General Information

Application and Fees

Who may apply?

Advanced Bachelor or Master students (national and international). They must be at least 18 years of age, be enrolled in a law, theology, political science, religious studies, philosophy, history, psychology or related university degree program and possess a keen interest in the topic.

Level of English

Given the interactive nature of the International Bachelor Summer School, participants are expected to have at least B2 level English. However, we do not require a formal English language certificate.

ECTS Credits

Participants having successfully completed the Summer School will  receive a certificate of attendance with the suggstion to acnowledge the course with 3 ECTS points. Acknowledgement of the ECTS points in the study  programs at home universities is the  responsibility of the participants. Upon request the certificate of attendance might be graded.

Price

Early bird registration 150 CHF
Regular registration 200 CHF

Included in the price: The registration fee includes course participation, an “icebreaker” and final drinks reception, supervision and materials

Housing and Leisure Time

Accommodation

Accommodation will be provided in the student residence Bümpliz Nord run by Student Lodge. It is a five-minute train ride from Bern’s main railway station and from the university, or 20 minutes by bike (rental bike Bern).

The rooms in the student residence will be available from 19 August - 27 August 2023. You will be sent a code, which will grant you access to a key box with your room key. All rooms are single rooms with a shared kitchen and a shared bathroom; each room has a washbasin.

The student residence is fully furnished and include crockery, cutlery, cooking utensils, cleaning material and bedclothes. Internet connection is available via WiFi. Please register your laptop, smartphone, tablet, etc. beforehand. You will receive a relevant form together with your rental agreement.

If you wish to book a room in the student residence, please state this on your application form.

Cost: 310 CHF

Social Program

The social program includes a broad spectrum of activities, such as experiencing a typically Swiss “Apéro”, exploring Bern’s old city center on foot, going for a swim or renting a bike, just to mention a few.

Other Practical Details

Arrival

View from the main building of the university / Pauline Musembi

Bern is easily accessible by train and has its own airport. In addition, there are direct trains from Zurich and Geneva Airport to Bern’s main station. For those travelling via Basel Airport, there is a bus to Basel’s central railway station. The train ride from Basel to Bern takes roughly one hour.

There is no airport pickup service available.

Insurance

Please make sure you have health and accident insurance.

Visa

You are responsible for checking whether you need a visa for Switzerland. Please start the application process early as the visa process will take several weeks to complete.

The University of Bern can issue an invitation letter and a confirmation of payment for you. However, we are unable to offer any individual assistance for the application process.

Costs in General

There are several student cafeterias where you can purchase small snacks and meals. A warm meal costs between 7.20 CHF and 12.60 CHF. If you prefer to cook your own meals, the kitchen in your student residence is equipped with the necessary kitchenware. There will be enough space to store groceries in the fridge. You should expect to spend approximately 25-30 CHF a day on food.

Public Transportation in Bern

© Bern Tourismus

To get around Bern by public transportation you can purchase a LIBERO ticket, which costs approximately 60 CHF (for passengers up to 25 years of age) and 80 CHF (for passengers older than 25 years of age) and is valid for travel in and around Bern.

For questions concerning the content of the summer school course please contact:
Martino Mona

For questions concerning the organization of the summer school please contact:
Lenka Fehrenbach.