Incoming

The term «Incoming» refers to students and researchers from abroad who will soon begin studying or working at one of the Universities of Bern or who are already doing so. If you belong to this group of people, you will find helpful information here.

The group of «incoming students» can also include student refugees, who can find detailed information in a separate section on this website:

Anyone coming from abroad who wants to train or work in Switzerland can find all the important information (in several languages) on the Swiss education system and recognition of foreign qualifications on the «berufsberatung.ch» website:

• Berufsberatung.ch – Homepage (in German) 
• Berufsberatung.ch – New in Switzerland (in German) 

General information on the Swiss higher education system and the relevant admission requirements for foreign students is available on the website:

• Swissuniversities – Homepage
• Swissuniversities – Studies – Admission to universities
• Swissuniversities – Service – Recognition / Swiss ENIC

The Careers Advisory and Information Centres (BIZ) of the Department of Education and Culture of the Canton of Bern also offer information on studying in Switzerland:

• BIZ – Publications – Info leaflets and brochures – Information for people from abroad (Study, diplomas – Studying in Switzerland with a foreign diploma PDF) (in German)

The counselling services for education and careers «ask!» have compiled a fact sheet on the subject:

• ask! – Documents – Studying in Switzerland as a foreigner (in German) 

Members of the «Incoming» group can get in touch with the following contact offices if they have any questions, uncertainties or problems:

• If you have administrative questions or specific questions about your studies or research stay, you can get in touch with the contact office at your university directly. The contact offices of the Universities of Bern are listed below.
• If you have questions about your study, career or life situation, or if you have personal concerns, you can come to us for personal counselling. Our counselling services are free of charge and confidential.

The Admissions Office (ZIB) of the University of Bern helps with questions about applying for a degree programme, semester enrolment and other related topics:

• Admissions Office (ZIB)
  Hochschulstrasse 4
  CH-3012 Bern

General information on incoming students can be found on the webpage of the University of Bern: The webpage also offers more specific information for exchange students from Switzerland (e.g. BeNeFri programme), Europe (e.g. SEMP or Erasmus) or overseas:

• University of Bern – Studies – Mobility and Exchange – Incoming

The department «UniBE International» implements the central activities for the internationalisation of the University of Bern, takes care of the presence in the international university and research community and implements measures that have been decided upon to achieve the internationalisation goals of the university:

• University of Bern – UniBe International
  Hochschulstrasse 4, 3012 Bern
  +41 31 631 41 75
  infodesk@int.unibe.ch

The international «Content Hub» of the University of Bern contains information for international students and researchers:

• Universität Bern – University of Bern Internationals – Homepage

The BFH examines on a case-by-case basis whether foreign applicants (with a non-Swiss degree) are admitted to the programme. You must submit various documents and prove that you have sufficient language skills. Ask the head of the degree programme about the procedure and the required documents at an early stage.

The contact office for incoming students at Bern University of Applied Sciences is the International Relations Office (IRO). It is the specialist office and support centre for international affairs of the various departments of Bern University of Applied Sciences BFH. It is also available for interdepartmental questions:

• BFH – International Relations Office
  +41 31 848 33 50
  international@bfh.ch

Students from abroad who intend to study at BFH should contact the head of the relevant degree programme at an early stage:

• Bern University of Applied Sciences – About BFH – Service + Counselling – International – Contact

Please also note the overview page on the subject of «International study», where the sub-page «Students from abroad» is particularly relevant for all incoming students:

• BFH – Studies – International study
• BFH – Studies – International study – Students from abroad

Helpful information can also be found in the «International Student Guide» of the Bern University of Applied Sciences:

• BFH – International Student Guide

The contact office for incoming students (in German) is the «International Office». It is responsible for PHBern's mobility programmes. These facilitate the mutual exchange of students, lecturers, academic staff and employees with partner universities in Switzerland, Europe and overseas:

• PHBern – International Office (in German)
  Fabrikstrasse 8, CH-3012 Bern
  +41 31 309 21 28
  internationaloffice@phbern.ch

In addition, PHBern also has offers for incoming mobility students with a good command of English:

• PHBern – Studies – Offers for international mobility students 

Useful links can also be found on the (English-language) «International» page, where information is available for both the «Incoming» and «Outgoing» groups:

• PHBern – International

Various courses are available to prepare you for your studies at PHBern. You can find further information here:

• PHBern – Studies – Preparatory course (in German) 

For recognition of foreign teaching diplomas, please visit this page:

• PHBern – Studies – Foreign teaching diplomas (in German)