Department of Health Professions: International

To operate in our globally interconnected and culturally diverse society, we need to be culturally aware, to expand our horizons and to nurture our intellectual curiosity. BFH is a keen advocate of all of these things. The Department of Health Professions offers a series of different activities and programmes designed to support mobility and research opportunities for students and staff, helping them to pursue their academic aspirations.

Outgoing mobility
Incoming mobility
Inter- and transcultural competence

Contact

Mobility + Exchanges

Thanks to partnerships with a wide range of universities and organisations around the globe, our students and staff are able to gain international experience worldwide. We also regularly welcome international students and lecturers here at BFH.

Outgoing students

Interested in a change of perspective? There are plenty of good reasons to spend time abroad or in a different language region. Mobility opportunities offer unique and valuable experience. They can also enhance your appeal on the job market. During your studies, BFH allows you to take part in an internship or spend an exchange semester in a different country or a different language region of Switzerland.

Outgoing staff

University staff also have the opportunity to spend time abroad for teaching and continuing education purposes. This will support you in embracing the international aspects of your duties, enable you to establish an international network and boost your personal development.

Our research is internationally oriented but has regional roots. Participation in international research conferences is seen as a matter of course and enjoys broad support at BFH.

Welcome to Switzerland

Picturesque alleyways, friendly people and beautiful scenery: Switzerland offers a high quality of life. Situated in the centre of Europe, this small country is internationally connected and multicultural. It is a great place to work and study.

Discover Bern at bern.com

Doscover Basel at basel.com

Swiss-European Mobility Programme SEMP

The Swiss programme funds students, lecturers and other university staff wishing to spend a period of time abroad. It covers both outgoing mobility from Switzerland and incoming mobility to Switzerland.

Information about SEMP at movetia.ch

Incoming students

You can spend a study semester at the Department of Health Professions, taking part in one of our bachelor’s or master’s degree programmes. We offer programmes in the following four areas: Nutrition and Dietetics, Midwifery, Nursing and Physiotherapy. Teaching in all of our programmes is conducted in German.

Are you interested in an internship semester in Switzerland? Our large network of practice organisations in Switzerland offers you a wide range of opportunities.

Studying in Switzerland

Support for visiting students

The ‘Erasmus Student Network’ (ESN) is an international self-help organisation for students that promotes student mobility. Local ESN sections such as the Bern Section or the Basel Section operate a buddy system and organise social events to support visiting students during their stay.

Incoming staff

The Department of Health Professions is made up of highly specialised teaching and research departments. Are you interested in spending some time working with us? We offer lecturers and staff at our partner universities the opportunity to teach and/or research at Bern University of Applied Sciences.

International support for staff

Support for researchers

The Welcome Center is BFH’s EURAXESS Service Center and part of the EURAXESS Network for mobile researchers, which is represented in 40 countries across Europe. You can also access comprehensive information from EURAXESS Switzerland on topics as diverse as entry conditions for Switzerland, your first day at work, research and family.

Welcome Center

Partner universities

The Department of Health Professions has a large network of partner universities abroad for all health professions that are taught in the department.

Nutrition and Dietetics

Midwifery

Nursing

Physiotherapy

Networks

Inter- and transcultural competences

The optional BFH Certificate of Global Competence programme offers our students the opportunity to gain inter-and transcultural skills in the course of their studies – and to gain a certificate in these.

BFH diagonal module in Inter- and Transculturalism

As part of BFH diagonal, the International Relations Office of Bern University of Applied Sciences is running a five-day summer school which is open to BFH students and to students from partner institutions abroad. The study programme is equivalent to 2 ECTS credits (60 hours of study) and can count towards the BFH ‘Certificate of Global Competence’. Other BFH diagonal modules can also count towards the ‘Certificate of Global Competence’. Please contact the International Office to find out more.

BFH diagonal – optional programme for students

Certificate of Global Competence

With BFH’s supplementary «Certificate of Global Competence», you as a student have the opportunity to acquire specific intercultural and transcultural skills during the course of your studies – and to earn a...