Frequently Asked Questions

Qualification positions are training positions. They are deliberately designed to ensure that people rotate regularly in these positions so that as many people as possible can gain qualifications as part of an academic career. The positions are therefore fixed-term. For qualification positions, careers must be planned clearly with the employees – in their own interests, they should not stay in the positions for too long. Extensions beyond the maximum duration of employment are only approved by the University Executive Board for personal reasons and if they are in the interests of the employees.

The maximum period of employment, regardless of the level of employment, is: 

• Auxiliary assistants: 4 years 
• Assistants without Dr.: 4 years 
• Postdoctoral researchers, assistant physicians and senior physicians: 6 years 
• Tenure-track assistant lecturers: Initially 3 years, continuation possible for 1 year 
• Non-tenure-track assistant professors: 4 years 
• Tenure-track assistant professors: Initially 4 years, continuation possible for 2 years 

Please consult the relevant legal provisions (in particular in the Employment Regulations) for reasons that give rise to an entitlement to an extension of employment. 

The following points must be observed:

• They must write their own PhD thesis as part of the relevant research project and occasionally participate in both further research work conducted within the organizational unit and in teaching (approx. 10%).
• They will receive compensation in accordance with the rates of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). It is assumed that they will work on their PhD thesis on a full-time basis.
• In addition to the doctoral compensation, they may be employed as an assistant at a maximum employment level of 25% if they take on additional work at the institute.
• They can be financed by external or state funding.

In accordance with the legal principles, intermediate staff at the University of Bern comprises the following categories:

• Doctoral candidates
• Assistants
• Postdoctoral researchers
• Associate lecturers
• Part-time lecturers
• Full-time lecturers
• Assistant professors (without tenure track)
• The co-determination of intermediate staff is not regulated in the same way in every faculty. In several faculties, for example, assistant professors are members of the faculty as individuals.

Furthermore, the current University Act does not refer to intermediate staff, but to assistants and lecturers. These form the two sections that guarantee intermediate staff a say in University matters. In accordance with the University Statute, the senate is the body that exercises this right of co-determination.

The MVUB of the University of Bern ensures a right of co-determination, offers services and guarantees intermediate staff-specific expertise. It is organized as an association under private law.

The University of Bern does not tolerate any kind of discrimination, racism, sexism, homophobia or transphobia, and is committed to protecting personal integrity. All members of the University of Bern have the right to be treated in such a way that their dignity and personal integrity remain unaffected. As an observer or as the person concerned, you can report discrimination confidentially and receive support at any time. 

Information on the procedure for reporting discrimination (what to do) 

The University of Bern has a contact point for issues relating to disabilities/chronic illnesses that deals with the University-related concerns of people with disabilities or chronic illnesses. The task of the Office is to find solutions jointly and individually with those affected in order to ensure that study and work at the University of Bern is as barrier-free as possible. 

The University of Bern is committed to the mental health of its members and strives for a healthy place of work and learning where everyone’s health is protected. The University of Bern takes preventive measures and raises awareness. Psychological counseling helps students and staff overcome the challenges of their work and study situation, therefore helping to ensure equal opportunities for studies. 

The University of Bern supports childcare by providing discounted daycare spots in collaboration with the KIHOB Foundation (Foundation for Childcare in the Bern University Area). KIHOB operates several daycare centers in Länggasse and offers flexible care models, including for short-term or one-day care – during conferences or meetings, for example. 

The University of Bern is committed to cultivating an inclusive academic culture and offers a team workshop on dealing with unconscious biases. Interested parties should contact Joel Schaad, member of scientific staff in the Office for Equal Opportunities. 

If you would like to pursue a doctorate at the University of Bern, please contact a researcher in the field of research that interests you and submit your application including information about your motivation for earning a doctorate, your research interests and your planned research project. 

You will find a checklist on getting started with your dissertation project under First steps towards a doctorate. 

Information about applying and admissions can be found under Application and admission. 

Register for your doctorate online at the Admissions Office and fill out the Confirmation of Supervision form that applies to you. Doctoral candidates must be registered throughout the whole period of their doctorate. Please also note the registration deadlines.  

Following your registration, you can apply for admission to a graduate school or a doctoral program.  

A doctorate can be financed through a position as a doctoral candidate, an assistant, or a combination of both positions. It is also possible to complete a doctorate without being employed – in this case, the doctoral candidate is independently responsible for its funding. 

The graduate schools at the University of Bern are research-related training programs that are geared towards the key areas of the University and offer excellent conditions for a successful doctorate. The PhD is awarded by the respective faculty, while the graduate schools enable interdisciplinary networking and comprehensive qualifications within the framework of the ECTS system. 

According to the Employment Regulations, doctoral candidates employed as doctoral candidates may perform teaching and research work outside the scope of their own research work either in their own institute or another organizational unit, whereby the maximum level of employment may not exceed ten percent (Art. 90 para. 2). Doctoral candidates working as teaching and research assistants may spend at least one third of their working hours on their dissertation (Art. 86 para. 3). 

