Program Overview
Graduate School for Health Sciences (GHS)
The Graduate School for Health Sciences (GHS) is a interdisciplinary graduate program that offers a PhD degree in Health Sciences. The program is jointly awarded by the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Human Sciences, and the Vetsuisse Faculty.
PhD Program
The PhD program in Health Sciences is designed to provide students with advanced training in research methods, scientific theory, and practical applications in the field of health sciences. The program is tailored to meet the needs of students from diverse academic backgrounds, including medicine, biology, psychology, and social sciences.
Requirements of the Doctoral Training
To be eligible for the PhD program, students must have a master's degree or equivalent in a relevant field. The program requires students to complete a series of coursework, including research methods, statistics, and scientific theory. Students must also complete a research project under the supervision of a faculty member.
Supervision
Students in the PhD program are supervised by a thesis advisor and a co-thesis advisor (if applicable). The thesis advisor is responsible for guiding the student's research project, while the co-thesis advisor provides additional support and expertise.
Progress Report
Students are required to submit a progress report to the GHS Office at the end of each year. The progress report must include a detailed description of the student's research project, including any challenges or obstacles encountered.
PhD Degree
The PhD degree is awarded after the student has completed all coursework, passed the thesis defense, and submitted the final version of the thesis. The thesis must be written in English and must meet the requirements of the GHS.
Awarded Title
The PhD degree is jointly awarded by the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Human Sciences, and the Vetsuisse Faculty. The awarded title is "Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences."
Regulations
The GHS has a set of regulations that govern the PhD program. These regulations include requirements for coursework, research, and thesis defense.
Why Join the GHS?
The GHS offers a unique opportunity for students to pursue a PhD in Health Sciences. The program provides advanced training in research methods, scientific theory, and practical applications in the field of health sciences. The GHS also offers a supportive and interdisciplinary environment, with faculty members from diverse academic backgrounds.
Application and Admission
To apply to the PhD program, students must submit an application package to the GHS Office. The application package must include a CV, a personal statement, and transcripts from previous academic institutions.
Requirements for PhD Degree Application
To be eligible for the PhD degree, students must meet the following requirements:
- All required ECTS for the curriculum must have been collected
- Successful 1st and 2nd year examinations
- At least three scientific papers submitted to peer-reviewed journals: One paper for which the candidate is the first author must be accepted for publication, and another two (first author or co-author) must have reached the peer-review stage before the defense documents submission deadline
- Sufficient assessment by the thesis advisor, (co-thesis advisor, if any), and co-referee (graded 4 or above)
- Sufficient assessment by the independent expert (graded 4 or above)
Training
The PhD program in Health Sciences provides advanced training in research methods, scientific theory, and practical applications in the field of health sciences. The program includes a series of coursework, including research methods, statistics, and scientific theory.
Research
The GHS offers a range of research areas, including health sciences, medicine, biology, psychology, and social sciences. Students in the PhD program are expected to conduct original research under the supervision of a faculty member.
About Us
The GHS is a interdisciplinary graduate program that offers a PhD degree in Health Sciences. The program is jointly awarded by the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Human Sciences, and the Vetsuisse Faculty. The GHS is committed to providing advanced training in research methods, scientific theory, and practical applications in the field of health sciences.
Step-by-Step to the PhD Degree
The following steps outline the process for obtaining a PhD degree in Health Sciences:
- Submission Details: The doctoral candidate must submit the following documents to the GHS Office:
- One electronic, dated and signed PDF copy of the thesis
- Completed and signed PhD Degree Form
- An updated Doctoral Agreement
- Written information on date, time, and venue of the thesis defense
- Current official registration confirmation from the Admissions Office of the University of Bern
- Proof of payment of examination fee
- Requirements for PhD Degree Application: The doctoral candidate must meet the requirements outlined above.
- PhD Thesis: The PhD thesis must be written in English and must meet the requirements of the GHS. The thesis must include the following sections:
- Front page
- Abstract
- Detailed introduction into the field
- Hypothesis and aim of the thesis
- Results section
- Comprehensive discussion and outlook/perspectives
- Curriculum vitae and list of publications
- Declaration of Originality
- Assessments by Thesis Advisor, (Co-Thesis Advisor, if any) and Co-Referee & Independent Expert: The thesis is evaluated within six weeks after submission with two expert assessments.
- Application for the PhD Degree: The doctoral candidate must submit the application for the PhD degree to the GHS Office.
- Processing of the PhD Documents by the GHS: The GHS Office checks the defense documents and makes the plagiarism check of the thesis.
- Thesis Defense and Final Assessment: The thesis defense must be conducted in English and consists of a public lecture and a discussion.
- Submission of Deposit Copies of the PhD Thesis: The doctoral candidate must submit three paper-bound deposit copies of the final version of the thesis to the GHS office.
- Conferment of the PhD Degree: The PhD Degree is jointly awarded by the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Human Sciences, and the Vetsuisse Faculty, upon proposal of the Steering Board of the GHS.