📚 University of Bern: A Complete Guide to Switzerland's Capital University | 伯尔尼大学:瑞士首都名校完全指南
The University of Bern (Universität Bern) is one of Switzerland's oldest and most respected institutions of higher education, situated in the heart of the country's capital. Founded in 1834, it combines a long academic tradition with modern, research-led teaching across a broad range of disciplines, and it attracts students and scholars from all over the world.
伯尔尼大学(Universität Bern)坐落在瑞士首都的核心地带,是瑞士最古老、最受推崇的高等学府之一。它创立于1834年,将悠久的学术传统与以研究为导向的现代教学相结合,学科覆盖广泛,吸引了来自世界各地的学生与学者。
1. Quick Overview of the University | 学校概览
The University of Bern is a public, cantonally funded research university. It enrols roughly 19,000 students, including several thousand international students from more than 100 countries, and it employs thousands of academic and administrative staff. Its reputation rests on strong performance in both teaching and research, and on a campus network woven into the fabric of a small, safe, walkable capital city.
伯尔尼大学是一所由州政府资助的公立研究型大学,注册学生约一万九千人,其中包括来自一百多个国家的数千名国际学生,教职与行政人员数以千计。它的声誉既来自出色的教学与科研表现,也来自一个融入小巧、安全、适宜步行的首都城市的校园网络。
Bern itself is the federal city of Switzerland. That political role gives the university an unusual advantage: students in law, political science, economics and public policy study a few minutes away from the national parliament, federal departments, the Swiss National Bank and a dense network of embassies and international organisations.
伯尔尼本身是瑞士的联邦之城。这一政治地位给大学带来了不寻常的优势:法学、政治学、经济学与公共政策专业的学生,步行几分钟即可到达国家议会、联邦各部、瑞士国家银行,以及密集的大使馆与国际组织网络。
2. History and Foundation in 1834 | 历史与1834年的创立
The academic tradition of Bern reaches back to the Reformation. A Hohe Schule, or higher school, was established in the city in 1528 to train clergy and public servants. In 1834 that institution was reorganised and formally raised to the status of a university, making it one of the oldest universities in Switzerland. Since then it has grown from a small theological and legal academy into a full comprehensive university.
伯尔尼的学术传统可追溯至宗教改革时期。1528年,城中设立了高等学校(Hohe Schule),用于培养神职人员与公职人员。1834年,该机构经过重组,正式升格为大学,成为瑞士最古老的大学之一。此后,它由一所规模不大的神学与法学院校,发展为完整的综合性大学。
The nineteenth and twentieth centuries brought steady expansion: new faculties, new institutes and a growing role in national research. The university also became an early home for women in Swiss academia and steadily widened access to higher education. Today it presents itself as an institution that is old in tradition but modern in method.
十九与二十世纪带来了持续扩张:新的学院、新的研究所,以及在全国科研中日益重要的角色。大学也成为瑞士学术界较早接纳女性的机构之一,并不断扩大高等教育的入学机会。今天的伯尔尼大学,以"传统悠久、方法现代"自我定位。
A useful timeline:
一条简明的历史时间线:
| 1528 | Hohe Schule founded in Bern | 伯尔尼高等学校创立 |
| 1834 | Formal foundation of the university | 大学正式成立 |
| 1908-1909 | Albert Einstein habilitates and teaches theoretical physics | 爱因斯坦在此取得任教资格并教授理论物理 |
| Today | Eight faculties, roughly 19,000 students | 八个学院,约一万九千名学生 |
3. Faculties and Academic Breadth | 学院设置与学科广度
The university is organised into eight faculties, which together cover theology, law, medicine, veterinary medicine, economics and social sciences, humanities, human sciences, and the natural sciences. This structure means a student can move from ancient languages to climate modelling within the same institution, and interdisciplinary projects are relatively easy to arrange.
