Gender data at the University is recorded in binary form — meaning it distinguishes only between men and women (and therefore does not reflect the lived realities of non-binary and other queer individuals).

The following graphics show how evenly or unevenly women and men are represented across the University’s eight faculties at different academic levels, from the student body all the way up to professorships. (Note: Titular, honorary and affiliated professorships are not included here, due to their special status.)

The data presented reflects the situation in 2023.

Across the University as a whole, women hold about 22% of full professorships — meaning nearly four out of five full professors are men. Women account for 35% of associate (in German: «ausserordentliche») professorships and 60% of assistant professorships. Taken together, this means that almost one in three of these professors is a woman.

Among the students, on the other hand, 59% are women and 41% are men (including doctoral students and those enrolled in continuing education programs).

You’ll find further context for these numbers in an interview with Claudia Willen, Head of the Office for Equal Opportunities. An essay by historians Julia Richers and Carmen Scheide also traces the history of women at the University of Bern.

The statistical data were provided by the Data Analysis Team in the Executive Office of the University of Bern and originate from the ULS Data Warehouse. Contact: datenanalyse.uls@unibe.ch.

Faculty of Science

Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences

Faculty of ​Law

Faculty of Medicine

Faculty of ​Theology

Faculty of ​Human Sciences

Faculty of ​Humanities

Vetsuisse Faculty

And what about university leadership?

The University Executive Board, made up of six members, currently includes two women and four men.

Since 2024, Virginia Richter has been leading the University of Bern — the first woman to do so in its nearly 200-year history.