OpenFieldSwiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) Doctoral Fellowship at PHBern
Prestigious Swiss National Science Foundation funded 4-year doctoral contract conducting cutting-edge empirical research into educational technologies and cognitive development.
PHBern: Educational Sciences, Learning Technologies & Swiss Doctorates
The University of Teacher Education Bern (PHBern - Pädagogische Hochschule Bern) is one of Switzerland's premier public pedagogical and educational research universities. In close collaboration with the University of Bern, PHBern operates world-class research institutes in educational neuroscience, instructional design, multilingual education, and digital learning technologies.
Verified degree programs and opportunities
Review checked academic pathways and funding options below:
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Educational Sciences (Joint with University of Bern)
Four-year joint doctoral program between PHBern and the University of Bern, investigating school system governance, pedagogical intervention design, and inclusive classrooms.
Master of Science in Educational Technology & Digital Instructional Media
Specialized master's degree exploring AI in education, gamified pedagogical platforms, learner analytics, and adaptive cognitive assessment tools.
Institute for Research, Development and Evaluation Assistantship
Applied educational research assistantship evaluating national classroom intervention trials, standard testing psychometrics, and teacher retention patterns across Switzerland.
Canton of Bern Bilingual School Pedagogy Practicum
Twelve-week clinical teaching practicum in bilingual schools across the Canton of Bern, evaluating immersive language acquisition and dual-language instructional tools.
Postdoctoral Fellowship in Educational Neuroscience & Cognitive Development
Two-year postdoctoral appointment analyzing neural correlates of executive function, working memory load, and mathematics acquisition in developmental cohorts.
Master of Arts in Special Needs Education & Inclusive School Systems
Comprehensive master's degree training pedagogical specialists in differentiated diagnostic assessment, autism spectrum accommodations, and multi-tiered support systems.
Admissions, language requirements & application process
- Master's admission eligibility
- Recognized Bachelor's degree from a Swiss or accredited international higher-education institution with minimum 180 ECTS credits in education, psychology, or related field.
- Doctoral admission eligibility
- Master's degree (Master of Arts or Master of Science) with above-average grades; doctoral degrees awarded in joint doctoral graduate schools with the University of Bern.
- Language proficiency
- German C1 required for standard teacher education; English C1 (IELTS 7.0+ or TOEFL 100+) required for international educational science research degrees.
- Research statement / Proposal
- Required for doctoral researchers: 3,000-word doctoral research plan aligned with an accredited PHBern/UniBe doctoral supervisor.
- Application fee
- CHF 100 Swiss Francs non-refundable application evaluation fee.
- Required documentation
- Bachelor's and Master's diplomas, transcript of records, motivation letter, CV, and two letters of academic recommendation.
Tuition fees and verified scholarship systems
Tuition is CHF 750 per semester for Swiss and international students, plus administrative semester dues of CHF 65. Doctoral candidates hold salaried Swiss academic contracts (ranging from CHF 47,000 to CHF 55,000 per year gross with full pension and insurance; zero tuition fees).
Verified faculty profiles and research leaders
Distinguished researchers and laboratory heads at University of Teacher Education Bern:
Dr. Caroline Villiger
Professor of Language Education & Early Literacy Development · Reading Intervention, Multilingual Language Acquisition, Family Literacy, Classroom Interaction
Dr. Marco Galle
Professor of School Development & Educational Governance · School Leadership, Teacher Professional Development, Educational Policy, Organizational Change
Dr. Thomas Dürst
Professor of Science Education & STEM Instructional Design · Physics Education, Conceptual Change in Science, Inquiry-Based Learning, Lab Experimentation
Important verification note
Facts reflect official University of Teacher Education Bern documentation reviewed 2026-10-15. Degree admissions, scholarship awards, and employment positions are subject to formal university review. OpenField does not charge students application fees.
Reviewed 2026-10-15 · Editorial standards · Report an issue