Bern University of Applied Sciences

Bern University of Applied Sciences

Berner Fachhochschule
Type	Public university
Established	1997
Rector	Dr. Herbert Binggeli
Administrative staff	2,282 (equivalent to 1,560 full-time) of which professors: 888 (equivalent to 572 full-time) (31 December 2016)
Students	6,864 (31 December 2016)
Location	Bern, Biel, Burgdorf, Magglingen, Zollikofen, Switzerland
Website	http://www.bfh.ch/

The Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH, German: Berner Fachhochschule, French: Haute école spécialisée bernoise) is a public vocational university with a strong national and international profile. It comprises six departments and also incorporates the Higher Technical School of Wood, which is affiliated to the Department of Architecture, Wood and Civil Engineering.

Locations

BFH is currently spread across 26 locations in Bern, Biel, Burgdorf, Magglingen and Zollikofen. In 2012, the parliament (Grand Council) of the Canton of Bern decided to bring together the Department of Architecture, Wood and Civil Engineering and the Department of Engineering and Information Technology onto one campus in Biel. The Biel campus is expected to open in Autumn 2021.^[1] The consolidation of the Department of Business, Health and Social Work and the Bern University of the Arts onto one campus in Bern is planned for Autumn 2023.^[2]

Departments

The Departments of the Bern University of Applied Sciences include:^[3]

• Architecture, Wood and Civil Engineering and the affiliated Higher Technical School of Wood
• School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences
• Bern University of the Arts
• Engineering and Information Technology
• Business, Health, Social Work
• Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen SFISM

As well as Bachelor and master's degree programmes, BFH offers continuing education, applied research and development and other services.

The sports, agriculture, forest science, automotive engineering, nutrition and dietetics, literary writing and medical informatics degree programmes are unique in German-speaking Switzerland or throughout the whole of Switzerland.

Growth

The following table shows how student numbers at the Bern University of Applied Sciences have grown since the University was founded in 1997.

¹ Figures as of 31 December
² Degree programmes prior to the Bologna Reform (which introduced Bachelor/Master's degree programmes)
³ Only MAS/EMBA students (not including CAS/DAS students). From 2014 onwards, non-matriculated MAS/EMBA students are also included in the statistics for BFH's areas of activity.

Notes and references

See also

• List of largest universities by enrollment in Switzerland

External links

• Bern University of Applied Sciences website

Universities in Switzerland
Public universities	University of Basel University of Bern University of Fribourg University of Geneva University of Neuchâtel University of Lausanne University of Lucerne Università della Svizzera Italiana University of St. Gallen University of Zurich Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) ETH Zurich
Public universities of applied sciences	Bern University of Applied Sciences Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland SUPSI (Southern Switzerland) Zurich University of Applied Sciences
Private universities of applied sciences	Kalaidos University of Applied Sciences LRG University of Applied Sciences
Other institutions accredited by CRUS	Franklin University Switzerland Graduate Institute Geneva Theologische Hochschule Chur
Swiss University Conference

Coordinates: 47°09′30″N 7°16′38″E / 47.1583°N 7.2772°E / 47.1583; 7.2772