Master's degree

You can find the dates for registering and submitting the master thesis, and the form below; there is one deadline per semester.

You can apply online.

The deadlines for registration for a master thesis and the registration form can be found below ("Registration and submission dates"); there is a registration deadline for each semester.

Registration for the master's thesis is binding and cannot be withdrawn.

Regarding the use of AI-supported tools:
Please clarify in advance with the respective lecturers whether the use of AI tools is permitted or not and, if so, what needs to be taken into account. 

You can submit your Master's thesis as follows:

1. One version (as a PDF) by e-mail directly to the supervisor*
2. Another version (PDF) via online form to the Dean's Office

• By the deadline, i.e. by 23:00 on the submission date stated on the registration form. Central European Time (CET) applies.

*Supervisors can still request a printed and bound copy of the Master's thesis. Please clarify this in advance with your supervisor.

Important: 
The “Declaration for Master's Thesis” (official version from the Dean's Office – Faculty of Humanities) must be signed and bound or attached to the last page.
You can find the document on our website (scroll down a little).

Please check that it is the version for the Faculty of Humanities (and not the Faculty of Human Sciences).

The faculty approves the reports on the Master's theses at the first faculty meeting of the spring and fall semesters in mid-February and mid-September.

After this meeting, you can request your report from your supervisor.

The registration is binding and cannot be withdrawn. You can, however, postpone the submission deadline. The form for prolongation the delivery of the master thesis for the first semester-long extension can be found below.

Attention please: Emeriti may supervise master theses only up to 12 months after they left the Faculty.

If you need a second semester-long extension, the Collegium Decanale will need to approve this. Write a short letter (signed by the supervisor of your thesis), submit it to the Dean's Office (for the attention of Collegium Decanale), explain the reasons for the further delay and enclose any employment or medical certificates as applicable.

Extending for 1 month  (to be applied for at the latest 1 week before the official deadline)

An extension for 1 month is possible. Please fill out the form below and let it sign by the supervisor of your thesis. In this case, a graduation in the current session is still possible (see below "dates").

RSL 2021, Art. 56

1. A master thesis must be handed in at the Dean's office in the given time period.

2. If the deadline ist not met due to important reasons (Art. 35 UniV - see below), the supervisor can extend the deadline by one semester.

3. Subsequent extensions must be applied for at the Collegium Decanale in written form, the supervisor must support the application.

4. Candidates who do not hand in their master thesis within the deadline, it will be graded with 1.

UniV (Verordnung über die Universität), Art. 35

1 Due to important reasons, the study time can be extended. Important reasons are:

• Sickness
• Pregnancy / care duties
• Study internships not covered by the study plan
• language stays
• external studies
• language courses for non-natives
• military service / civil service
• voluntary tasks within the University
• occupation

You can apply for your master's degree online: Continue to the form.
If the link is temporarily unavailable, you can also scan the completed application and send it by email to info@histdek.unibe.ch.

All forms can be found on this website (below).

In order to be complete, a request must include the following:

• The application form (important: current address, title of master thesis)

• Major + Minor or Mono must be checked in advance by the relevant institute/center

Option 1: is/are set by the institute/center in KSL to “SUBJECT REQUIREMENT fulfilled” or ‘passed’ (= large green bar, not just “fulfilled,” small green “E”)

IMPORTANT: Your institute (usually the student advisory service) must set the degree program to “Subject requirement fulfilled” (green bar, not just green ‘E’ or “Fulfilled” - see image).

Exception: Master's major/mono – the department only has to check this in KSL (set the degree program to “subject requirement fulfilled”). Once this has been done, no certificate needs to be attached to the application. The green bar in KSL confirms that the mono/major/minor has been checked in KSL.

The Dean's Office sets the major/mono directly to “passed” after the master's thesis has been entered (after acceptance of the reviews, see dates).

Once this has been done, you do not necessarily have to enclose a certificate with the application. The green bar in KSL confirms that the mono/major/minor has been checked in KSL.

Option 2: is/are confirmed by a certificate signed by the institute stating that all credits have been earned in accordance with the study plans and RSL21.

A minor taken outside of the faculty does not require a written certificate.

