University of Bern (Universität Bern), founded in 1528 as a small academy, is a leading public research institution located in the capital of Switzerland. It is organized into numerous faculties and demonstrates notable academic strength in medicine, natural sciences, law, and European philology.

The university is distinguished by its broad and impactful research portfolio, which includes medical studies on RNA and complex diseases, contributions to international space programs and planetary science, as well as significant economic research. It operates approximately 115 research centers and clinics, often housed in creatively repurposed historic buildings, such as former factories—a practice that has earned it architectural awards.

The university enrolls around 17,000 students, including a significant number of international learners. Instruction is conducted in German, requiring applicants to provide proof of language proficiency (e.g., TestDaF or Goethe-Zertifikat C1) along with their academic transcripts. Admission is competitive and based on academic merit and language skills.

Housing is available both on campus and within the city. While scholarships are not typically offered to bachelor’s students, the university provides a limited number of grants to selected master’s and doctoral candidates.