Thank you very much for your interest in a doctorate at the Faculty of Humanities.
There are two types of PhD studies: a traditional individual PhD or participation in a structured PhD program at the Walter Benjamin Kolleg or the Interdisciplinary Centre for Gender Studies.
It is possible to register for PhD studies anytime.
Admission
You hold an MA or equivalent of a state or registered university. Your final degree is at least "good". You meet all requirements of our PhD regulations.
First, please contact the Professor you want to supervise your dissertation. If you have questions, ask the Institute or the Dean's office. If the Professor agrees to supervise you, fill in the application form together - don't forget the Institute stamp and the supervisor's signature. There is one form each for students who hold a Swiss MA degree and for students with a foreign degree.
If you hold a Swiss MA, hand in all documents directly at the Dean's office. Complete the online registration at the Admission Office at the same time.
If you do not hold a Swiss MA, hand in all documents directly at the Admission Office. Complete the online registration at the Admission Office at the same time.
The Collegium Decanale decides upon your admission, the ZIB sends you a letter with the decision. Progressing your application can take up to one month.
Examination authorization / Supervision
Exam authorization is specified in the Regulations for doctoral promotion, Art. 8.1. The following persons are allowed to supervise dissertations:
- Full, extraordinary, and associate professors
- Lecturers I and assistant lecturers with tenure track (if habilitated)
- Non habilitated assistant and SNF professors: on application
- Advanced Postdocs and Senior Research Assistants
- Habilitated members of the faculty
Should other members of the Faculty supervise the doctoral promotion, the supervisor has to submit a request for exam authorization to the Collegium Decanale. This can comfortably be done online.
PhD agreement
If you start your PhD at Bern University, you have to fill in a PhD agreement together with your supervisor. Hand in the completed form at the latest three months after you took up your PhD studies.
Joint supervision doctorate
Informations about a joint supervision can be found here.