• Proof of payment for the graduation fee/performance assessment (CHF 300), e.g., a printout of the payment transfer via e-banking.
   -> See: “Degree fee, Dean's Office account details”
  IMPORTANT:
  1. The sender's name and account number (IBAN) must be visible.
  2. The status of the transfer must be COMPLETED. Applications or proof of payment with a status such as “Ready for execution,” “Pending,” etc. will be considered incomplete and will be rejected.

You can also send the request by email (PDF).

Minor taken outside of the faculty (minor at the Faculty of Humanities, major at another faculty)

The institute sets the minor to "Subject requirement satisfied" in the study profile sheet (green bar, not just a green "E"). You then apply for the master's degree to the Dean's Office for your major subject.

Minor taken outside of the faculty (minor at another faculty, major at the Faculty of Humanities)

The Dean's office at the faculty at which you are studying the minor sets the minor to "Passed" in the study profile sheet (green bar, not just a green "E"). You then apply to us for the master's degree. There is no need for a written confirmation or certification.

Minor taken outside of the university (minor at the Faculty of Humanities, major at another university)

The institute sets the minor to "Subject requirement satisfied" in the study profile sheet (green bar, not just a green "E"). You then apply for a summary of attainments via e-mail

or confirmation regarding a minor, which we will send you by post.

Minor taken outside of the university (minor at another university, major at the Faculty of Humanities)

Please enclose a confirmation of your degree course from the university at which you completed the minor (with the overall rating, number of ECTS, dated, stamped, signed) with the request for the master's degree to be issued.

You can pay the degree fee of CHF 300.00 via an e-banking transfer to the Dean's Office's account:

Berner Kantonalbank
3001 Bern
Giro account: 30-106-9
Account no. 42 3.117.124.22
Clearing no.: 790
IBAN: CH68 0079 0042 3117 1242 2
BIC/SWIFT: KBBECH22XXX

Faculty of Humanities
Dean's Office
Länggassstrasse 49
3012 Bern

Authorization for examination purposes is governed in Art. 65 of the regulations on studies and examinations, Art. 8.1 of the regulations on doctorates, and Art. 24 of the RSL 21. The following are allowed to assess degree-level work and conduct degree-level examinations in connection with a master's:

• ordinary, extraordinary, and associated professors
• Assistant professors and SNF professors
• Habilitated Faculty members
• Lecturers I and II, assistant lecturers tenure track
• Advanced Postdocs and Senior Research Assistants
• "wissenschaftliche Mitarbeitende" with a PhD, if their institute gives consent

If other persons are to conduct examinations, the supervisor will need to send for each examination a request to the Dean's Office for the attention of the Collegium Decanale in order for authorization to be granted for examination purposes.

I forgot to register for the Master's thesis. What can I do now?

In exceptional cases, late registration is possible. See online form (under “Registration deadline” -> “Late registration”).

Please contact Urs Zürcher. A short e-mail is sufficient.

Are there any requirements regarding the layout of the MA thesis?

There are no special requirements by the Dean's office. Please ask your supervisor or the institute if they have some.

The cover sheet must contain:
Institute, supervisor, thesis title, your name, enrollment number, Major subject, your residential address, phone number, email address, date you submitted the thesis.

You must submit one hardback volume to the Dean's office and another one to your supervisor. At the Dean's office, you must also submit the form Declaration of the MA thesis (you can also embed it as last page of your thesis).

What is the maximum number of ECTS in my major/minor?

Maximum +10%. For a 120 ECTS Master's degree = max. 132 Ects. All additional ECTS must be transferred to the “voluntary additional credits”.

Where/how can I submit my Master's thesis?

See under “Submitting the Master's thesis” or in the online form.

Can I exmatriculate myself when I have submitted the MA thesis?

Yes, if you have met all other requirements (e.g. submittes course theses, taken written exams).

All credits (not the MA thesis) must only be already added to your KSL profile when you apply for the diploma (see below, "dates").

The Master's thesis is not my final project - is this even permitted?

Please enquire at the relevant institute or read the curriculum for your major subject.

If you still have to complete work in your minor subject, this is not a problem.
If you need another semester: Please inform the Dean's Office by e-mail as soon as you have submitted your Master's thesis.

