Incoming

Welcome at the Department of Business Administration

This information is provided for exchange students who are planning to attend courses in Business Administration at the University of Bern. 

We are looking forward to welcoming you in Bern!

Study-Abroad Cycle in 6 steps: 

Application at your home university:

Follow the Erasmus application process of your home university.

Application at the University of Bern

Once you have been accepted as an Erasmus student by your home university:

  • fill in our online application form
  • have it signed by your Erasmus subject coordinator and
  • upload it in the mobility online platform.

Deadline: 30 April for the autumn term and 30 September for the spring term

Preparation of your stay

In April, International Relations will send you: 

  • an email confirming your application as an Erasmus student and your request for an Erasmus grant.

In June, International Relations will inform you:

  • about your grant,
  • on how to find an accommodation,
  • which language courses are offered,
  • on further legal requirements (health insurance, visa).

Arrival at Bern:

  • A Bernese student will be assigned to you as your personal mentor. Your mentor will pick you up after your arrival in Bern and will assist you with your first steps in Switzerland.
  • International Relations offer an orientation week for all Erasmus incoming students. During the orientation week, you must register at International Relations.
  • At an informative meeting during the first week of the semester, you will meet your Erasmus subject coordinator who will give you further information on your studies in Bern.

 Learning Agreement:

You are responsible for your study program. In order to get your courses recognised by your home university, we advise you to complete the Learning Agreement:

  • Fill in the courses you plan to attend.
  • Have the Learning Agreement signed by the by the Erasmus subject coordinator (departmental coordinator).
  • Deliver the Learning Agreement to International Relations who will pass it to your home university.

Exams and transcript of records:

  • Find out when your exams will take place. Ask the lecturers if it is possible to take an oral exam instead of a written one, or if you can take the exam in English instead of German. Check whether you can stay in your accommodation as long as needed.
  • Register for your exams. Ask the lecturers how to register for their exams.
  • At the end of the semester, as soon as all your grades are listed in CTS, report your name and home adress in your home country to the faculty office (Dekanat, sabine.herren@wisodek.unibe.ch). The faculty office will issue your transcript of records and send it to the home address you have indicated.

Organisiation of Studies

German, English

There are mainly three types of courses:

  • Lecture ("Vorlesung"): Presentation of material in a theoretical way. Examination: usually written.
  • Tutorial ("Übung"): Usually refering to a specific lecture, presentation of examples related to the material covered in this lecture. Examination: together with the according lecture.
  • Seminar ("Proseminar"/"Seminar"): Self-dependent treatment of a given subject. Examination: seminar paper and/or oral presentation.

Sometimes, lectures and tutorials are held in an integrated way. Note that you do not have to register for courses except for seminars.

  • Type of examination: The type of examination depends on the specific course (cf. types of course). However, most courses are examined by a written exam.
  • Registration: You have to register for exams. Please ask the lecturers of the courses you attend how to register for their courses.
  • Dates: Exams usually take place as follows:
    • Autumn semester, 1st attempt: second week of January
    • Autumn semester, 2nd attempt: last week before courses restart in spring semester
    • Spring semester, 1st attempt: first week after courses have finished
    • Spring semester, 2nd attempt: last week before courses restart in autumn semester

Students who fail the first attempt are usually allowed one retake. Note that you are not automatically registered for the 2nd attempt in case you fail the 1st attempt

Courses

You can find detailed information on courses in Business Administration on the following websites:

Courses in Business Administration
 Bachelor  Master
Accounting and Controlling      X     X
Finance     X     X
Business Information Systems     X     X
Consumer Behaviour     X     X
Management     X     X
Marketing     X     X
Organisation and Human Resources     X     X
Quantitative Methods     X     X

Courses taught in English: WISO Courses (PDF, 5.6 MB)

 

As an exchange student, you may also attend courses from other disciplines such as economics, law, political sciences, sociology etc. Please refer to the Core Teaching System CTS for an overview of further courses.