procedures, aptitude tests and requirements.

If you don't have the required practical or professional experience, Bern University of Applied Sciences offers a variety of preparatory courses and Passerelle options.

Passerelle for technical degree disciplines

Our Passerelle scheme provides a pathway between baccalaureate programmes and university studies in engineering, information technology or architecture.

School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences preparatory work placement

Students without relevant practical experience can take a mentored 12-month preparatory work placement. Candidates with training in a semi-related profession can complete a condensed form of the preparatory work placement.

The bachelor’s degree programme culminates in a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BSc). The majority of bachelor’s degrees at Bern University of Applied Sciences are vocational.

The bachelor is a university degree and generally qualifies you for follow-on studies in an appropriate subject at universities of applied sciences, universities, Swiss federal institutes and teaching colleges. It also enables admission onto suitable overseas programmes. Each institution will have its own admission requirements.

The consecutive master’s degree programme culminates in a Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Science (MSc). It shouldn’t be confused with continuing education master’s degree programmes:

Consecutive master’s programmes

consecutive master’s studies build on a bachelor’s degree programme and are part of a student’s foundational training (Bologna level 2). Students develop detailed, specialised knowledge and gain a higher qualification that qualifies them for research and senior management positions. The consecutive master’s degree also serves as a stepping stone to a PhD (Bologna level 3). The programme culminates in a federally recognised Master of Arts or Master of Science.

Master of/Executive Master of Advanced Studies (MAS/EMBA)

The Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) and Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) are designed explicitly as continuing education courses. Unlike consecutive master’s programmes, they are tailored to the needs of individuals who already have considerable professional experience. Students gain specialised or general skills, reflect on their professional practice and bring their specialist knowledge up to date.

Health Professions, Social Work, Business

If you are a student, please contact the programme head.

With training in a variety of sports and cultural and creative courses, BFH has a broad leisure offer ranging from badminton to power yoga and drawing or photography.

The Bern University of the Arts HKB is a department of Bern University of Applied Sciences. Hosting more than 300 events each year, it is one of Bern’s largest cultural venues. Its events cover all spheres of the arts (literature, music, theatre, opera, art, design, etc.) and are usually free. Take a look at the events calendar.

The city of Bern is also home to countless museums and galleries – from the Zentrum Paul Klee to the Swiss Rifle Museum and the Einsteinhaus. The region’s larger centres are also home to a number of famous art galleries. Visiting zoos and botanical gardens, palaces, festivals and other cultural events gives you an opportunity to leave your everyday routine behind.

A summary of current exhibitions, festivals and other events can be found in the city's various events and cultural calendars:

Bern University of Applied Sciences has various sites in the Canton of Bern. At Biel and Bern, new campus-style buildings are now being built and from 2022 and 2026 will connect previously separate locations.

In principle, you are responsible for finding your own accommodation. The HAFL department has a limited number of rooms for students who live a long way from the university. The rooms and flats currently available, as well as information on our locations, can be found here:

Housing Anywhere

BFH is a partner of Housing Anywhere, the international student-to-student housing platform. Students coming to Bern from abroad can find accommodation via Housing Anywhere. The rooms on this platform are offered by students who are heading abroad to study, attend an Erasmus/SEMP semester or take up a work placement. Students are not charged for using the platform. When you make a booking, you will be charged an administrative fee to cover the costs of Housing Anywhere’s secure booking system.

The Canton of Bern has a dense, well-connected network of public transport (buses, trams, S-Bahn rapid transit railway and PostAuto buses).

social security AHV/IV/EO

From 1 January after their twentieth birthday, Swiss and overseas students domiciled (under Swiss civil law) in Switzerland must pay old-age and survivors’ insurance (AHV), disability insurance (IV) and income compensation (EO) contributions of CHF 482 each year (minimum contribution). Students who are working must pay contributions from 1 January after their seventeenth birthday. Students earning less than the minimum contribution or in receipt of EO compensation during a given year may have these contributions deducted: they only have to pay the difference to the minimum contribution.

Information on social security for overseas students:
exchange students are not covered by social security in Switzerland. However, overseas students who complete all of their studies in Switzerland are generally covered by social security.
Old-age and survivors’ insurance (AHV), disability insurance (IV) and income compensation (EO) are an important part of compulsory Swiss social security. Everyone living or working in Switzerland is insured and must pay contributions.
Students are generally required to pay contributions. From 1 January after their twentieth birthday, Swiss and overseas students domiciled (under Swiss civil law) in Switzerland must make AHV, IV and EO contributions of CHF 482 each year (minimum contribution).

