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Midwifery

With the Master of Science in Midwifery, you will take the next step in your career and develop both professionally and personally.

As a midwife MSc, you will take on more responsibility in practice and play an active role in shaping obstetrics. You will also be able to train the next generation of professionals and conduct research into obstetric topics. You study according to your needs: Full-time or part-time.

«My master's degree gives me a very special perspective on my daily work.» Portrait of Dörthe Heine, Master of Science in Midwifery (in German).

Begin your studies in autumn 2025.

Factsheet

  • Title/Degree Master of Science (MSc) Midwifery
  • Specialisations –
  • Mode of study Full-time (3 semesters)
    Part-time (6 semesters)
  • Start date Academic year 2025 | 15 September 2025
  • Application deadline Academic year 2025 | 30 April 2025
  • ECTS credits 90 ECTS-Credits
  • Teaching language German, partly English
  • Location Bern
  • School School of Health Professions
  • Next info event 10 April 2025

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Focus areas

The Master's degree programme in Midwifery focuses on five module groups: Midwifery, Research, Interprofessional Healthcare, Practice Transfer and your Master's thesis. Special attention is paid to the close connection between science and practice. Thanks to the interprofessional modules of the related Master's programmes, you will benefit from exchanges with other professions.

What you will gain from your degree

With the consecutive Master of Science in Midwifery programme, you will develop an in-depth understanding of the complex structures and challenges of the healthcare system in modules such as ethics, health economics and advanced practice.

After completing your Master's degree, you will be able to successfully manage complex care situations as well as teach or conduct research.

Programme overview

Combining theory and practice in research projects

Teaching, practice and research are closely interlinked at our university. The transfer internships offer you excellent opportunities to gain experience in university teaching or research. Alternatively, you have the opportunity to work as an intern in Switzerland or abroad with midwives who are working in an extended practical role.

View research in obstetrics

Career prospects

As a Master of Science midwife, you will actively shape obstetrics. You develop innovative care models for women and all people giving birth and those receiving obstetric care. You will be able to successfully introduce and evaluate these models. With your specialist knowledge, you will be able to train and educate midwives or gain new insights through your research that will advance the profession.

Ready for leadership and expert roles?

As a Master of Science in Midwifery, you will work as a specialist or manager in hospitals, birthing centres or at universities as a lecturer in teaching or in research and development.

Our graduates work in the following roles:

  • Research assistant in the training of midwives or in research projects at a university
  • Midwifery expert in an obstetric institution
  • Advanced practice midwife in a specialised field
  • Head of a birth centre

A doctorate – your career in teaching and research

With the Master of Science in Midwifery degree, the path to a doctorate is open to you. As part of a doctorate, you will deepen your skills in scientific work, expand your knowledge in a specialism of your choice and carry out independent research projects. The doctorate opens up further career options for you, particularly in teaching and research at universities. The Bern University of Applied Sciences offers you the opportunity to do a doctorate in cooperation with a university in Switzerland or abroad.

Duration + content

We offer flexible study plans that can be optimally combined with your professional and private life. You can complete the Master of Science in Midwifery programme part-time or full-time.

Full-time or part-time

The full-time programme takes 3 semesters. Part-time employment of a maximum of 20% is possible.

The part-time programme gives you more flexibility. You study for 6 semesters, which makes it easier for you to pursue a part-time job of around 50%.

Do you need help planning your studies? We will be happy to help you.

Programme schedule

Regardless of whether you decide to study part-time or full-time: Our study programme leads you to a Master's degree with five module groups. A special focus is placed on the close connection between science and practice.

Programme modules

The programme is divided into five module groups.

In this module group, you will deepen your knowledge on the following topics:

  • Salutogenesis in complex obstetric situations
  • Diversity-sensitive midwifery work
  • Perinatal mental health

In this module group, you will deepen your knowledge on the following topics:

  • Philosophy of science for health professions
  • Research methods I and II
  • Applied statistics
  • Research planning

You will complete the modules together with other master’s students in the Health Professions Department and expand your knowledge on the following topics

  • Applied ethics
  • Leadership and organisational development
  • Advanced Practice
  • Basics of health economics

In the Transfer module group, you will gain practical experience in university teaching or in the extended practice of an Advanced Practice Midwife and also acquire initial research experience. You have the opportunity to participate in the research team of the Bern University of Applied Sciences Department of Midwifery. The Transfer module group consists of two modules lasting a total of 15 days. You can choose the days within the given semester flexibly.

In the Master's thesis module, you will deal with a question within an obstetrics research project or a topic of your own choice. You will write a research paper at a scientific level: you will apply qualitative or quantitative research methods, interpret results and reflect on correlations. You will derive well-founded recommendations for practice and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in midwifery science.

Discover the variety of topics explored in our master’s theses

Admission requirements

Do you hold a degree in midwifery from the former diploma-based system? To be considered for our programme, you must first apply for the required title (Swiss NTE procedure) from your former university.

Academic requirements

You will be admitted directly to the programme:

  • With a Bachelor of Science in Midwifery from a Swiss university with a minimum grade point average of 5.0

  • With an equivalent degree from a university abroad

You will be admitted to the programme pending an aptitude assessment:

  • With a Bachelor of Science in Midwifery from a Swiss university with a minimum grade point average of less than 5.0

  • With an equivalent degree from a university abroad

  • With a degree in midwifery from the former diploma-based system along with subsequently acquired title (i.e. Swiss NTE procedure)

List of continuing education programmes of the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation  

You will receive the date for the aptitude test after we have checked your documents.