The Doctoral Agreement is concluded between doctoral candidates and supervisors in the first semester. The agreement defines the process, duration, guidelines, milestones and objectives of the doctorate. 

High-quality supervision of doctoral candidates is a key element of the fostering of early-career researchers at the University. The University of Bern relies on the dual control principle: Dual supervision is standard. The supervisors ensure regular dialog, provide content-related and methodological impetus, support the structuring of the doctorate, and provide doctoral candidates with advice. 

The doctorate is a qualification position (training position) and is therefore limited in time. The maximum duration of employment is four years. Doctoral candidates are required to register. Registration is not limited in time, but speedy completion is expected. 

Reconciling research, teaching and care obligations is a challenge in an academic career, but it should be possible for everyone at the University of Bern. For this reason, the University offers various support measures, such as the childcare services offered by the KIHOB Foundation as well as infrastructure such as parent-child rooms, breastfeeding rooms and changing tables. 

Individual measures tailored to the specific situation to support the compatibility of a doctorate and parenthood are determined in consultation with the supervisors. 

You can find more information on the Work-life balance page. 

The University offers a variety of options in the event of conflicts with a supervisor. The procedure depends on both the topic of the conflict and the level of escalation. The first point of contact in the event of conflicts with the supervisor is the second supervisor or a mentor, where applicable. If they are unable to help, the triage office of the MVUB (Intermediate Staff Association of the University of Bern), for example, might be able to assist and is there for all intermediate staff members in the event of difficulties and conflicts. It provides direct support or, if necessary, refers the person to the appropriate office. 

Open calls for tenders and selected external calls for tenders can be found on the UniBE Funding Schemes page. The external calls were selected by the Vice-Rectorate Research and Innovation on the basis of their broad relevance for researchers at the University of Bern. 

Other calls:  

• Databases for funding research with a comprehensive range of funding opportunities for different funding needs 
• Overview of open calls  
• Overview of research prizes 

Here you will find open calls for the UniBE funding schemes as well as selected external calls. The external calls for tenders were selected by the Vice-Rectorate Research and Innovation on the basis of their broad relevance for researchers at the University of Bern.  

You will find more information on faculty funding in the area of the support of early-career researchers on the following faculty pages. 

Use the BORIS Portal research data repository to publish your research data. (Alternatively, you can opt for a recognized subject-specific repository.) 

Please note the following:  

• Describe the data using clear metadata.  
• Provide meaningful documentation (e.g., ReadMe file) and use open, sustainable formats. 
• Clarify legal aspects (copyright, data protection) and issue a suitable license (CCBY). 
• Link the data to the publication to increase visibility and reusability. 
• The data stewards (researchdata@unibe.ch) can help with questions and will support you in the publication of research data. 

A data management plan (DMP) helps researchers plan and structure the entire life cycle of their research data in advance. As an important tool for organizing research projects, it simplifies the organization, reduces risks such as data loss, helps ensure the reusability of the data, and increases the transparency and quality of research. The data stewards help with questions, provide assistance with the creation of a DMP, and offer a free DMP review service.  

Depending on the type of data, different laws and regulations apply. These include the Data Protection Act of the Canton of Bern (KDSG) and the Human Research Act (HRA). As a general rule, researchers should only collect the necessary data, store it securely, inform the participants comprehensively, and anonymize or pseudonymize the data if possible. 

Personal data may not be made publicly available without express consent; instead, anonymized datasets, aggregated results or metadata may be published or the data may be provided under restricted access with clearly defined terms of use. 

In the event of uncertainty, we recommend that researchers contact Legal Services or the data stewards (researchdata@unibe.ch). 

The SNSF requires that all data underlying a publication be shared in a recognized data repository, unless there are legal, ethical or copyright reasons not to do so. A data management plan (DMP) must be submitted for all approved projects and updated during the project. 

A DMP is also mandatory in EU programs (e.g., Horizon Europe) and data should be published according to the FAIR principles or, if necessary, provided with justified access protection. 

When selecting a publisher or journal for an Open Access publication, consideration must be given to aspects such as distribution, prestige, transfer of rights, affordability and ethics.  

The University Library of Bern supports Open Access publications with an Open Access fund and what are referred to as Read-and-Publish contracts. Both types of financing are linked to criteria that should be clarified in advance (i.e., before submission to a publisher or journal).  

• BORIS Portal is available for the secondary publication of Open Access publications. 
• BORIS Theses is available for dissertations in Bern. 
• There is Bern Open Publishing for Open Access journals and books.  

A lot of money is spent on academic publishing so it comes as no surprise that there are shady providers out there. How can you identify publications that you are paying for without receiving anything in return or that could harm your career? A checklist will help you identify predatory journals. 

Members of the MVUB association can exercise their right to have a say and participate through the work of the board and/or commission. Membership is free of charge and does not entail any obligations. 

MVUB members with care responsibilities who have extra duties as intermediate staff (e.g., as MVUB delegates on a University committee) receive a contribution to their costs upon application if the care work is not covered by regular care services. 