Exemption from contributions:
during your studies, will you remain domiciled overseas? If so, you can apply for an exemption from contributions from the Old-Age and Survivors' Insurance (AHV) Office responsible for your area. In accordance with Art. 23 (1) Swiss Civil Code, a person’s domicile is the place where they reside with the intention of settling. The place must be the person’s centre of vital interests. This definition has an objective (stay) and subjective element (intention of settling). If the visit is for study purposes only, you don’t have to pay any AHV, IV or EO contributions. However, if you start working, you are required to pay social security contributions.

More information:

health and accident insurance

All individuals resident in Switzerland must be insured with a Swiss health insurer, regardless of citizenship.

Information on health and accident insurance for overseas students:
in principle, individuals staying or working in Switzerland (with the exception of tourists) have to have health insurance in Switzerland. Within three months of the beginning of the compulsory insurance requirement (from the commencement of their stay/job in Switzerland), the person must take out basic health insurance with a Swiss health insurance provider in accordance with the Federal Act on Health Insurance. It then applies retroactively. Foreign nationals residing in Switzerland for the purposes of education or training are subject to certain conditions.

More information:

Free Microsoft offer (Office 365)

Students can easily access a variety of Microsoft Office applications for free from the Microsoft Office Portal.

Projekt Neptun

• As part of Projekt Neptun, students and university staff can purchase selected devices from Apple, HP and Lenovo for discounted prices.
• The hardware recommended by Projekt Neptun can be ordered online from selected sales partners during two sales windows at the beginning of each semester.
• Neptun customers can also take advantage of a suite of support packages.

DataQuest

Students and staff at BFH can register in the DataQuest online shop and take advantage of discounts and promotions for Apple products.

Student discount

Students and staff at BFH can take advantage of special discounts for various hardware and software products of this platform.

HP Store

Hewlett Packard sells devices with discounts for students directly from the HP Student Store and www.students.ch.

Apple Education Store

In the Apple Education Store, students and university staff can take advantage of EDU prices for Mac computers, Apple software and selected accessories.

Campusdiscount

This German platform offers customers in teaching and research (teachers, professors, lecturers, research associates and students) special offers on most of its hardware range.

Fruitstore

• This exclusive online shop for notebooks, tablets and computers offers students, school pupils, teachers and learners in Switzerland a wide range of branded devices at affordable prices all year round.
• Customers also benefit from a range of special offers (e.g. at semester start) and promotions (for larger orders).

More information on the BFH Intranet:

At BFH, students and staff work with a broad range of cutting-edge platforms, applications and systems. BFH adapts constantly to the latest technologies.

SharePoint workspaces

The workspaces on the BFH Intranet help students and staff collaborate in projects, working groups and teams. They make collaboration easier and facilitate University-wide collaboration in closed user groups.

MS Teams

MS Teams is the latest tool from Microsoft – the hub for team collaboration in Office 365. Benefits of MS Teams:

• easy communication by chat, conference call or phone
• Directly integrated: Office 365 applications for real teamwork (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, SharePoint and Power BI)
• Personalised, productive working
• Use of the mobile Teams app on desktop or smartphone

Moodle

Moodle is BFH’s central online learning platform. It supports face-to-face teaching with virtual classrooms, helps lecturers efficiently organise their lectures and allows them to supplement their courses with online materials. On Moodle, you can find teaching materials and tests, work through lessons, collaborate with other students or submit work. With the Moodle mobile app, you can also access the platform from your smartphone or tablet.

Office 365

You can access different Microsoft Office 365 applications easily and for free from the relevant portal. You can register with your BFH email address (e.g. abde1@bfh.ch) and your BFH password.

OneDrive

As a student at BFH, you have free access to the OneDrive cloud storage service. You can store your files, sync them with other devices, share them with other people or co-edit them. You can register with your email address (e.g. abde1@bfh.ch) and your BFH password.

Azure

We offer cloud-computing platforms for research projects and lectures.

Specialist applications

For lectures, BFH makes available a diverse range of specialist applications for students.

• IBM SPSS
• Microsoft Visual Studio Enterprise
• Matlab
• Adobe InDesign
• Mathcad 15
• Mountains Map
• ARcGIS
• Camptasia
• EndNote
• Mathematica
• Mindjet
• VirtualBox