The Head of Degree Programme may impose conditions on your admission. These conditions are typically related to such matters as scientific work, applied statistics and clinical assessment.

You would acquire the required competencies at BFH in the following courses: 

Pending approval by the Head of Degree Programme, you may receive credit for specialist courses from other universities with similar content.

Supplementary information on admission

The languages of instruction are German and English. You must demonstrate very good oral and written skills in both languages (German level C1 and English level B).

We check the qualifications of foreign applicants individually.

International diplomas must be recognised by the Swiss Red Cross before you can work in a regulated healthcare profession in Switzerland.

The requirement for recognition by the Swiss Red Cross may be waived.

Information for international students

The Swiss education system is designed to be open and facilitate all students’ learning. Depending on your educational background, you may also be admitted to the programme with a comparable bachelor’s degree. Please make an appointment for a consultation with the Head of Degree Programme.

The ‘Reasonable accommodations’ form allows applicants with a mental or physical illness or disability to apply for reasonable accommodations to be made with regard to the aptitude assessment.

Application form for reasonable accommodations (PDF, 196 KB)

Transfer + re-entry

Are you interested in transferring or re-entering Bern University of Applied Sciences?

Information sheet on transferring to a Bachelor/Master degree programme (PDF, 77 KB)
Information sheet on re-entry into a Bachelor/Master degree programme (PDF, 105 KB)

Application

Submit your application early. Not sure you meet all the requirements? We’re happy to help.

Application deadlines

Application deadline: 30 April 2025
Start date: 15 September 2025

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

Start your studies in autumn 2025

Register by 30 April 2025.

Brief explanation of online application

Online applications only.
Our Online Application Guide explains how it works, step by step.

Online Application Guide (PDF, 71 KB)

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, university entrance qualification, Abitur or upper secondary level qualification)
  • Swiss Federal VET diploma with grades
  • Employer references and/or internship certificates
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Additional documents may be required, depending on educational background
Application document checklist (PDF, 83 KB)

The costs for the programme comprise application, tuition and examination fees plus the cost of course materials and excursions.

Costs

At BFH, different fees apply for programmes and examinations.

Application (per application)*

CHF 100

Matriculation**

CHF 100

Tuition fees (per semester)

CHF 750

Tuition fees for international students*** (per semester)

CHF 950

Examination fee (per semester)

CHF 80

Fee for social, cultural and sport offerings (per semester)

CHF 24

Membership fee for the Bern University of Applied Sciences Student Association (VSBFH) (per semester)

CHF 15

* plus CHF 10 processing fee if paying by paying-in slip/paper invoice.
** If the application leads to matriculation, the matriculation fee is covered by the application fee.
*** International students are defined as persons of foreign citizenship who at the time of obtaining their university entrance qualification were domiciled under civil law neither in Switzerland nor the Principality of Liechtenstein. This rule applies as of the 2018/19 autumn semester.

Aptitude assessment fee

The aptitude assessment costs CHF 200.

Grants, loans and other funding options

Financial aid is available through grants and loans. Grants are one-off or ongoing payments that don’t usually have to be paid back provided you complete your course. Loans are one-off or ongoing payments that must be paid back after you finish your course.

Cantonal grants

Grants and loans for Swiss students and overseas students are generally paid out by the canton where the students’ parents are tax residents.

Students who have been tax residents in the Canton of Bern for at least two years are able to apply for cantonal grants and loans. Applications should be submitted to the Financial Aid Office at the Department of Education.

Further information (incl. financial aid calculator):

The websites educaswiss.ch, stipendium.ch and European Funding Guide cover all the key information about grants in Switzerland and overseas.

Foundations and funds

There are also numerous private foundations and funds that offer financial support to students. The electronic foundation directory administered by the Federal Department of Home Affairs offers a comprehensive summary of these organisations and can be searched by keywords (e.g. student, research, financial aid, etc.). Other sources of funding include the foundation directories for individual cantons and private foundations.

The following foundations offer funding specifically to BFH students and students from other universities:

Further information

Advice + information

Still have questions about the programme? We are happy to answer all of your questions about our programme: admissions, organisation, administration, structure and support.

Advice

Still have questions about the programme and your career? The Administrative Office of the master’s degree programmes is here to help. For information about admissions, the aptitude assessment or your application, please contact the Admissions Office and Student Administration.

Administration Master's degree programs

  • +41 31 848 35 68
  • Show e-mail

Studierendenadministration Departement Gesundheit

  • +41 31 848 35 35
  • Show e-mail

Prof. Dr. Susanne Grylka

  • Leiterin Fachbereich & MSc Hebamme
  • +41 31 848 32 10
  • Show e-mail

Video presentation of the programme Master of Science in Midwifery (in German)

Get an in-depth insight into the programme with the video presentation of our info event. We will send you the link and further information by e-mail.

Location + facilities

The degree programme Master of Science in Midwifery is based in Bern, a remarkable educational hub. Our faculty provide you with a range of perspectives on learning and research.

Bern – Health Professions Department

Our Health Professions Department is located within a 10-minute walk or 5-minute bus ride from Bern central station.

Show location

The Learning Centre

The Learning Centre in the Health Professions Department 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