When will my Master's thesis (grade) be entered in KSL?

See next question.

Do I have to wait until my Master's thesis has been entered in KSL before I submit the “Application for the diploma” to the Dean's Office?

No, the Dean's Office only registers the Master's thesis after the “Acceptance of the reviews at the faculty meeting” (see below, under “Dates”).
You can apply for the diploma before then.

I have submitted my Master's thesis and a complete diploma application. Do I have to do anything else?

No, you do not need to do anything else.
The grade of your Master's thesis will be entered by the Dean's Office (see previous question) and you will receive an invitation by e-mail approx. 2 weeks before the graduation ceremony and can then register or cancel your registration for the ceremony.
You can also find some information about the graduation ceremony on this page (a little further down) -> switch to the german version.

Can I already register for the PhD / doctoral program?

No, unfortunately not yet.
To register for the PhD / doctoral program, it is mandatory that you have already officially completed your Master's degree:
Only once the assessment of your Master's thesis has been accepted at the faculty meeting (see below, under “Dates”) and you have submitted a complete “Application for the issue of the diploma,” can Urs Zürcher issue you with an official confirmation of completion (including a list of all credits earned), which you will need to register for the PhD / doctoral program.

Important (see also under “Registration -> PhD”): 
Once you have submitted your completed form "Confirmation of supervision", processing may take up to one month. The Collegium Decanale (CD) decides on admission to the doctoral program; only then can the Dean's Office sign or stamp your form. The Admissions Office will then inform you of the decision by (e-)mail.

My Master's thesis has been entered in KSL, but is still in the “clipboard”. What do I have to do?

Don't worry, you don't need to do anything else. The Master's thesis will be moved to the correct container by the Dean's Office within 2-3 days of acceptance of the reviews (at the faculty meeting - see last question).

Do I have to enroll for the next semester if the thesis evaluation/report will only be officially accepted at the beginning of the next semester?

No.
If you have completed all the requirements necessary for graduation (e.g., submitted assignments, taken exams, submitted your master's thesis), you do not need to enroll for the next semester.

Do I have to be enrolled to get the diploma or attend to the promotion celebration?

No.

Is it possible to receive a confirmation of graduation before the graduation ceremony (e.g. for job applications)?

Yes.

For job applications or your current employer (e.g. if your salary is decisive):
If you have submitted a complete “Application for the award of a diploma”, the Dean's Office can only confirm a “prospective degree” (without listing individual achievements), provided that only the Master's thesis is still missing from your CTS profile.

Important: This is mandatory for applications to other universities, employment or registration for a PhD / doctorate:
Urs Zürcher can only issue you with an official confirmation of completion (including a list of all credits earned) once the assessment of your Master's thesis has been accepted at the faculty meeting (see below, under “Dates”) & you have submitted a complete “Application for the issue of the diploma”.

By when do I have to complete an assignment (e.g. submit a paper, write an exam) so that it can still be credited to the current semester and I don't have to enrol for the next semester?

• For the spring semester, the work must be submitted or completed before the 38th calendar week (approx. mid-September) of the current year.
• for the fall semester, the coursework must be submitted or completed before the 8th calendar week (approx. mid-February) of the following year.

Why is the signature/stamp missing from the English translation (Diploma & Diploma Supplement)?

This is not an error.
Since it is only a translation, only the original (in German) may be signed. Hence the information at the bottom of the diploma (or the last page of the Diploma Supplement): “This is a translation. The original was issued in German”.
The translation of the diploma (or diploma supplement) must therefore always be presented together with the original.

Graduation ceremony of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities

on Friday, March 20, 2026, 5:00 p.m.

in the Great Hall of Casino Bern,
Casinoplatz 1, 3011 Bern
(www.casinobern.ch/kontakt)

Parking: www.parking-bern.ch

Please note the following information:

•     Doors open at 4:30 p.m.
•     Expected number of accompanying persons: max. 3 family members
•     The first few rows of seats are reserved for doctoral students and their family members (please note the signs)
•     Important: Free choice of seating. If there are many registrations, the relatives of MA graduates will be seated in the gallery.
•     The reception will begin at approximately 6:15 p.m.

The link to register will be sent by email on February 25, 2026, at the earliest.