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Travelling through world literature with a blank map

Dürrenmatt Guest Professorship

What makes a novel a novel? In his lectures in Bern, Juan Gabriel Vásquez explores this question with intelligence, insight and literary flair. They are now being published in German under the title «Travelling with a Blank Map – The Art of the Novel».

Exclusive excerpts on uniAKTUELL

News

Medical hub Bern

Successful Bern Medtech Agreement Extended

Since 2023, the Insel Gruppe, the University of Bern, and the CSEM Technology Innovation Center have been pooling their medical and technological expertise in joint research and development projects. The successful collaboration is now being extended.

To the media release

Digital communication

Does my smartphone shape how I speak?

Sociolinguist Florian Busch researches how digital technologies change our use of language and create innovative forms of communication.

To the article

People

Language

More than small talk: Communicating better at work

Speak clearly, listen attentively, defuse conflicts: Eva Schürch from the Institute of Psychology teaches conversation management and gives in the video tips and tricks for good communication in everyday working life.

The online magazine of the University of Bern

Biosafety

Trusted expertise for safer laboratories

Kathrin Summermatter was a member of a WHO expert panel investigating the origins of COVID-19. In the interview, she discusses her role as a biosafety expert and explains why the University of Bern’s involvement with the WHO is important.

The online magazine of the University of Bern

Physics

Dancing with the elementary particles

Thomas Becher deals with "short distances and high energies": What happens when protons collide with each other at almost the speed of light? In search of answers, the physicist has moved from Bern to the USA - and back again.

The online magazine of the University of Bern

A winding career path

Climate researcher with a background in craftsmanship

As a climate scientist, Patrick Bigler has developed a mobile measuring tower that will enable more precise measurements of the urban climate in Bern. And as a trained metalworker, he is also constructing it himself.

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

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)

Studies

Admissions Office (ZIB)

Fall semester 2026

Study application

Application deadlines and links

Students4Sustainability

Realise your sustainability project!

Get funding, expert support, and a dedicated network

Kickstart your research career!

Portal for Junior Academics – skills, funding, career paths

Find out more

Research

Research at a glance

Universe

Between eternal night and day: climate maps of two Earth relatives

Using the James Webb Space Telescope, an international team has created detailed climate maps of two Earth-like planets in the TRAPPIST-1 system. Extreme temperature differences between day and night indicate that they lack dense atmospheres.

To the press release (only in German)

Neurosurgery

Increased mortality after chronic bleeding between the brain and the skull

To the media release (in German)

Cell Biology

Nematodes show how lack of food shapes offspring

A study by the University of Bern shows: The nutritional conditions of a nematode mother influence the growth of her offspring. If she receives less food, she equips her offspring with fewer ribosomes, causing them to grow more slowly at first.

The media release

Plant Science

Succulents as role models: new opportunities for plants under drought?

Researchers at the University of Bern have decoded how an inconspicuous succulent plant regulates its CO₂ uptake via the leaf surface so that it receives enough of it for photosynthesis without losing too much water.

To the media release

Weiteres

Vice-Rectorate Teaching

Teaching Hub

The Teaching Hub offers you support in designing and administering your teaching. Find basics, methods, tools, advice, and support services quickly and tailored to your current needs.

Access to the Teaching Hub (in German)

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

Initiative Afrique

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

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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