1. Bern University of Applied Sciences
  2. Bern Academy of the Arts
  3. Studies
  4. Master's degree programmes
  5. Contemporary Arts Practice
See table of contents See table of contents

Contemporary Arts Practice

This Master is an interdisciplinary programme for artists and writers working in the fields of Fine Arts, Sound Arts, Literary Writing /Translation and Performance Art.

This degree programme:

  • allows you to choose among the four specialisations of Fine Arts, Sound Arts, Literary Writing and Literary Translation and Performance Art or take a multidisciplinary approach;
  • provides you with a generous mentoring system. You develop your work in regular exchange with professionals,
  • allows you to design your own study profile including a diverse range of seminars, colloquia, theory inputs, work discussions and excursions,
  • offers access to generous studio spaces (open 24/7) and fully equipped workshops.
  • integrates you into an international network of lecturers and students active in a range of content areas and media;
  • prepares you for engaging and acting at the intersection of various artistic fields and disciplines;
  • provides you with the opportunity to work individually or collaboratively to develop your own artistic approach and identity;

Factsheet

  • Title/Degree Master of Arts (MA)
  • Specialisations Fine Arts
    Sound Arts
    Literary Writing/Translation
    Performance Art
  • Mode of study Full-time (4 semesters)
  • Start date Mon, 15.9.2025
  • Application deadline 17. March 2025
    Aptitude tests: Thu, 10.–Fri, 25.4.2025
  • ECTS credits 120 ECTS credits
  • Teaching language German, French, English
  • Location Bern
  • School Bern Academy of the Arts

Contact

Structure + Content

Portrait

Artists of all stripes join together in CAP, where they share a focus on the question of artistic identity. Ours is the only programme in Switzerland to divide studies into the areas of Fine Arts, Sound Arts, Literary Writing and Literary Translation and Performance Art. We draw from both national and international networks. The degree programme is unique to Bern University of the Arts (HKB) and has produced countless graduates who have established themselves on the art market.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the programme, you will:

  • be equipped to define your own artistic position;
  • be familiar with the current art discourses and will be able to situate your work within;
  • have skills that are indispensable in today's art and culture sector with its fluid professional profiles, such as thinking and acting at the interfaces of artistic fields and disciplines, personal responsibility in project work, collaboration and reflection skills;
  • acquire collaborative approaches and transdisciplinary communication skills;
  • understand the social and political relevance of artistic work;
  • be experienced in presenting your artistic practice to the public and professional audiences alike;
  • enjoy a professional network of artists, organisers and facilitators;
  • be acquainted with the many forms of artistic research.

Specialisations + Areas of focus

The four specialisations of Fine Arts, Sound Arts, Literary Writing/Translation and Performance Art allow you a wide range of options for study. You decide on the composition of the modules from the different areas.

In the Fine Arts specialisation,

  • students work across a broad spectrum of art practices that include moving and still images, sculpture, installation, conceptual and performative approaches, participatory practices or documentary strategies;
  • you engage with current art discourses;
  • you have access to HKB workshops and may enrol in introductory workshop courses;
  • your studies are shaped by ongoing exchange with other CAP specialisations.

In the Sound Arts specialisation, you will

  • focus on sound arts, experimental and electronic music;
  • develop your own compositions, sound installations or other sound-oriented artworks;
  • learn compositional strategies and gain comprehensive knowledge of composition and artistic work today, as it applies to your own creative process;
  • discuss and analyse seminal works in sound arts, both past and present;
  • have the opportunity to take courses in programming, hardware hacking, audio technology and interfaces;
  • engage with students in other CAP specialisations to explore the interplay between visual, performative, literary and audio elements.

In the Literary Writing and Literary Translation specialisation, you will

  • work on your own texts in all genres;
  • examine the interactions between literature and other arts;
  • enjoy a wide range of lecturers and students from diverse backgrounds;
  • explore the tension between contemporary art production and its reflection;
  • view literary translation as an art form in its own right (with source language choices of German, French, Spanish, Italian, English and Russian and target language choices of German, French or English).

In the Performance Art specialisation, you will

  • examine specific questions around situating the body in space and time;
  • develop your own forms and skills in performing, viewing and listening, in both your practical work and theoretical reflection;
  • come to see performance as physical presence and real or conceptual action in various artistic areas;
  • benefit from a diverse and open understanding of performativity;
  • experience performance in close connection to music, the fine arts and literary writing.

Mode of study + Duration

Our master's degree programme is offered on a full-time basis and comprises 120 ECTS credits. It is typically completed in four semesters. In exceptional cases only, it can be extended up to 6 semesters.

