Master's degree

You can find the dates for registering and submitting the master thesis, and the form below; there is one deadline per semester.

You can apply online.

The deadlines for registration for a master thesis and the registration form can be found below ("Registration and submission dates"); there is a registration deadline for each semester.

You can submit your Master's thesis as follows:

1. One version (as a PDF) by e-mail directly to the supervisor*
2. Another version (PDF) via online form to the Dean's Office

• By the deadline, i.e. by 17:00 on the submission date stated on the registration form. Central European Time (CET) applies.

*Supervisors can still request a printed and bound copy of the Master's thesis. Please clarify this in advance with your supervisor.

Please include the form “Declaration on the Master's thesis” (scroll down a little -> More on the topic -> Master's thesis) as the last page of the thesis.

The submission of the Master's thesis is binding. It cannot be withdrawn or extended at a later date.

The faculty approves the reports on the Master's theses at the first faculty meeting of the spring and fall semesters in mid-February and mid-September.

After this meeting, you can request your report from your supervisor.

The registration is binding and cannot be withdrawn. You can, however, postpone the submission deadline. The form for prolongation the delivery of the master thesis for the first semester-long extension can be found below.

Attention please: Emeriti may supervise master theses only up to 12 months after they left the Faculty.

If you need a second semester-long extension, the Collegium Decanale will need to approve this. Write a short letter (signed by the supervisor of your thesis), submit it to the Dean's Office (for the attention of Collegium Decanale), explain the reasons for the further delay and enclose any employment or medical certificates as applicable.

Extending for 1 month  (to be applied for at the latest 1 week before the official deadline)

An extension for 1 month is possible. Please fill out the form below and let it sign by the supervisor of your thesis. In this case, a graduation in the current session is still possible (see below "dates").

RSL 2021, Art. 56

1. A master thesis must be handed in at the Dean's office in the given time period.

2. If the deadline ist not met due to important reasons (Art. 35 UniV - see below), the supervisor can extend the deadline by one semester.

3. Subsequent extensions must be applied for at the Collegium Decanale in written form, the supervisor must support the application.

4. Candidates who do not hand in their master thesis within the deadline, it will be graded with 1.

UniV (Verordnung über die Universität), Art. 35

1 Due to important reasons, the study time can be extended. Important reasons are:

• Sickness
• Pregnancy / care duties
• Study internships not covered by the study plan
• language stays
• external studies
• language courses for non-natives
• military service / civil service
• voluntary tasks within the University
• occupation

You can apply online.

All forms are available in front of the Dean's office or on this website.

In order to be complete, a request must include the following:

• The application form (important: current address, title of master thesis)

• Confirmation (major/minor) from your institute, that all credits other than the master thesis are achieved according to the plans of studies and RSL05.

A minor taken outside of the faculty does not require a written certificate.

• Evidence of the fee for the degree/attainment checks (CHF 300.00), e.g. a printout of the payment transfer via e-banking or receipt if paid at a post office

You can place the request in the Dean's office mailbox outside of opening hours (to the right of the entrance).

You can also send the request by email in exceptional circumstances (if resident abroad or travelling).

Minor taken outside of the faculty (minor at the Faculty of Humanities, major at another faculty)

The institute sets the minor to "Subject requirement satisfied" in the study profile sheet (green bar, not just a green "E"). You then apply for the master's degree to the Dean's Office for your major subject.

Minor taken outside of the faculty (minor at another faculty, major at the Faculty of Humanities)

The Dean's office at the faculty at which you are studying the minor sets the minor to "Passed" in the study profile sheet (green bar, not just a green "E"). You then apply to us for the master's degree. There is no need for a written confirmation or certification.

Minor taken outside of the university (minor at the Faculty of Humanities, major at another university)

The institute sets the minor to "Subject requirement satisfied" in the study profile sheet (green bar, not just a green "E"). You then apply for a summary of attainments via e-mail

or confirmation regarding a minor, which we will send you by post.

