The Institute for Political Science at the University of Bern is one of the leading political sciences departments in Switzerland and also ranks among the top European institutes due to its excellence in research and teaching. Five professors – three full and two assistant professors – offer a wide range of research topics, scientific methods, and analytical perspectives. The teaching and research focus on the topics of Swiss politics, comparative politics, European and environmental policy as well as political sociology. In addition to numerous national grants and other externally funded research projects, the Institute also provides a number of important services to the public and for scientific research, such as the Annual Yearbook of Swiss Politics and the Comparative Political Data Set. It is also a member of the Vox- and Selects Research Group and houses the research group “Voluntary Engagement and Social Capital,” established to observe and study voluntary activity in Switzerland. The Institute has around 50 faculty members.

At the undergraduate level, the Institute comprises a central component of the new bachelor program in the social sciences at the University of Bern. We offer a more general master’s degree in Political Science as well as a more specialized program in Swiss and Comparative Politics. Not only do students profit from the main research areas at the Institute, but also from the high quality teaching, the university’s central location, and the international networking opportunities provided by the faculty. The vast offerings at the Institute of Political Science are complemented by close cooperation with professors from other departments at the University of Bern.