大学设有八个学院,涵盖神学、法学、医学、兽医学、经济与社会科学、人文学科、人类科学以及自然科学。这样的结构意味着学生可以在同一所大学里,从古代语言一路走到气候模拟,跨学科项目也相对容易组织。
The original subject areas named in the university's profile - humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, medicine and law - remain the five pillars of its identity, and each has its own distinctive strengths and facilities.
学校定位中最初提到的几大学科领域——人文学科、社会科学、自然科学、医学与法学——至今仍是其身份的五大支柱,每一个都有各自的强项与配套设施。
| Faculty | 学院 | Typical strengths |
| Theology | 神学院 | Biblical studies, church history, ethics | 圣经研究、教会史、伦理学 |
| Law | 法学院 | Swiss and international law | 瑞士法与国际法 |
| Medicine | 医学院 | Clinical training, biomedical research | 临床培训、生物医学研究 |
| Vetsuisse (Veterinary Medicine) | 兽医学院 | Animal health, food safety | 动物健康、食品安全 |
| Economics and Social Sciences | 经济与社会科学学院 | Economics, political science, sociology | 经济学、政治学、社会学 |
| Humanities | 人文学院 | Linguistics, history, philosophy | 语言学、历史学、哲学 |
| Human Sciences | 人类科学学院 | Psychology, education, sport science | 心理学、教育学、体育科学 |
| Science | 理学院 | Physics, chemistry, biology, geography | 物理、化学、生物、地理 |
4. Humanities: Linguistics, History, Cultural Studies and Philosophy | 人文学科:语言学、历史学、文化研究与哲学
In the humanities, the University of Bern has built a particularly strong record in linguistics, history, cultural studies and philosophy. Students work with primary sources, historical archives and corpora, and they are trained to argue carefully rather than to memorise conclusions. The presence of several language-focused institutes makes Bern an attractive destination for anyone interested in comparative and historical linguistics.
在人文学科方面,伯尔尼大学在语言学、历史学、文化研究以及哲学领域成果显著。学生直接接触原始文献、历史档案与语料库,被训练成审慎论证的人,而非背诵结论的人。多个以语言为核心的研究所的存在,使伯尔尼对比较语言学与历史语言学感兴趣的人尤其具有吸引力。
The university's libraries and research institutes create a supportive academic environment. The main University Library and the network of faculty and institute libraries give students access to extensive printed and electronic collections, quiet reading rooms and specialist help from subject librarians.
学校的图书馆与研究机构为师生营造了良好的学术支持环境。主图书馆与各学院、研究所的图书馆网络,为学生提供了丰富的纸质与电子馆藏、安静的阅览空间,以及学科馆员的专业帮助。
The city adds another layer: Bern is home to the Swiss National Library as well as major archives and museums, so humanities students frequently find their sources within a short tram ride.
城市本身又增添了另一层资源:瑞士国家图书馆以及多家重要档案馆与博物馆都位于伯尔尼,因此人文专业的学生常常只需搭乘几站电车,就能找到自己需要的材料。
5. Social Sciences: Economics, Politics, Sociology and Psychology | 社会科学:经济学、政治学、社会学与心理学
In the social sciences, the university focuses on economics, political science, sociology and psychology. Teaching combines formal theory with empirical methods, so students learn statistics, research design and data analysis alongside conceptual thinking. This makes graduates well prepared for analytical roles in government, finance, consulting and research.
在社会科学领域,伯尔尼大学深耕经济学、政治学、社会学和心理学。教学把形式化理论与实证方法结合起来,学生在学习概念性思维的同时,也掌握统计学、研究设计与数据分析。这使毕业生能够在政府、金融、咨询与研究机构中胜任分析类岗位。
Research projects and laboratories give students genuine opportunities for practice and exploration. Undergraduates can often join survey projects, behavioural experiments and field studies, and master's students may contribute to ongoing research groups with international partners.