The MVUB is the professional representative of intermediate staff members at the University of Bern and represents, networks and advises them in their academic and professional interests vis-à-vis University and non-University committees and authorities. 

The MVUB is not only an interest group – it is also a network. The events organized by the MVUB offer the opportunity to exchange ideas with other members of the intermediate staff, discuss common topics, and make new contacts. 

The University offers a variety of options in the event of conflicts with a supervisor. The triage office of the MVUB (intermediate staff association of the University of Bern) could be of help and is there for all intermediate staff members in the event of difficulties and conflicts. 

Travel expenses are reimbursed through various sources of funding: 

• through amounts budgeted as part of the research project, 
• through faculty resources (some faculties have a commission that is responsible for granting funds, otherwise the Dean’s Office), 
• through an application to a foundation; for this, it helps to search the databases offered or to make a specific request to foundations associated with the University of Bern, 
• through Euresearch Bern when it is a question of preparing for international or European collaboration. 

UniBE International supports international networks at the University of Bern. Within the scope of a wide range of tasks, UniBE International supports students, researchers and guests from all over the world. Examples include: 

• Semester exchanges for doctoral candidates 
• Teaching staff exchange 
• Staff exchange 
• Calls for international teaching grants  

The Welcome Center provides information and advice to researchers from doctorate level up to plan and prepare for their stay in Bern. Topics include questions about living in Bern, compulsory Swiss health insurance, general questions about residence permits, opening a bank account, schools/daycare, language courses, etc. For more information, please visit the Welcome Center page and get in touch to receive checklists or to arrange a personal meeting (by Zoom or at the University).  

The Language Center offers courses for German as a Foreign Language and Academic English. Other European and non-European languages are offered by the Institute of Linguistics – including Bernese German for those who already speak German well and would like to learn about the local dialect.  

The HR Office of the Canton of Bern also offers German and French courses in its course program (in German).  

In principle, a postdoctorate mark the transition from a doctorate to a professorship and serve as the academic qualification of postdoctoral researchers. They are suitable for candidates with a PhD who wish to continue working in research and teaching, while gaining academic independence and building up an international network. Long term, postdoctoral researchers can pursue an academic or non-academic career. 

Postdoctoral researchers plan and manage their own research projects, take part in the research projects of others, lead groups in their own field, supervise master theses and doctorates, and build up an international network. In addition, postdoctoral researchers can take on other duties in teaching, research and services at their institute. 

More about the objectives of a postdoctorate 

A postdoctoral fellowship can be obtained through an external national or international source of funding. In addition, postdoctoral positions are regularly advertised on the University of Bern job portal. 

A postdoctorate consists of two three-year phases, between which the type of postdoctorate is changed from early to advanced postdoc. 

More about the levels of a postdoctorate 

In principle, a postdoctorate is a full-time job, which is why postdoctoral researchers are employed at the University of Bern on an employment level of between 80 and 100% of a full-time job. In exceptional cases and at the request of the postdoctoral researcher, the University Executive Board may approve a lower level of employment. 

You can find more information about the employment conditions in the Postdoc Regulations. 

In the Postdoctoral Agreement, the term protected research time is the term used to denote the time reserved for one’s own academic qualification. Please note: These terms are not always entirely clear-cut. The University of Bern’s understanding of its own academic qualification is set out in paragraph 1 of the Postdoc Regulations.  

The Postdoctoral Agreement is concluded within the first six months. It serves as a job description and governs the relevant aspects of the current position, such as tasks, targets and supervision. The Postdoctoral Agreement specifies at least two persons who will supervise the postdoctoral researcher. 

More about the agreement

After the postdoctorate, academic careers are divided into an assistant professorship and a professorship, but an academic career is just one of many opportunities after a postdoctorate. There are also exciting positions for highly qualified researchers in industry, administration and the third space. The University of Bern supports postdoctoral researchers both on their academic and non-academic career paths by providing them with comprehensive career opportunities and transferable skills. 

More about the career paths 

Reconciling research, teaching and care obligations is a challenge in an academic career, but it should be possible for everyone at the University of Bern. The University of Bern offers various support measures, such as the childcare services offered by the KIHOB Foundation, infrastructure such as parent-child rooms, breastfeeding rooms and changing tables, and the 120% Care Grant for early-career researchers.  

Postdoctoral researchers with care responsibilities can reduce their level of employment to up to 50% upon request. You can find more information in the document below from the Human Resources Office (internal link).  

The University offers a variety of options in the event of conflicts with a supervisor. The procedure depends on both the topic of the conflict and the level of escalation. The first point of contact in the event of conflicts with the supervisor is the second supervisor or a mentor, where applicable. If they are unable to help, the triage office of the MVUB (intermediate staff association of the University of Bern), for example, might be able to assist and is there for all intermediate staff members in the event of difficulties and conflicts. It provides direct support or, if necessary, refers the person to the appropriate office.