Minor taken outside of the university (minor at another university, major at the Faculty of Humanities)

Please enclose a confirmation of your degree course from the university at which you completed the minor (with the overall rating, number of ECTS, dated, stamped, signed) with the request for the master's degree to be issued.

You can pay the degree fee of CHF 300.00 via an e-banking transfer to the Dean's Office's account:

Berner Kantonalbank
3001 Bern
Giro account: 30-106-9
Account no. 42 3.117.124.22
Clearing no.: 790
IBAN: CH68 0079 0042 3117 1242 2
BIC/SWIFT: KBBECH22XXX

Faculty of Humanities
Dean's Office
Länggassstrasse 49
3012 Bern

Authorization for examination purposes is governed in Art. 65 of the regulations on studies and examinations, Art. 8.1 of the regulations on doctorates, and Art. 24 of the RSL 21. The following are allowed to assess degree-level work and conduct degree-level examinations in connection with a master's:

• ordinary, extraordinary, and associated professors
• Assistant professors and SNF professors
• Habilitated Faculty members
• Lecturers I and II, assistant lecturers tenure track
• Advanced Postdocs and Senior Research Assistants
• "wissenschaftliche Mitarbeitende" with a PhD, if their institute gives consent

If other persons are to conduct examinations, the supervisor will need to send for each examination a request to the Dean's Office for the attention of the Collegium Decanale in order for authorization to be granted for examination purposes.

Are there any requirements regarding the layout of the MA thesis?

There are no special requirements by the Dean's office. Please ask your supervisor or the institute if they have some.

The cover sheet must contain:
Institute, supervisor, thesis title, your name, enrollment number, Major subject, your residential address, phone number, email address, date you submitted the thesis.
You must submit one hardback volume to the Dean's office and another one to your supervisor. At the Dean's office, you must also submit the form Declaration of the MA thesis (you can also embed it as last page of your thesis).

Can I exmatriculate myself when I have submitted the MA thesis?

Yes, if you have met all other requirements (e.g. submittes course theses, taken written exams).

All credits (not the MA thesis) must only be already added to your KSL profile when you apply for the diploma (see below, "dates").

Do I have to wait to apply for the diploma until the MA thesis was added to my KSL profile?

No, the Dean's office will add the MA thesis to the KSL after the Faculty has accepted your thesis (see below, "dates").

Do I have to be enrolled to get the diploma or attend to the promotion celebration?

No.

Can I get a confirmation that I have an MA degree even before the promotion celebration?

Yes. As soon as you have submitted a complete application for issuing the diploma (see below, "dates"), Mr. Urs Zürcher can issue an official confirmation including all your credits. Before, we can only confirm that we expect the degree to be finished, without records.

Are there any requirements regarding the layout of the MA thesis?

There are no special requirements by the Dean's office. Please ask your supervisor or the institute if they have some.

The cover sheet must contain:
Institute, supervisor, thesis title, your name, enrollment number, Major subject, your residential address, phone number, email address, date you submitted the thesis.
You must submit one hardback volume to the Dean's office and another one to your supervisor. At the Dean's office, you must also submit the form Declaration of the MA thesis (you can also embed it as last page of your thesis).

Can I exmatriculate myself when I have submitted the MA thesis?

Yes, if you have met all other requirements (e.g. submittes course theses, taken written exams).

All credits (not the MA thesis) must only be already added to your KSL profile when you apply for the diploma (see below, "dates").

Do I have to wait to apply for the diploma until the MA thesis was added to my KSL profile?

No, the Dean's office will add the MA thesis to the KSL after the Faculty has accepted your thesis (see below, "dates").

Do I have to be enrolled to get the diploma or attend to the promotion celebration?

No.

Can I get a confirmation that I have an MA degree even before the promotion celebration?

Yes. As soon as you have submitted a complete application for issuing the diploma (see below, "dates"), Mr. Urs Zürcher can issue an official confirmation including all your credits. Before, we can only confirm that we expect the degree to be finished, without records.