学校的研究项目与实验室,为学生提供了丰富的实践和探索机会。本科生常常可以参与问卷调查项目、行为实验与田野研究,硕士生则可能加入与国际伙伴合作的研究团队。
Bern's political geography is a further advantage. With parliament, federal offices, trade associations and NGOs within walking distance, internships and thesis projects with real policy relevance are unusually accessible.
伯尔尼的政治地理更是额外优势。议会、联邦机构、行业协会与非政府组织步行可达,与真实政策相关的实习和论文课题因此格外容易获得。
6. Natural Sciences: Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Geography | 自然科学:物理、化学、生物与地理
The natural sciences are equally strong. Research in physics, chemistry, biology and geography is at the international frontier, supported by well-equipped laboratories and by collaboration with Swiss and European research networks. Students spend substantial time at the bench and in the field, sharpening experimental technique rather than only reading about it.
自然科学同样实力强劲。物理、化学、生物与地理的研究处于国际前沿,得到设备完善的实验室以及与瑞士、欧洲科研网络合作的支撑。学生有大量时间在实验台和野外度过,不断磨炼实验技能,而不仅仅是通过阅读了解实验。
Bern has a special place in the history of physics: Albert Einstein habilitated at the university in 1908 and became a professor of theoretical physics in 1909, before moving on to Zurich and Prague. That heritage is still visible in the university's physics institutes and in its public lectures and outreach work.
伯尔尼在物理学史上具有特殊地位:爱因斯坦于1908年在该校取得任教资格,1909年成为理论物理学教授,之后才前往苏黎世和布拉格。这一传统至今仍体现在学校的物理研究所及其公开讲座与科普工作中。
Geography and climate research deserve particular mention, since Bern hosts internationally recognised centres studying climate change, ice cores and mountain environments. For students interested in environmental science, the combination of laboratory analysis and Alpine fieldwork is hard to match.
地理学与气候研究尤其值得提及:伯尔尼拥有国际知名的气候变化、冰芯与山地环境研究中心。对有志于环境科学的学生而言,这里的实验室分析与阿尔卑斯野外考察组合,几乎难以被取代。
7. Medicine: The Most Popular Faculty | 医学:最受欢迎的学院
The Faculty of Medicine is one of the most sought-after parts of the university. Competition for places is intense, and admission for Swiss and international applicants follows strict national and cantonal rules. The curriculum integrates basic science with clinical practice from an early stage, and examinations are demanding by design.
医学院是伯尔尼大学最受欢迎的院系之一,入学竞争激烈,瑞士本国与国际申请者都需遵循严格的全国及州级规定。课程从早期就将基础科学与临床实践结合起来,考试难度也是有意设置得较高。
The university cooperates closely with hospitals and health institutions, creating high-quality internships and clinical experiences for students. The Bern University Hospital group, known locally as the Insel, is a major teaching and research partner, and its departments host students during clinical rotations.
学校与多家医疗机构紧密合作,为学生创造优质的实习与临床体验。伯尔尼大学医院集团(当地称为 Insel)是重要的教学与研究伙伴,其各科室在临床轮转期间接收学生。
Medical research at Bern also plays a key role in the field. Work on cancer, immunology, neuroscience and public health feeds directly into teaching, and many students complete a research project or a doctoral thesis alongside their clinical training.
伯尔尼的医学研究也在业内发挥着关键作用。肿瘤、免疫学、神经科学与公共卫生方面的研究直接反哺教学,许多学生在临床训练之外还会完成研究项目或博士论文。
8. Law: A Long Tradition of Legal Education | 法学:悠久的法律教育传统
The Faculty of Law is also widely praised, with a long and deep tradition in legal education and research. Its teaching covers Swiss private and public law, criminal law, legal history and international law, and it is closely connected to the federal institutions located in the same city.
法学院也广受赞誉,在法律教育与研究上积淀深厚、历史悠久。教学涵盖瑞士私法与公法、刑法、法律史以及国际法,并与同城设立的联邦机构保持紧密联系。
Students strengthen their practical legal skills through moot court competitions, legal internships and clinical projects. Arguing a case before judges and peers, drafting submissions and working in a simulated practice are all part of the training, and many students spend time in law firms, courts or federal offices before graduating.
