For school leavers and students studying at Ukrainian universities
Are you currently enrolled at a university in Ukraine?
We offer you an opportunity to continue your studies if your course is taught at the University of Bern and if you have the requisite language skills. Please note that the Bachelor’s degree programs are primarily conducted in German. Some of the Master’s degree programs are run partially or entirely in English.
In the current situation, there are four ways for you to study at the University of Bern:
1 – 2 semesters as an exchange student
Under a simplified admission process, you have the option to continue studying for your degree as an exchange student. You can then attend courses and take exams without having to pay tuition fees. However, the status of "exchange student" is limited to two semesters (with a possibility to extend to four semesters). It will not be possible to graduate with this status at the University of Bern.
Human and dental medicine are generally limited in study places. Admission as an exchange student in these study programmes is only possible for students who have been granted status S in Switzerland.
Detailed information on the admission process as an exchange student can be found here:
Preparation year
The University of Bern offers a one-time preparation year for university studies on Bachelor’s level.
The preparation year is designed to qualify participants for admission to a bachelor's degree program at the University of Bern. It is free of charge. The successful completion of the preparation year, including proof of German language proficiency at level C1, entitles the participants to admission to a Bachelor's program at the University of Bern.
The preparation year has started in August 2022, participation is no longer possible.
Compass UniBE - University preparation for refugee students
The University of Bern is initiating a project called Compass UniBE ‒ University Preparation for Refugee Students. Compass UniBE enables qualified refugees interested in studying to hone their language, methodological, and organizational skills in preparation for taking up a study program.
The offer includes language courses (German up to level C1 and English), mathematics courses, the opportunity to attend modules or lectures in the discipline of your choice, courses on learning technique and methodology, individual counseling and support with the admission process, mentoring by the students’ union (SUB), access to various university services and information and orientation events
The goal is for participants to acquire skills and competencies relevant to their studies and to qualify for admission to a regular degree program.
The project will start in the fall semester of 2023 and is initially limited to two pilot years. For more information please have a look at the UniBE Compass website.
Regular enrolment
If you intend to study for a regular degree course (from fall semester 2023) at the University of Bern, we refer you to the admission requirements for applicants with international high school leavers‘ certificates or degrees. Please take note of the registration deadlines:
Access to university sports
Refugee students from Ukraine can apply for a Unisport membership card free of charge. To get access to the university sports offer, please submit the following information and documents:
First name, last name, address in Switzerland, date of birth, phone number, mail address, a passport photo, and proof that you studied at a Ukrainian university and of your status S.
Please send the documents to: tetyana.fedorchuk@unibe.ch.
"You should see their faces”: Advising Ukrainian students at the University of Bern
Tetyana Fedorchuk works as an intern at UniBE International. Her job is to advise students who fled to Switzerland and are interested in continuing their studies at the University of Bern. As Ukrainian, she can greet the newcomers in their mother tongue. In this role, she is confronted with many personal, cultural and administrative challenges.
Student mentors wanted!
The Student Union of the University of Bern (SUB) has set up a mentoring program where students at the University of Bern can register for a "buddy system" to look after Ukrainian exchange students. Having a buddy helps exchange students a lot with settling into university life in Bern.
Register as a mentor here.
Erasmus Student Network Bern - buddy system and language cafes
The Erasmus Student Network Bern (ESN) wants to support any Ukrainian, especially students, with the intent to have them in contact with their buddy system. The buddy system will match Ukrainians who wish to access local volunteers (buddies). The buddies will then provide help in many areas: from city discovery to integration, from language understanding to socialization. Furthermore, the ESN organizes the Language Cafés. These are intent to be a friendly space where anybody can come to bring its own language and learn a new one.
For general information, the language cafés and for a volunteer engagement please write to info@esn.bern.ch.
For the buddy system please visit https://bern.esn.ch/buddy-system.
Language Café: https://ti.to/esn-bern/language-cafes
Translator services
UniBE International has a list of translators and will be happy to put you in touch with them. Please contact Tetyana Fedorchuk, tetyana.fedorchuk@unibe.ch.
The Eastern European Studies programme of the universities Bern and Fribourg are building a network of people to support Ukrainian, Russian and Belarusian students who are affected by the war. They offer support for refugees, such as with translations and administrative processes. Would you like to volunteer or are you looking for help? Please get in touch with us: foes.unibefri@gmail.com.