Healthcare Leadership

Ready for leadership and expert roles?

With a Master of Science in Healthcare Leadership, you can work in a leadership role in hospitals, in long-term care facilities and medical practices, for outpatient services, for insurance companies or for health authorities.

As a graduate, you may work, for example, in one of the following areas:

• Hospital ward management
• Managing a team of therapists
• Managing a medical practice
• Managing a care facility
• University and hospital research

A doctorate – your career in teaching, research and practice

The Master of Science in Healthcare Leadership opens the path to a doctorate. In our doctoral programme, you have the opportunity to deepen your scientific work, expand your knowledge in a field of your choice and conduct your first independent research project. A doctorate opens up further career options, especially in teaching and research at universities and in practice. BFH allows you to complete your doctorate in cooperation with another university in Switzerland or abroad.

Full-time or part-time

Studying full-time takes three semesters and takes up 80–100% of your time. Part-time work while studying full-time must take up no more than 20% of your time.

Studying part-time gives you more flexibility. You will study at 40–60% capacity for six semesters. You should have no difficulties combining your professional activities with part-time studies.

Need advice to help you plan the perfect study programme? We’re happy to help.

Whether full-time or part-time, our master’s programme consists of five module groups. We pay particular attention to the close relationship between theory and practice.

Academic prerequisites

You will be admitted directly to the degree programme if you hold one of the following bachelor’s degrees in the subject area of the programme (see list):

• A bachelor’s degree in a health or medical profession in accordance with the Federal Act on Health Professions (GesBG), the Federal Act on Medical Professions (MedBG) and the Federal Act on Psychology (PsyG) from a Swiss higher education institution, or an equivalent qualification from a foreign higher education institution.
• With a Bachelor’s degree in a programme from the ‘Health’ subject group of the Intercantonal Agreement on Universities of Applied Sciences, or an equivalent qualification from a foreign higher education institution.
• With a Bachelor’s degree from a Swiss higher education institution with sufficient relevance to the healthcare sector as set out in the overview list, or an equivalent qualification from a foreign higher education institution.

In the following cases, admission is subject to an aptitude assessment:

• If you hold a Swiss qualification under the previous legal framework in the subject area of the degree programme, provided you have obtained authorisation to use the university of applied sciences title.
• If you hold a Swiss qualification under the previous legal framework in the subject area of the degree programme, provided that you have not been granted authorisation to use the university of applied sciences title, but have completed additional further education at higher education level which demonstrates equivalence to the required Bachelor’s degree.
• With a higher vocational education qualification in the subject area of the degree programme, provided you can also demonstrate a higher education qualification in a different subject area, as well as further training at higher education level, which establishes the necessary equivalence to the required Bachelor’s degree.

We will inform you of the date for the aptitude assessment once we have reviewed your documents.

The programme management may make your admission to the programme subject to additional conditions. As a rule, this relates to performance in the areas of academic work or applied statistics.

You can acquire the required skills at the BFH through the following courses:

In consultation with the programme director, you can have specialist modules from other universities with similar content recognised for credit.

Professional prerequisites

For the Master of Science in Healthcare Leadership, applicants must be able to demonstrate two years of relevant professional experience.

Registration deadlines

Start of autumn term

→ Applications open from 1 October 2026
Start of term: Week 38 (orientation day in Week 37)
Application deadline: 30 April

You will receive the date for the aptitude assessment after we have reviewed your documents.

Brief explanation of the online application

You can only apply online.
Our Online Application Guide explains how it works, step by step.

Application documents

You will need to make PDF or JPG copies of the following documents:

Mandatory requirements:

• ID or passport
• Passport photo that meets international passport requirements

Other documents (certificates, etc.)

• Diplomas and leaving certificates (e.g. vocational baccalaureate/specialised baccalaureate with grades, baccalaureate, Abitur or equivalent)
• Swiss Federal VET diploma with grades
• Employer references and/or internship certificates
• Curriculum vitae
• Additional documents may be required, depending on educational background

Advice

Still have questions about the programme and your career? The master’s degree programme administration team is there to help. For information about admission, the aptitude assessment or your application, please contact Admissions and the Student Administration team.

Bern – School of Health Professions

Our School of Health Professions is just a ten-minute walk or five-minute bus ride from Bern central station.

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The Learning Centre

The Learning Centre in the School of Health Professions provides a modern learning and teaching environment with digital teaching, communication skills training and a Skills Centre. Training in the Learning Centre is conducted using equipment and models in a realistic, simulated professional setting. 

More info on the Learning Centre