Curriculum + Modules

Your artistic practice, including your master’s project, forms the core of your studies. We create a balance between teaching and self-study, providing a disciplinary foundation and encouraging transdisciplinary growth. You are free to customise your studies, with options ranging from a focus on a single area to cooperative, multidisciplinary approaches. Your creative process is supported by the combination of individual instruction and targeted specialisation in technical and theoretical fields as well as exchange with peers and experts in various networks and forums.

Your individualised profile determines the modules you will take and which members of the teaching staff will mentor your creative practice. Your educational background, master’s project, professional aspirations and personal interests provide the foundation for designing your studies. Our leadership team works with you to determine your individual profile. We review your progress together and make adjustments as needed at the end of every semester.

Student mobility

Are you a Swiss student interested in living, working or studying in another country? Or do you want to spend a semester at another Swiss university? Or maybe you’re an overseas student who’d like to spend a semester at Bern University of Applied Sciences? Mobility opportunities offer unique and valuable experience. During your studies, you will have the opportunity to spend exchange semesters and experience work placements elsewhere in Switzerland or abroad.

More information

Collaborations + Partners

HKB maintains close ties to a number of partner universities, both in Switzerland and abroad, and collaborates with international partners on numerous projects. HKB is also a member of several international networks.

MA CAP’s partners:

Qualification + Career prospects

Following graduation, you will be ready to work as a professional artist or in art-related fields, particularly where there is demand for collaboration and dialogue between artistic scenes.

Title + Degree

Master of Arts (MA) in «Contemporary Arts Practice»

Career prospects

General:
 

  • If you specialise in research during your studies, you may continue this work within the framework of a PhD programme, for instance at the Graduate School of the Arts Bern.
  • The professional training, research experience and associated pedagogical qualifications you gain with your master’s degree position you to take up a teaching position at a college or comparable institution.
  • You may even a enter an entirely new professional field that you have not yet considered.

Specialisations:
 

  • Fine Arts: Prepares you to further your own work as a professional artist or in art-related fields.
  • Sound Arts: Enables you to design creative musical media projects and compositions and realise interactive pieces for concerts and performances, soundscapes, sound installations and film scoring.
  • Literary Writing and Literary Translation: Equips you to work in various fields involving experimental writing (such as performance) or literary translation.
  • Performance Art: Following graduation, you will work as a professional performance artist.

Team

Head of Studies

Andrea Gohl

  • Studiengangsleiterin MA CAP
  • +41 31 848 38 29
  • Show e-mail

Lejla Bajrami

  • Junior-Assistentin
  • +41 31 848 68 16
  • Show e-mail

Secretariat

Wanda Lehmann

  • SB Controlling & Betriebsassist. MA CAP
  • +41 31 848 42 02
  • Show e-mail

Sandra Lemp

  • Sachbearbeiterin
  • +41 31 848 49 07
  • Show e-mail

Secretariat MA Contemporary Arts Practice

  • +41 31 848 49 07
  • Show e-mail

MA CAP’s Management Team

Andrea Gohl, Head of Studies MA CAP, lecturer
Andi Schoon, Head Y Institute, lecturer
Thomas Strässle, Head Y Institute, lecturer
Madeleine Amsler, Head of the Fine Arts specialisation, lecturer
Marianne Flotron, Head of the Fine Arts specialisation, lecturer
Teresa Carrasco, Head of the Sound Arts specialisation, lecturer
Stefan Humbel, Head of the Literary Writing/Translation specialisation, lecturer
Arno Renken, Head of the Literary Writing/Translation specialisation, lecturer
Steven Schoch, Head of the Performance Art specialisation, lecturer

Lecturers

Lukas Bärfuss, lecturer Y Institute / MA CAP, Literature
Lilian Beidler, lecturer Sound Arts
Renate Buser, lecturer Fine Arts
Raphaël Cuomo, lecturer Fine Arts
Cathy van Eck, lecturer Sound Arts
Ellen Fellmann, lecturer Sound Arts
Maria Iorio, lecturer Fine Arts
Tine Melzer, lecturer Fine Arts
Markus Müller, lecturer Fine Arts
Benoît Piccand, lecturer Sound Arts
Annaïk Lou Pitteloud, lecturer Fine Arts
Sadie Plant, lecturer Theory / Fine Arts
Robin Meier, lecturer Sound Arts
Valerian Maly, lecturer Performance Art
Lara Stanic, lecturer Performance Art
Mélanie Gobet, lecturer Performance Art

Some of our mentors and guests in the field Literary Writing are:

