International Applicants

Prospective BA Students

Applications from international students to our BA programs are handled directly by the Admissions Office. Consult their webpage for information on applying with an international Matura equivalent.

Applicants whose native language is not German must provide proof of German language proficiency at C1 level or equivalent, or take a German language test at the University of Bern.

Exemptions from the German language requirement are rare and are only granted if students can complete both their major and minor in languages other than German. Each request is assessed individually, depending on the applicant's circumstances. To apply for an exemption, contact the Dean's Office directly at info@histdek.unibe.ch.

All BA students attending courses in the Department of English are expected to have C1-level English proficiency.

Prospective MA Students

International applicants to our MA programs holding a non-Swiss BA degree must provide proof of English proficiency by submitting one of the accepted language tests listed below, meeting the required minimum score. The test result must be no more than six months old at the time of application.

An exemption from the English language test is only possible for applicants who have completed their education in a country or language community where English is the primary language.

Exemption requests can only be submitted once an application has been started and the applicant has received a matriculation number. General enquiries about exemptions will not be processed. Applicants wishing to request an exemption must submit clear supporting evidence to studycounsellors.ens@unibe.ch for review. This may include secondary school and university certificates and transcripts, as well as evidence of professional experience in an English-speaking environment, where applicable.

If the evidence provided is insufficient, applicants must submit a valid English test result meeting the required minimum score to proceed with their application. Please note that the department cannot provide ongoing feedback on exemption requests and allows only one resubmission following feedback.

For more information on the MA program requirements, see the Faculty's program description.

For guidance on applying with an international degree, including application deadlines and checklists, consult the Admissions Office guidance.