Study Abroad (MA)

MA students can complete part of their studies at a recognised institution abroad and transfer up to 30 ECTS credits toward their degree. All study abroad plans must be discussed and approved in advance with your Study Counsellor.

Guidelines

• MA Study Abroad follows different rules than the compulsory BA Stay Abroad. ECTS are not granted for a Study Abroad experience alone.
• Courses must be approved by the relevant University of Bern professor and your Study Counsellor. It is your responsibility to ensure credits are transferable before your stay.
• There is no English-speaking requirement for your destination, but all credited courses must be within the English discipline.

BA to MA Transition

• Students transitioning from a BA minor in English to the MA major must spend 12 weeks abroad to meet the BA Stay Abroad requirement.
• MA students who did not fulfil the Stay Abroad requirement in their BA studies at an external university must spend 24 weeks abroad to meet the requirement.
• This stay must be completed before the end of the MA degree, ideally before the thesis semester.
• BA Stay Abroad requirement regulations apply in these cases; please see the main Stay Abroad section for more information.

Documents

• MA Study Abroad Agreement Sheet – Complete and get approval from your Study Counsellor before departure.
• MA Study Abroad Submission Sheet – Submit as the front cover of your complete dossier (transcripts, learning agreements, course descriptions).

Find options for Study Abroad experiences via the International Office's search tool.