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University for Everyone

What current trends are shaping dialect and standard language? How does AI affect our spoken language? And how is language used politically? This spring semester, the Collegium generale lecture series explores contemporary language use

Collegium generale

News

Walter Benjamin Kolleg

Jaroslav Rudiš is new Dürrenmatt Guest Professor

Czech writer Jaroslav Rudiš will serve as the 24th Friedrich Dürrenmatt Guest Professor for World Literature. He’ll take students on a literary train journey through Central Europe. Kick-off event: Feb 18 – “Rail, Beer and Winterberg”.

To the media release (in German)

Four years since the Russian invasion

The war’s consequences for Ukrainian society

To the media release (in German)

Psychology

Humor makes life easier

Humor is more than just entertainment: developmental psychologist Pasqualina Perrig-Chiello explains how humor can be used specifically to reduce stress, strengthen relationships, and increase well-being.

The online magazine of the University of Bern

Humor 

Have you laughed today?

Laughter connects people and relieves stress. The frequency with which we laugh is influenced by factors such as age, environment and expectations. Examining the data reveals how these factors work and what they trigger in us.

The online magazine of the University of Bern

People

Top-level sport & studies

Javelin throw, studies, top performance

Simon Wieland is currently Switzerland's best javelin thrower – and studies at the University of Bern. 2025 was his most successful year to date. He revealed his achievements and his goals for 2026 in an interview with “uniAKTUELL”.

The online magazine of the University of Bern (in German)

Innovation

"I am grateful to be part of a dynamic community of innovators."

Planning a radiotherapy is a complex process with multiple iterations, resulting in patients having to wait for the therapy to begin. With his project, Amith Kamath aims to both speed up the process and enable treating physicians to track and quantify radiation effects in real-time based on contouring, ensuring maximum safety and efficiency. At the University of Bern, he finds a very supportive environment for the implementation of this goal.

To the interview

Medicine

“Sex and gender must be taken into account in research from the outset.”

Recognizing heart attacks, the right dosage of medication: Angèle Gayet-Ageron from the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine at the University of Bern on why sex and gender should no longer be a blind spot in research and medicine.

The online magazine of the University of Bern (in German)

Innovation

"The product must be 100% user-centered"

Making hand therapy entertaining so that patients want to continue practicing at home – Samuel Knobel is realizing this vision with an egg-shaped training device and accompanying tablet software. His greatest motivation is to help people regain the dexterity they need for activities of daily living.

Read more

Sustainability

“We can’t expect judges to save us”

The Norwegian-German law professor, Christina Voigt, has been awarded the University of Bern’s Hans Sigrist Prize worth 100 000 Swiss Francs. This honor recognizes her achievements in advancing international climate law.

The online magazine of the University of Bern

Innovation

“Our work could one day save lives”

A breakthrough discovery during her PhD has motivated Hang Gander-Bui to develop a drug compound that could become a game-changer in combatting fungal sepsis. Instead of fighting the fungus, the immunologist with a specialization in infectious diseases plans to reset the body’s own immune system to fend off the deadly infection.

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Innovation

"I see problems as an incentive, not an obstacle"

With his project Aikeso, UniBE Venture Fellow Hanspeter Hess uses artificial intelligence to automate and improve the diagnosis of shoulder patients with the aim of ensuring the most suitable treatment with the greatest possible success. In addition to resolving specific tricky problems at his PC, the biomedical engineer appreciates balancing his work with time in the mountains.

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Studies

Admissions Office (ZIB)

Project Neptun – laptops, tablets and accessories

Neptun Spring Wave: 09.02.-09.03.2026

To the offer

Compass UniBE

University Preparation for Refugee Students

Register now

Research

Research at a glance

Universe

CHEOPS detects a new planetary "disorder"

The latest discovery by the CHEOPS space telescope calls into question the current understanding of planet formation.

To the media release

Sleep research

How skin temperature influences our brain states

For the first time, Bernese researchers have demonstrated how temperature stimuli from the skin are processed in the brain. The findings enhance our understanding of sleep-wake regulation and pave the way for new therapeutic approaches, e.g. for narcolepsy.

To the media release

Biodiversity

Creating more habitat for stoats with simple piles of stones

Researchers at the University of Bern have been able to show that simple measures to promote biodiversity, such as the installation of branch and stone piles, boost stoat populations in agricultural areas in Switzerland.

To the media release

One-Health

Prepared for the next pandemic

After 18 months, recruitment for the “Bern, get ready” (BEready) study has been completed: this globally unique collection of data on infectious diseases in humans and pets is intended to help mitigate the effects of the next pandemic.

The online magazine of the University of Bern

Weiteres

14th day of teaching

Learning from mistakes: Research-based learning & productive failure

On the Day of Teaching on February 13, 2026, there will be a discussion on how to design teaching formats that confront students with challenging problems in a targeted manner and help them learn from their mistakes.

Learning and Development | LEAD

International exchange opportunities

The University of Bern has over 300 partner universities all over the world. Find out from two of our students why they loved studying abroad.

University of Bern Internationals

Building bridges with Africa

Launch of Initiative Afrique Website

Our redesigned platform reflects our continued growth and commitment to showcasing how the University of Bern, together with African, European, and Swiss partners, advances cross-continental and interdisciplinary research collaborations with Africa.

Discover more about us here

Office for Equal Opportunities

Advisory service guide

The University of Bern now offers all employees a comprehensive counseling guide. This provides a clear overview of the wide range of counseling services and contact points available and helps employees quickly find the right support. A workshop will be held on October 21 from 12:15 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. to present the counseling services available.

Learn more

Good teaching at the University of Bern

On this website you will find an overview of all the services, support and promotional measures that contribute to good teaching at the University of Bern. The page is only available in German.

Vize-Rectorate Teaching

Lifelong Learning

Continuing Education Programme 2026

Choose from over 140 continuing education programmes – tailored, practice-oriented and research-based.

Continuing education portal (in German)

War in Ukraine

Information and support

The University of Bern strongly condemns the Russian invasion of Ukraine and supports Ukrainian students and researchers.

War in Ukraine

This is Bern

Learn more

The University of Bern is closely associated with the Swiss capital city of Bern. Academic excellence has earned Bern an international reputation. A large variety of education, sport and cultural opportunities as well as high living and environmental standards make Bern an attractive place for undergraduates, researchers and doctoral students.

University of Bern for

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