Financial matters
Financial proof for residence permit
For your stay in Switzerland, you need at least CHF 1,500 a month for accommodation and food.
It is difficult to find part-time jobs. As a non-Swiss student you are allowed to work a maximum of 15 hours a week. Non-EU/EFTA and Croatian nationals may only start working in Switzerland after having lived in the country for six months.
To apply for a residence permit, you require financial proof confirming that you will be able to pay the minimum living expenses of CHF 1,500 a month (a bank statement from your bank account or a written guarantee from a person supporting you with CHF 1,500 a month with bank statement and a copy of the person's passport).
Living expenses
To help you plan your stay, we have listed the estimated monthly living expenses:
| Expenses for | around CHF per month |
| Accommodation | 620 - 800 |
| Health / medical insurance | 180 - 400 |
| Food, household goods | 400 - 500 |
| Public transport | 100 |
| Course material | 100 |
| Miscellaneous | 100 - 300 |
| TOTAL | 1,500 - 2,200 |
Tuition and Semester Fees
1.Tuition fees are CHF 750 per semester.
2.If you have not achieved a degree within twelve semesters of study, you pay CHF 1,500 in the first semester after the twelve-semester limit has been exceeded. The fees double for each further semester.
3.In cases of hardship, the Executive Board of the University of Bern can waive the increase of tuition fees in accordance with Section 2 either in part or in entirety.
The semester fee is CHF 34. For students who are members of the Student Union of the University of Bern (SUB), the fee is a further CHF 21.
In addition to the UNICARD, you will receive a certificate of registration once the tuition fees are paid.
Reimbursement of tuition and semester fees
Requests for reimbursement have to be submitted within 10 days of the reimbursement reasons being known, but at the latest by February 28 or September 30 (date of receipt). Send the documents for proving the reasons for reimbursement together with your request for reimbursement to the Admissions Office. You can only be reimbursed if you return all certificates of registration and the UNICARD and if you confirm in writing, based on the documents of registration, that you have not received any benefits such as grants, training bonuses and tax relief.
Exemption from fees
The Admissions Office cannot exempt you from paying fees or defer due fees. If, through no fault of your own, you are in financial difficulty and thus cannot pay tuition and semester fees on time, please contact the social fund of the Student Union in good time for advance money.
