1. Bern University of Applied Sciences
  2. Bern Academy of the Arts
  3. Studies
  4. International students
See table of contents See table of contents

International students

Here you can find the most important information for international students at HKB.

Regular students

Please note: Students who would like to apply for an exchange semester at HKB can find information further down on this page under «Exchange students».

Before commencing your studies in Switzerland, some preparation is necessary. First of all, you need to take care of the Swiss entry formalities for students from abroad, especially from non-EU countries.

The links below provide detailed information on the following topics:

•     Entry/visa
•     Residence permit
•     Proof of financial support
•     Finances
•     Insurance coverage
•     Housing

The Leaflet for international students (version française, deutsche Version) summarises what you need to know about Swiss entry formalities.

If you have further questions, please contact Sarah Grossmann, Advisor for international students at HKB.

Contact

Exchange students

As a student at one of our partner universities, you can spend an exchange semester at HKB. As a HKB student you have the opportunity to complete part of your studies abroad or to do an internship in a foreign country.

Incoming students – exchange semester at HKB

Please obtain detailed information about the HKB degree programme you are interested in and contact the International Office at your home university at an early stage to plan an exchange semester. Discuss your study plans with the International Office and the head of the degree programme at your home university and record these plans in your Learning Agreement. This should guarantee that your academic achievements will be recognised by your home university after your studies abroad.

As soon as we have received your application, we will decide on your admission. You will then be informed about the decision and the next steps. As a rule, HKB makes admission decisions within two months. Commitments are only given for the coming semester. Please note that HKB always receives many more applications than there are available places, and therefore only a small number of applicants have the opportunity to complete a SEMP exchange semester at HKB. An application therefore does not automatically lead to an exchange study placement at HKB.

The Swiss European Mobility Programme (SEMP)

The Erasmus+ programme does not apply in the case of Switzerland. Instead, the Swiss-European Mobility Programme (SEMP) is available to Swiss universities. This allows students of European partner universities the possibility of studying at Bern University of the Arts for a period of 1 – 2 semesters. Exchange students are exempted from all course fees at HKB. The SEMP scholarship is paid per semester and amounts to 1900 CHF or 2200 CHF depending on the country of origin (see below). There are additional funds for people with special needs for the organisation of their SEMP exchange stay.

SEMP scholarships by country of origin:

  • DK, FI, IS, IE, LI, LU, NO, SE, UK = CHF 1900 / Semester
  • AT, BE, BG, CY, CZ, DE, EE, ES, FR, GR, HR, HU, IT, LT, LV, MK, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, RS, SI, SK, TR = CHF 2200 / Semester
     

Language requirements

Our undergraduate (Bachelor) courses are taught in German or French. We recommend a German or French level B2. Our graduate (Master) courses are taught in English or German (basic German knowledge favorable). 
Please find more information the language of instruction on the individual degree programme’s website under «Study language».

Nomination Spring Semester 2026

The nomination form for an exchange in the Spring Semester 2026 is now available online. Please nominate your students by 1 November 2025. Nominated students will receive a detailed email with instructions regarding the application process.

Application

Nominated students will receive a detailed email with application instructions. If you have not yet been nominated or have not received any instructions, please contact us: international@hkb.bfh.ch. The following documents must be prepared for the application:

  • Letter of motivation

  • Transcript of Records

  • Curriculum Vitae

  • Portfolio / audio recordings

  • Music applicants are kindly asked to include a Learning Agreement with their application, indicating (in the highlighted yellow section) the modules they wish to attend during their exchange at HKB (maximum 30 ECTS). For any questions, please contact the International Office.

Contact

Deadlines for an Exchange in the Autumn Semester

  • Nomination: April 1 (Music students: March 1)

  • Application: April 15 (Music students: March 15)

Deadlines for an Exchange in the Spring Semester

  • Nomination: November 1 

  • Application: November 15 

Please note that music students may only apply for the upcoming autumn semester. The spring semester is not open to music students.

General information

The International Office at your own university will help you to prepare for an exchange semester and to establish contact with HKB. Exchange students remain enrolled at their home university and pay tuition fees there. At the end of the exchange semester, the students receive confirmation of their academic achievements at HKB in the form of a Transcript of Records.

You will find all the information you need to prepare for your exchange semester at HKB (e.g. on Swiss entry requirements, insurance, accommodation and costs) under the following links:


ESN – for quickly making contacts

We recommend that you register with the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) before you leave for Switzerland. The ESN is a Europe-wide student organisation that helps exchange students integrate socially and personally. This includes welcome parties, events, excursions and personal support during your stay. Upon request, exchange students can also be picked up at the airport upon arrival. As a SEMP exchange student, you also have the option of being assigned a mentor (a student from Bern). The mentor will be available to you during your stay to answer your questions or help clear up any issues that might arise. ESN supports exchange students in all matters and can help make your arrival easier and your stay more pleasant and fun.

