International Bachelor and Master Summer School 26-30 August 219

Application and Fees

Who may apply?

Bachelor students (national and international) in semesters 4-6 (must have completed their fourth semester by August 2019). They must be at least 18 years of age and be enrolled in a natural sciences Bachelors programme. Likewise, Master students with a background in natural sciences (national and international) must have completed their first year by August 2019.

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. Participants will though be required to give a presentation and to actively take part in the discussions.

ECTS Credits

Participants having successfully completed the Summer School will receive a certificate of attendance and can obtain 2 ECTS points. 2 ECTS correspond to 50 – 60 hours of work, consisting of preparatory work, full participation in the course and giving a short presentation at the end of the week. Acknowledgement of the ECTS points in the study programs at home institutions other than the University of Bern is the responsibility of the participants.

Price

Early Bird fee: 300 CHF
Regular fee: 350 CHF

Included in the price: Fee for course and course material, excursions, social programme. 

Venue

University of Bern

Housing and Leisure Time

Accommodation

Accommodation will be provided in the student residence Tscharnergut run by the Bernese Student Lodging Association. It is a five-minute train ride from Bern’s main railway station and from the university, or 15 minutes by bike (rental bike Bern).   

The rooms in the student residence will be available from 24 August 2019. 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: 230 CHF

Social Programme

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

Other Practical Details

Arrival

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 6.60 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

For questions concerning the content of the summer school course please contact:
Zoe Bont.

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