Incoming Students

The European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) was created by the European Community to facilitate student mobility and academic exchange between universities in different countries. To help students make the most from their study abroad, ECTS offers an internationally applicable credit system and a common standard of information presentation. Further details about ECTS you'll find on the Erasmus / Sokrates-Website of the European Community or on the International Office of the University of Berne. Please consult as well the website of the Admissions Office.

You will find the current courses in Core Teaching System of the University of Berne in its students and public version.

• Proseminar (6 ECTS Credits, for BA-students only)
  This course aims at an introduction into the functioning, methods and techniques of historical research. Based on a historical topic students learn how to find, work and analyze sources and academic writing, how to formulate relevant questions, how to use theoretical and methodological concepts and how to present and critically reflect the results of their searches.
• Lektürekurs: (for BA-students only, 5 ECTS-Credits only)
  This course aims at introducing students to the methods and techniques of reading historiographical studies.
• Quellenkurs (for BA-students only, 5 ECTS-Credits only)
  This course aims at introducing students to the methods and techniques of working with different types of historical sources.
• Hilfswissenschaftliche Übung (5 ECTS Credits)
  This course aims at an introduction of students to the techniques of the historical auxiliary sciences such a palaeography, diplomacy, numismatics, historical geography, archival science, historical theory, historical climatology and historical information technology.
• Übung (5 ECTS Credits)
  Based on a historical topic this course aims to make students use and expand their knowledge of the methods and techniques of historical research. Methods and techniques are more important than the topic in this course and students are given the opportunity to work in teams. This course also aims to give students an introduction to different epochs in history.
• Seminar (7 ECTS Credits)
  Based on original or published sources as well as different sorts of literature this course aims at making the students work more in depth on a specific topic. Students are expected to use historical methods, techniques and historical theory to develop formulations of questions in order to submit proposals for written papers, such as seminar-, BA- und MA theses.
• Lecture (3 ECTS Credits)
  This course aims at giving students an overview on a specific epoch or topic in history including the relevant historiography.
• Kolloquium and Projektskizze Masterarbeit (6 ECTS for Master-students only)
  This course aims at discussing methodological and theoretical positions as well as important research contributions and projects of Master- and Doctoral theses. Master students have to submit an outline in preparation of their master thesis.
• Kolloquium & Historische Exkursion (4-7 ECTS Credits)
  This course aims at using historical methodology, techniques and theory outside university by looking at objects in their original surroundings. For Bachelor- and Master-students this course is usually linked to a Colloquium, which is then credited with 7 ECTS.
• Lektürekurs: (for BA-students, 5 ECTS-Credits only)
  This course aims at introducing students to the methods and techniques of reading historiographical studies.
• Quellenkurs (for BA-students, 5 ECTS-Credits only)
  This course aims at introducing students to the methods and techniques of working with different types of historical sources.
• Literaturliste (5, 4 or 3 ECTS-Credits according to the curriculum)
  This course is not an ordinary course, but consists of a list of historiographical texts and sometimes sources, which have to be read and analysed individually. At the end of the semester students have to pass a written or oral exam, for which the list forms the basis. The length of the Literaturliste depends on whether you study history as a major, minor or mono.
• Modul Geschichtswissenschaft
  The ‘Modul Geschichtswissenschft consists of a number of lectures at which the students have to be present and the exam of the course ‘Literaturliste’. The number of lectures and the length of the ‘Literaturliste’ are determined by the curriculum (Major/Minor/Mono)

• Bachelor (Bachelor of Arts in History)
  It requires a minimum of 6 semesters study of one major subject (120 ECTS) and one minor subject (60 ECTS; it is also possible to combine two minor subjects with 30 ECTS each). It is also possible to study history as Mono-Subject (180 ECTS). Students focus on the two “Epochenschwerpunkte” history before and after 1800, and chose one of them as their main “Epochenschwerpunkt”. For more details on study requirements see our curriculum (SP 05).

• Master in History (Master of Arts in History)
  It requires a minimum of 4 semesters study in one major subject (90 ECTS) and one minor subject (30 ECTS). ). It is also possible to study history as Mono-Subject (120 ECTS) Students chose two out of seven “Fachschwerpunkte”:
  • Ancient History (AG)
  • Medieval History (MA)
  • Early Modern History (NG)
  • Modern and Contemporary History (NNG)
  • Swiss History before 1800 (CH-)
  • Swiss History after 1800 (CH+)
  • Economic, Social and Environmental History (WSU).

• The Doktorat (Dr. phil. / PhD)
  To do a Doktorat / PhD at our department, you need to have achieved a mark of "5" (cf grading scale) in your master's degree (or equivalent). The "Doktorat" takes 4 years to complete. It chiefly involves independent research and the writing of a dissertation.