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 It cannot be withdrawn or extended at a later date.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The registration is binding and cannot be withdrawn.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.

I forgot to register for the Master's thesis. What can I do now?

In exceptional cases, late registration is possible. See online form (under “Registration deadline” -> “Late registration”).

Please contact Urs Zürcher. A short e-mail is sufficient.

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).

What is the maximum number of ECTS in my major/minor?

Maximum +10%. For a 120 ECTS Master's degree = max. 132 Ects. All additional ECTS must be transferred to the “voluntary additional credits”.

Where/how can I submit my Master's thesis?

See under “Submitting the Master's thesis” or in the online form.

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").

The Master's thesis is not my final project - is this even permitted?

Please enquire at the relevant institute or read the curriculum for your major subject.

If you still have to complete work in your minor subject, this is not a problem.
If you need another semester: Please inform the Dean's Office by e-mail as soon as you have submitted your Master's thesis.

When will my Master's thesis (grade) be entered in KSL?

See next question.

Do I have to wait until my Master's thesis has been entered in KSL before I submit the “Application for the diploma” to the Dean's Office?

No, the Dean's Office only registers the Master's thesis after the “Acceptance of the reviews at the faculty meeting” (see below, under “Dates”).
You can apply for the diploma before then.

I have submitted my Master's thesis and a complete diploma application. Do I have to do anything else?

No, you do not need to do anything else.
The grade of your Master's thesis will be entered by the Dean's Office (see previous question) and you will receive an invitation by e-mail approx. 2 weeks before the graduation ceremony and can then register or cancel your registration for the ceremony.
You can also find some information about the graduation ceremony on this page (a little further down) -> switch to the german version.

My Master's thesis has been entered in KSL, but is still in the “clipboard”. What do I have to do?

Don't worry, you don't need to do anything else. The Master's thesis will be moved to the correct container by the Dean's Office within 2-3 days of acceptance of the reviews (at the faculty meeting - see last question).

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

No.

Is it possible to receive a confirmation of graduation before the graduation ceremony (e.g. for job applications)?

Yes.

For job applications or your current employer (e.g. if your salary is decisive):
If you have submitted a complete “Application for the award of a diploma”, the Dean's Office can only confirm a “prospective degree” (without listing individual achievements), provided that only the Master's thesis is still missing from your CTS profile.

Important: This is mandatory for applications to other universities, employment or registration for a doctorate:
Urs Zürcher can only issue you with an official confirmation of completion (including a list of all achievements) once the assessment of your Master's thesis has been accepted at the faculty meeting (see below, under “Dates”) & you have submitted a complete “Application for the issue of the diploma”.

By when do I have to complete an assignment (e.g. submit a paper, write an exam) so that it can still be credited to the current semester and I don't have to enrol for the next semester?

• For the spring semester, the work must be submitted or completed before the 38th calendar week (approx. mid-September) of the current year.
• for the fall semester, the coursework must be submitted or completed before the 8th calendar week (approx. mid-February) of the following year.

Why is the signature/stamp missing from the English translation (Diploma & Diploma Supplement)?

This is not an error.
Since it is only a translation, only the original (in German) may be signed. Hence the information at the bottom of the diploma (or the last page of the Diploma Supplement): “This is a translation. The original was issued in German”.
The translation of the diploma (or diploma supplement) must therefore always be presented together with the original.