学生可通过模拟法庭、法律实习以及实践项目,切实提升法律实务能力。在法官与同学面前进行辩论、撰写书状、参与模拟执业,都是训练的一部分,许多学生在毕业前还会在律所、法院或联邦机构中实习。
Because Bern is a political and administrative centre, the faculty also offers strong links to careers in public administration, diplomacy, regulation and international organisations.
由于伯尔尼是政治与行政中心,法学院也为学生通往公共管理、外交、监管与国际组织等职业道路提供了有力的人脉与机会。
9. Research Strength, Facilities and Rankings | 科研实力、设施与排名
The University of Bern is not only strong in teaching; it has made important contributions across many research fields. It competes successfully for national research funding, participates in large collaborative projects and hosts interdisciplinary centres that bring together medicine, natural sciences and social sciences.
伯尔尼大学不仅在育人方面成就突出,更在多个研究领域作出了重要贡献。它在全国科研经费竞争中表现优异,参与大型合作项目,并设有把医学、自然科学与社会科学聚集在一起的跨学科中心。
Facilities reflect that ambition: modern lecture theatres, specialised laboratories, high-performance computing, extensive libraries and archives, and a medical campus integrated with the city's hospitals. In global league tables the university typically appears among the top few hundred institutions worldwide and among the leading Swiss universities, although rankings should always be read alongside subject-specific comparison.
其设施也体现了这一雄心:现代化的阶梯教室、专业实验室、高性能计算资源、丰富的图书馆与档案馆,以及与该市医院一体化的医学园区。在全球排行榜上,伯尔尼大学通常位居世界前列阵营、并属于瑞士领先高校之列,不过排名始终应与具体学科的比较结合来看。
For students, the practical meaning is simple: access to serious equipment, real datasets and active research groups, even at undergraduate level.
对学生而言,其实践意义很简单:即便在本科阶段,也能接触到严肃的研究设备、真实数据集与活跃的研究团队。
10. Admissions, Language Requirements and Costs | 申请、语言要求与费用
Admission depends on the programme and on the applicant's previous qualifications. Swiss maturity certificates and recognised foreign school-leaving qualifications are the usual route into a bachelor's degree, while master's applicants need a relevant first degree. Some programmes are restricted, and medicine in particular has a separate selection procedure.
录取要求取决于具体项目与申请人已有的学历背景。进入本科阶段通常凭瑞士高中毕业证书或受认可的外国高中毕业资格,硕士申请者则需要相关领域的本科学位。部分专业有招生名额限制,医学尤其设有独立的选拔程序。
Language is a key factor. Most bachelor's programmes are taught in German, so applicants generally need German at around C1 level; several master's and doctoral programmes are taught entirely in English. Deadlines matter, and applicants who need a visa usually face earlier cut-off dates in late April or early May for the autumn semester, with the spring semester closing in December.
语言是关键因素。多数本科项目以德语授课,申请者通常需要达到约C1水平的德语能力;不少硕士与博士项目则全英文授课。截止日期非常重要,需要办理签证的申请者往往面对更早的截止时间——秋季学期通常在四月底或五月初,春季学期则在十二月截止。
Tuition is moderate by international standards. Semester fees are generally in the range of several hundred to about a thousand Swiss francs, plus additional fees for some programmes and for international students, so always confirm the current figures on the official website before applying.
按国际标准衡量,学费相对适中。每学期费用大致在数百至约一千瑞士法郎之间,部分项目和国际学生还需缴纳额外费用,因此申请前务必在官网确认最新数字。
Bachelor = 180 ECTS | Master = 90-120 ECTS | Pass grade = 4.0 out of 6.0
<更多咨询请联系16621398022(同微信)

或截图后用「扫一扫 → 相册」选择本图