Hartmut Abendschein, Nurith Aviv, Jean-Christophe Bailly, Vincent Barras, Alain Berset, Stephane Blok, Camille Bloomfield, Ulrich Blumenbach, Sam Bourcier, Kate Briggs, Vincent Broqua, Barbara Cassin, Eric Chauvier, Mona Chollet, Cléa Chopard, Claro, Odile Cornuz, Yla von Dach, Jacques Demierre, Patrick Deville, Franz Dodel, Martin Doll, Regina Dürig, Urs Engeler, Pierre Fankhauser, Heike Fiedler, Roland Fischer, Eleonore Frey, Zsuzsanna Gahse, Baptiste Gaillard, Nathalie Garbely, Ariane von Graffenried, Claudia Hamm, Célia Houdart, Annette Hug, Rohit Jain, Kim de l'Horizon, Birgit Kempker, Friederike Kretzen, Jean-René Lassalle, Michel Layaz, Lou Lepori, Camille Luscher, Marielle Macé, Serge Margel, André Markowicz, Jean-Michel Maulpoix, Beat Mazenauer, Jérôme Meizoz, Francesco Micieli, Claude Mouchard, Magali Nachtergael, Balts Nill, Wilfried N'Sondé, Marianne Oertel, Pamela Ohene-Nyako, André Ourednik, Daniele Pantano, Annette Pehnt, Emmanuelle Pireyre, Nathalie Quintane, Roland Reichen, Noëlle Revaz, Claire de Ribaupierre, Lily Robert-Foley, Stéphanie Rosianu, Thomas Sandoz, Isabelle Sbrissa, Tobias Scheffel, Thomas Schestag, Ruth Schweikert, Monique Schwitter, Ryōko Sekiguchi, Fritz Senn, Michael Stauffer, Tabea Steiner, Ulf Stolterfoht, Anne-Sophie Subilia, Myriam Suchet, Peter Szendy, José-Flore Tappy, Camille de Toledo, Marie-Jeanne Urech, Peter Utz, Benoît Virot, Mathilde Vischer, Martin Zingg, Patricia Zurcher

Eligibility + Entry

You must apply with an ambitious artistic project to develop and implement over the course of two years. You will shape this project based on constructive criticism from your mentors, instructors and fellow students.

Entry requirements

The number of places available on our programme is limited (‘numerus clausus’). We administer an entrance examination to review your aptitude for our programme. We look for motivation, stamina, resilience and independence in our students as well as a readiness to participate actively in university-level projects.

Academic requirements

BA (or equivalent) in Fine Arts, Sound Arts, Literary Writing and Literary Translation, Performance Art or a related field.

Knowledge + Abilities
 

  • You have conceptualised an ambitious artistic project that you wish to execute within the context of a master’s degree programme. You view this project as part of your artistic development.
  • You are interested in artistic discourse in a multidisciplinary context.
  • You possess the theoretical and practical knowledge needed for active participation in the programme.
  • You have experience in developing, networking and presenting your creative works independently.
  • You wish to examine topics and methods in artistic research.

Language skills

Lectures are held in English, German and French. All courses in Literary Writing and Literary Translation are conducted in German and French. Individual mentoring is available in German, French and English.

Applying from abroad

Foreign nationals require valid travel documents recognised by the Swiss government. A visa is often required. Exchange students must also apply for a residency permit and purchase health insurance before their studies begin. Please research your specific entry requirements carefully. Further information can be found here.

After reviewing application materials, we will invite selected candidates for an interview, in which we will focus on your motivations and goals for the master’s degree programme. The presentation of a selected work from the portfolio, literary texts, musical works, live performances, etc. can be part of this discussion.

Practicalities + Application

Please note the deadlines and application requirements specific to each area of study.

Application (per application) and aptitude assessment*  

CHF 250

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

Leave of absence fee (per semester) 

CHF 100

* The application fee can be paid by credit card or by deposit slip / paper invoice (+ CHF 10.– processing fee). There are no waivers or refunds for withdrawn or abandoned applications. The application is processed after payment has been received.
** 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.

There is also a fixed fee for materials whose amount depends on the degree programme as well as additional costs for teaching materials, specialist literature, supplies, etc.

Fees information sheet (PDF, 63 KB)

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. 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.).

HKB scholarship fund

Many HKB students live in precarious financial circumstances. The opportunities to earn money while undertaking demanding and time-consuming studies are limited. And the cost of living in Switzerland is one of the highest in all of Europe. A doctor’s bill, a healthy diet, and paying the rent or semester and examination fees can become pressing problems. To help in such cases, the HKB scholarship fund provides targeted support by covering the tuition fees from CHF 750 up to CHF 950. To apply for support, you need to take the following steps:

  1. Fill out the online application form in full and print it out
  2. Send the application online
  3. Submit the printed form to the secretariat for your degree programme

The deadline for applications for a semester fee waiver is 15 May to 15 June (for the following autumn semester), or 15 November to 15 December (for the following spring semester).

