Graduate School of Precision Engineering

Swiss University Degree

If you have a master's degree from a Swiss university, please follow the application process as described below. All application forms must be completed and submitted in English.

Interior of the University of Bern Main Building

1) Registration at UniBE

First, please apply at www.application.unibe.ch, if you are not already registered at the University of Bern.

For students of the University of Bern, please choose the option «Change of level to doctorate» on the electronic re-registration form and submit the form with or without any further changes. 

 

2) Application to the GSPRE

Application Deadlines

Registration for the desired semester is only possible, if the online application, the fully completed and signed Confirmation of Supervision and the required documents are available at the time of the application deadline.

Submission of Application Dossier for fall semester: 15th June

Submission of Application Dossier for spring semester: 30th November

Application Process

  1. Complete the Confirmation of Supervision, simultaneously obtaining your supervisor’s signature.
  2. Confirmation of Supervision, incl. the following documents have to be passed on to the Graduate School of Precision Engineering for assessment and signature
    Please send the merged single PDF file to the GSPRE coordination office. You will receive a confirmation email upon receipt of your email and await further information. 
  • Copy of the university degree, that qualifies you for admission to a doctorate (Master’s degree or Licentiate)
  • Copy of the Master transcripts
  • Curriculum Vitae in table form with uninterrupted chronology of your education and academic studies up to the present
  • Copy of the degree that gives admission to the chosen course of study (i.e. high school leavers' certificate, swiss vocational school leavers' certificate (Berufsmaturität) with a passed "Passerelle", bachelor's diploma from a Swiss university of teacher education or university of applied sciences)
  • Photocopy of your valid identity card (front and back) or passport
    This does not apply to you if you were registered at the University of Bern for the first time after 2012.
  • Declaration of Consent
    This does not apply to you if you achieved your Master's degree at the University of Bern.
  • Recommendation Letter from your supervisor, dated and signed.
  • Confirmation of employment related to the PhD research project for a minimum of 2 years
    Written on official letter paper, dated and signed.
  • Confirmation of Co-Advisor, dated and signed
  • PhD Thesis Project Proposal, dated and signed

If the GSPRE approves all submitted documentation, the GSPRE will forward the documents, including the signed Confirmation of Supervision to the Admissions Office (ZIB) via email, with the applicant and the applicant’s supervisor copied on the email.

Please note that you will need to submit the original of your university degree, that qualifies you for admission to a doctorate personally or by postal mail to the Admissions Office.

After the Submission

In order to evaluate the professional aptitude of each applicant, the expert commission conducts a personal interview in English.

The PhD committee decides on admission based on the quality of the application and the personal interview.

You will receive an email with further information regarding the interview and process after the submission of your application.

3) Interview GSPRE

Purpose

The interview allows the Graduate School of Precision Engineering to discuss your research project with you more closely and evaluate your potential as an academic researcher. It further provides you’re the opportunity to demonstrate your acquired scientific knowledge, and soft skills and is a chance to meet the institute.

You may receive feedback with detailed information that will offer valuable insights from experts, highlight potential areas for improvement in your proposal, and suggest new avenues of inquiry.

Arrangement of the Interview

After your application has been assessed, you will receive a date and timeframe for your interview by the GSPRE. If you are unavailable on said day, please contact the GSPRE office promptly for rescheduling.

Interviews take place within one to three months after you receive confirmation of the receipt of your application. The interview committee is determined by the GSPRE and based on your thesis proposal and the expertise of the individual mentors.