Incoming

Application at your home university:

Follow the application process for exchange programs at your home university.

Application at the University of Bern

Once you have been selected as an exchange student by your home university and nominated to the University of Bern:

• You will receive the link to the online application form from UniBE International.
• Register on the Mobility-Online platform and upload the required documents (signed form, passport photo, copy of passport/ID, and additional documents if applicable).

Deadline: 30 April for the autumn term and 30 September for the spring term

Preparation of your stay

In May or October, you will receive your acceptance letter and additional information about your exchange from UniBE International.

For example, they will inform you about:

• your scholarship,
• how to find accommodation,
• available language courses,
• other legal requirements (health insurance, visa).

 Learning Agreement:

You are responsible for your study program. In order to get your courses recognised by your home university, we advise you to complete the Learning Agreement:

• Fill in the courses you plan to attend
• Have the Learning Agreement signed by your home university and the coordinator at UniBE
• Upload the signed Learning Agreement in your Mobility Online workflow

Arrival at Bern:

• For SEMP students, we offer a mentoring program: A student from Bern will be assigned to you as your personal mentor. Your mentor will get in touch with you upon your arrival in Bern and assist you with your first steps in Switzerland.
• UniBE International offer an orientation week for all incoming students.
• At an informative meeting during the first week of the semester, you will meet your subject coordinator who will give you further information on your studies in Bern.

Exams and transcript of records:

• Find out when your exams will take place. Ask the lecturers if it is possible to take an oral exam instead of a written one, or if you can take the exam in English instead of German. Check whether you can stay in your accommodation as long as needed.
• Register for your exams. Ask the lecturers how to register for their exams.
• At the end of the semester, as soon as all your grades are listed in CTS (KSL), report your name and home adress in your home country to the faculty office (Dekanat, sabine.herren@unibe.ch). The faculty office will issue your transcript of records and send it to the home address you have indicated.

German, English

There are mainly three types of courses:

• Lecture ("Vorlesung"): Presentation of material in a theoretical way. Examination: usually written.
• Tutorial ("Übung"): Usually refering to a specific lecture, presentation of examples related to the material covered in this lecture. Examination: together with the according lecture.
• Seminar ("Proseminar"/"Seminar"): Self-dependent treatment of a given subject. Examination: seminar paper and/or oral presentation.

Sometimes, lectures and tutorials are held in an integrated way. Note that you do not have to register for courses except for seminars.

• Type of examination: The type of examination depends on the specific course (cf. types of course). However, most courses are examined by a written exam.
• Registration: You have to register for exams. Please ask the lecturers of the courses you attend how to register for their courses.
• Dates: Exams usually take place as follows:
  • Autumn semester, 1st attempt: mid-December to mid-January
  • Autumn semester, 2nd attempt: last week before courses restart in spring semester
  • Spring semester, 1st attempt: mid-May to mid-June
  • Spring semester, 2nd attempt: last week before courses restart in autumn semester

Students who fail the first attempt are usually allowed one retake. Note that you are not automatically registered for the 2nd attempt in case you fail the 1st attempt

You can find detailed information on courses in Business Administration on the following websites:

Courses taught in English: WISO Courses

As an exchange student, you may also attend courses from other disciplines such as economics, law, political sciences, sociology etc. Please refer to the Core Teaching System CTS for an overview of further courses.