Applications for a waiver of the semester fees will only be considered and included in the selection process once the course offer has been.

Application form (link valid as of November 15 2024)

Living expenses for foreign students at HKB (PDF, 61 KB)

Other grants

State grants

The Excellence Scholarships by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS) are intended for foreign artists who have completed their Bachelor’s degree. ATTENTION: Applications must be submitted one year before the start of the studies. The scholarship program is released in August. Applicants who have been living in Switzerland for more than one year at the beginning of the scholarship in September are not eligible.

In addition, the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) promotes young scientists and basic research in all scientific disciplines on behalf of the Swiss Confederation.

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.

Other grants

Further information

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

Support through cultural promotion

Your contact persons for questions about scholarships and loans

Contact

If you have any questions regarding scholarships and loans please contact Wanda Lehmann.

At Bern University of Applied Sciences BFH, we promote balance between study, work and family.

A limited number of nursery places are available to BFH staff and students. If you’d like to take advantage of this offer, the relevant documents can be found on the BFH Intranet. The fees are income-based and in line with the cantonal rates described in the Verordnung über die Angebote der sozialen Integration (Decree on Social Integration Offer ASIV) issued by the Canton of Bern. You can apply for a nursery place using the online form on the BFH Intranet. If you’re a new student or member of staff and don’t have access to the Intranet, please contact Sarah Gross. There is no legal entitlement to a nursery place.

Students must fulfil their military service obligations during their studies. Plan and coordinate studies and service obligations well in advance.

We strongly recommend that you complete the military training programme and your first period of civil service before starting your studies. Completing them during your Master will result in absences and may prolong the duration of your studies.

General information about military and civil service

Advisory service

If you wish to get advice on how to co-ordinate your studies and your compulsory service, please contact HKB Student Administration (+41 31 848 49 49).

Application deadline: Mon, 17.3.2025
Aptitude tests: Thu, 10.–Fri, 25.4.2025
Start date: Mon, 15.9.2025

1. Online Application

You should have the following documents available in electronic form (passport photo: JPG / remaining documents: PDF). No document should exceed 1 MB.

  • ID card or passport
  • Passport photo
  • A diploma qualifying you for university studies (such as Matura from a Gymnasium, “Berufsmaturität”, “Fachmaturität”, Abitur)
  • A detailed CV
  • Letter of motivation: A description (max. 2 A4 pages, in the study field of Literary Writing/Translation max. 5 A4 pages) of your project, in which you state your objectives for a Master’s programme as precisely as possible. Indicate what you wish to focus on and how you aim to reach your goals.

For foreigners, in addition:

  • Residence permit (if available)

If you were already matriculated at another university:

  • A confirmation of your exmatriculation
  • Your diploma and/or a transcript of records

If you do not yet have one or more of the required documents, please state why in the Comments section.

2. Portfolio Upload

To complete your application, please submit a digital portfolio with a representative selection of your current and previous work here. The contents document your artistic, musical, performative or literary work by means of concrete examples.

Special regulations for studies in the area Literary Writing/Translation:

A portfolio is a dossier containing one or more of your literary texts of a minimum of 20 pages and a maximum of 50 pages (2000 characters per page, including spaces). All genres are possible.

Please label the portfolio on the title page with surname, first name, admission procedure 20xx (academic year) and MA CAP degree programme.
 

Online application - At a glance (PDF, 66 KB)

Locations + Facilities

At HKB, you can expect an open mindset and a friendly, informal atmosphere. Come and see us.

Information

Please contact the CAP office if you would like to arrange a personal consultation with us.

Main building at Schwabstrasse 10

  • bright studios and classrooms
  • exhibition spaces
  • analogue photo laboratory
  • kitchen and large rooftop terrace

Fellerstrasse 11 (located 200 m from main building):

  • Printing workshop: fully equipped workspace, in which all manual printing techniques are practised
  • MediaLab: work spaces, editing rooms and various studios as well as all the equipment needed for audio-visual design and photography
  • Multimedia library: comprehensive selection of books, magazines and films related to the areas of design, art and transdisciplinarity
  • Workshop: professional facilities for work in wood, metal, synthetics, ceramics and textiles
  • MaterialPool: extensive collection of patterns for various materials

Experts are available to lend practical assistance or answer questions in all of the service centres named.

Papiermühlestrasse 13

  • Sound studio for sound productions, even complex assignments, with modern equipment, large control room and multifunctional rooms linked by analogue and digital networking
  • Music library

Swiss Literature Institute in Biel/Bienne

Library for the Literary Writing and Literary Translation specialisation