Ecology and Evolution

Study mode:On campus Study type:Full-time Languages: English
Foreign:$ 1.66 k / Year(s) Deadline: Apr 30, 2024
109 place StudyQA ranking:3121 Duration:2 years

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The Master's programme in Ecology and Evolution leads to the degree of a Master of Science (M Sc) in Ecology and Evolution. The programme is run jointly by the Institute of Ecology and Evolution and the Institute of Plant Sciences of the Science Faculty. The Master's programme in Ecology and Evolution is regulated in the Master's curriculum (Studienplan) in Ecology and Evolution (MSc EE) and is fully taught in English.

The Master's programme has a workload of 90 ECTS points. 1 ECTS point corresponds to 25-30 hours of work. The programme can be completed by full-time students in 3 semesters. It consists of 60 ECTS in form of a Master's thesis and 30 ECTS in formal learning units.

During this curriculum, and in particular by preparing the Master's thesis, the students deepen and specialise their knowledge and skills in Ecology and Evolution. A particular emphasis of the programme is to involve the student actively in ongoing research projects. The degree of «Master of Science» (M Sc) in Ecology and Evolution can lead to an employment in governmental and research settings, private companies (environmental consultants, etc.), or to a further education, e.g. to PhD studies. In general, students with a Bachelor of Science degree (B Sc) in biology or related subjects are entitled to apply for the programme (see Admission).

The programme offers specialisations in:

  • Animal Ecology and Conservation
  • Behaviour
  • Evolution
  • Plant Ecology

Studies in the Master‘s program amount to 90 credits (ECTS), one credit corresponding to 25-30 hours of student input. Full time students can complete the program in three semesters. It consists of:

  • 30 credits of formal courses, including 9 ECTS of seminars and 21 other ECTS selected from the Master‘s program, from the University of Bern or other universities. Up to 10 ECTS may be imported from studies abroad.
  • 60 credits in the form of an individual research thesis conducted in the affiliated research groups (Master‘s thesis).

The Master‘s program offers specialisations in the the fields of animal ecology and conservation, behaviour, evolution and plant ecology

The following academic qualifications are required for admission to the master's degree program in Ecology and Evolution (mono):

a) Bachelor's degree from the University of Bern in Biology with special qualification in Ecology and Evolution
b) Bachelor's degree from the University of Bern in Biology with special qualification in Plant Sciences, provided the required (as listed in annex 1 to the plan of studies) units of credit associated with Plant Ecology have been completed as part of the bachelor's degree program.
c) Bachelor of Science from the University of Bern with another special qualification. Depending on the focus of the bachelor's degree and the special qualification in which the person is interested, successful completion of the master's degree program may depend upon evidence of additional knowledge and expertise or the achievement of additional attainments of up to 60 ECTS credits. The ECTS credits will be listed separately in the diploma supplement as extracurricular attainments.
d) Bachelor of Science, in the branch of studies Biology, from another Swiss university. Depending on the focus of the bachelor's degree and the special qualification in which the person is interested, additional attainments of up to 60 ECTS credits may be required. The ECTS credits will be listed separately in the diploma supplement as extracurricular attainments.
e) Bachelor's degree from a recognized university, provided at least 60 ECTS credits were earned in Biology and the master's degree program can be successfully completed with a maximum additional 60 ECTS credits (admission requirements which must be fulfilled in order to complete the master's degree program). The ECTS credits will be listed separately in the diploma supplement as extracurricular attainments.

Please consult the admission requirements for the minor as presented in the plan of studies.

  • Curriculum vitae in table form with uninterrupted chronology of your education and academic studies up to the present incl. up-to-date passport photo (45 mm high by 35 mm wide)
  • Motivation letter (incl. family name, given name, full address, e-mail address, date and signature and – if you have one – mobile phone number)
  • If you are holding a bachelor degree's: Originally certified photocopies of your degree (e.g. diploma and diploma supplement). The correspondence of the photocopy to the original must be officially certified.
  • Originals (stamped and signed) or originally certified photocopies of all official proofs of your achievements (transcripts) with grades/scores
  • Grading system of the degree issuing university, if the grading system is different from ours. Our scale goes from 1 to 6, with 6 being excellent and grades below 4 being unsatisfactory.
  • Brief description of the content/learning objectives of the different courses/lectures (annotated course catalog or module handbook)
  • Originally certified translations of the original documents (e.g. diploma, diploma supplement, bachelor's or master's degree, transcripts of diploma records), if these are not written in German, English, French or Italian. These translations have to be inseparably connected with the originally certified photocopies of the original documents.
  • GRE General Test score (only the results of the test part “Quantitative Reasoning” are relevant for admission)
  • Photocopy of your valid passport or identity card
  • Application fee: CHF 105
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