ESN Bern section

Requirements for portfolios + audio recordings

The portfolio of selected artistic and design work can be submitted in digital or analogue form. It should give an impression of your creative interests and be accompanied by a letter of motivation.

Working documentation of one or more projects, including both text and images. The portfolio can be submitted either digitally by email or by post.

The portfolio can be submitted in digital or analogue form. It must provide a detailed overview of your artistic work and document your development to date. We attach great importance to work that has been produced on your own initiative. The portfolio must include a text explaining your reasons and goals for studying at HKB and outlining your artistic interests.

The portfolio should contain approximately 15 pages of text providing a glimpse of your current literary work. It can be submitted in digital or analogue form.

It is not possible to apply for an exchange semester as part of the Bachelor Multimedia Production at the HKB. Students interested in doing an exchange semester should ask the University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons whether an application in Chur is possible.

Audio recordings can be submitted in the form of videos (YouTube, SoundCloud or Vimeo) or on CD.

Additional information/tips:
- Please submit an overview of your artistic activities.
- Your letter of motivation should state why you have chosen HKB and its courses.

Audio recordings of your own music, preferably in video form, can be submitted via links or as files.

A short video (approx. 5 min) of one or more projects can be submitted as a link/document by email or on CD by post.

The portfolio should contain a representative selection of your own musical-artistic works and information on your knowledge of music. It can be submitted either digitally by email or by post.

The portfolio should only be submitted after a telephone call or on-site interview.

Step 1
- Brief letter of motivation
- CV including previous training and education and artistic activities

Step 2
- Transcript of Records
- Telephone call or on-site interview

The portfolio should be written in German and can be submitted in digital or analogue form. It should include work from all areas of your academic and, if applicable, extracurricular activities. Since the bachelor programme focuses on a broad spectrum of applications and media, including a wide-ranging field of applications in your portfolio works to your advantage. It is also important to us that you present the entire process for some works, and not just the end product. We would like to see a clear declaration of the working conditions involved, such as a brief description of the project, its duration and its scope.

The portfolio should give an overview of your artistic and creative work and should clearly demonstrate your interest in art education. It can be submitted in digital or analogue form. The letter of motivation should state the reasons why you wish to do an exchange semester in the Art Education programme at HKB.

Working documentation of one or more projects, including both text and images. The portfolio can be submitted either digitally by email or by post.

The portfolio of your selected artistic works can be submitted in digital or analogue form. The letter of motivation should demonstrate your cross-disciplinary interests.

The portfolio can be submitted in digital or analogue form. It should contain the following elements:
- Results and documentation of selected projects from your bachelor thesis, commissioned projects (freelance or as an employee) and research projects
- Information on the development of your projects
- Comments on your projects.

Additional information/tips:
- Letter of motivation: Indicate which field of study you wish to pursue – Design Entrepreneurship or Design Research – and why you are interested in doing a master in Design at HKB (max. 500 words).
- Short description of the design project or design research project you wish to develop during your exchange (max. 500 words).

The portfolio should only be submitted after a telephone call or on-site interview.

Step 1
- Brief letter of motivation
- CV including previous training and education and artistic activities

Step 2
- Transcript of Records
- Documentation of previous work

Step 3
 - Telephone call or on-site interview

The portfolio can be submitted digitally by email or via internet platforms such as YouTube, SoundCloud, Vimeo or WeTransfer.
- For composers from all areas, the portfolio should include a representative selection of your own musical-artistic works.
- For performers, it should include audio recordings of works from the contemporary repertoire and videos (if available).

Audio recordings can be submitted in the form of videos (YouTube, SoundCloud or Vimeo) or on CD.

Additional information/tips:
- Please submit an overview of your artistic activities.
- Your letter of motivation should state why you have chosen HKB and its courses.

Audio recordings of your own music, preferably in video form, can be submitted via links or as files.

A short video (approx. 5 min) of one or more projects can be submitted as a link/document by email or on CD by post.

Audio recordings can be submitted in the form of videos (YouTube, SoundCloud or Vimeo) or on CD.

Additional information/tips:
- Please submit an overview of your artistic activities.
- Your letter of motivation should state why you have chosen HKB and its courses.

Audio recordings of your own music, preferably in video form, can be submitted via links or as files (with scores as PDF).

Audio recordings can be submitted in the form of videos (YouTube, SoundCloud or Vimeo) or on CD.

Additional information/tips:
- Please submit an overview of your artistic activities.
- Your letter of motivation should state why you have chosen HKB and its courses.

Please contact the International Office.