University of Bern Admitted Student Profiles & Alumni

Emil Theodor Kocher

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1909); pioneer in thyroid surgery

MD

N/A

Charles Albert Gobat

Nobel Peace Prize (1902); President of Permanent International Peace Bureau

PhD Law

c. 1867

Georg von Békésy

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1961)

MD/PhD (Biophysics)

N/A

Kurt Wüthrich

Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2002) for NMR methods in structural biology

PhD Chemistry

N/A

John le Carré (David Cornwell)

Acclaimed British spy novelist (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy)

Studied Literature

1948–49

Walter Benjamin

Influential philosopher & cultural critic

Studied Philosophy

N/A

Friedrich Dürrenmatt

Renowned Swiss playwright and novelist

Studied Literature

N/A

Daniel Vasella

Chairman & CEO of Novartis

Studied Medicine

N/A

Thomas Jordan

President of Swiss National Bank

Studied Economics

N/A

Daniel Koch

Former physician & Swiss federal public health official

MD

N/A

René Fasel

President of International Ice Hockey Federation

Studied Physical Education

N/A

Matthias Egger

Physician; President of Swiss National Science Foundation

MD, PhD

N/A

Jenö Staehelin

First Swiss Permanent Rep to UN; President of UNICEF Exec Board

PhD Law

N/A

John le Carré (duplicate)

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Karl Barth

Theologian; influential 20th-century church statesman

Studied Theology

N/A

Carl Baudenbacher

President of EFTA Court

LLM Law

N/A

Sir Paul Nurse (Faculty)

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2001) researcher

N/A

N/A

Anna Tumarkin (Faculty)

First female European professor to supervise PhDs

PhD Philosophy

N/A

Albert Einstein (Faculty)

Developed parts of relativity; taught at Bern in 1908

N/A

N/A

Thomas Zurbuchen

NASA Associate Administrator for Science Mission Directorate

PhD Astrophysics

N/A