Fribourg - The UniversityGeorges Python founded the Université de Fribourg / Universität Freiburg (Alma Mater Friburgensis) in the year 1889. It is a public cantonal university and is financed by the Canton of Fribourg, the Swiss Confederation and other non-university cantons. The Rector and the Vice-Rectors run the University. The current rector is Professor Guido Vergauwen from the Faculty of Theology. Other administrative organs of the University include the Senate, the University Assembly and the Commission de recours. The University is divided into 5 Faculties (Theology, Law, Economics and Social Sciences, Letters, Science) as well as 7 interdisciplinary institutes. The various Faculties are spread among the different campuses and buildings. The Science Faculty is located at the Pérolles-Plateau. Theology, Law, Arts and Economics are mostly at the main campus entitled Miséricorde, although a significant part of the Law Faculty resides at the Portes de Fribourg in a modern complex on the outskirts of town and at Beauregard. A sizeable part of the Economics and Social Sciences Faculty can also be found in the Regina Mundi building and on Pérolles. There are currently about 10,000 students in the various Faculties of the University. The demographic make-up of the student body is quite remarkable, in that it brings students from all over Switzerland and around the world (approximately 110 nationalities represented). Traditionally, according to the American system of education, the University of Fribourg was structured more like a graduate school. This means that most students were working toward the Licence - Lizentiat (similar to a Master's degree) or the Doctorat - Doktorat (Ph.D.) However, since the mid-2000s the University of Fribourg has been on the forefront of the implementation of the Bologna reforms. Currently, students at the University are working towards their BA or MA and credits are attributed according to the ECTS system. A major characteristic of the University is of course its bilingual nature. This means that every student can attend lectures or seminars in French as well as in German. The lecture timetables of the Faculties have been organized to support bilingual studies. Most times. students can thus take a lecture in the other language without forfeiting the compulsory branch in their first language. Students are given the unique opportunity to work towards obtaining a bilingual degree. Because the Faculties are divided into French and German speaking sections, the number of participants at any one lecture remains relatively small compared with big European universities and allows teaching to take place in a more personal atmosphere.
FACULTY OF THEOLOGYThe Faculty of Catholic Theology is the only one in Switzerland that is integrated into a state university. In its research and in its promotion of the dialogue between science and faith it wants to relate the message of the Gospel to the contemporary world. It encourages exchanges between its two language sections; it plays its part in the life of the church and of society. The four teaching and research specializations of the Faculty Biblical Science (Biblical Institute)
Pastoral Theology (Institute of Pastoral Theology; Institute of Missiology and Science of Religion)
Historical Studies
Systematic Theology (Institute of Ecumenical Studies; Institute of Moral Theology) Courses and Degrees 4 to 5 year course in French and/or German. 4 study alternatives: single subject (theology degree, systemic or pastoral option), principal subject (degree in Science of Religion, with 2 subsidiary subjects of which 1 or 2 in another faculty), subsidiary subject (degree from another faculty), subsidiary subject as part of a teaching diploma for secondary or grammar school. Awards: degree, ecclesiastical diploma, doctorate. FACULTY OF LAWOn the 7th of February 1751 the "Chambre secrète" decided to establish a school of law. An academy was then constructed on the "Halle aux vins" (today "Place du Collège") and finished in the year 1762. It was in this academy that first a school of law was introduced and second, in the year 1882, a fully independent law faculty was established. Today, the Faculty of law offers a comprehensive program of legal education that leads to a degree in law called Lizenziat der Rechte or Licence en droit. The instruction is in the main branches of Swiss national law, as well as the most important areas of international and European law. In addition to this, it is obligatory to take important complementary courses in legal history, Roman law, legal philosophy and economics. There are currently 18 full professors as well as numerous associate, guest professors and teaching assistants. The faculty also employs around 50 research assistants. At last count there were approximately 2100 students enrolled in the law faculty. The mother tongue of 51% of the students is German, 32% are French speakers, 10 % are Italian speakers and 7% speak another first language. Compared to other law faculties in Switzerland, Fribourg is a fairly large sized department, currently representing the second biggest Swiss law faculty after Zurich. The five teaching and research specializations of the Faculty
General Public Law
General Constitutional Law
Civil And Commercial Law International and European Law
Public International Law
Criminal Law Courses and Degrees 4-year course, following a single study plan, apart from certain options. Awards: degree, doctorate. Specialization degree with the mention "European Law". Specialization degree with the mention "Ecclesiastical Law". Degree with the mention "bilingual". FACULTY OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SCIENCESEconomic Sciences had been taught at the Faculty of Law since the founding of the university in 1889. After entering the new building Miséricorde in 1942, Economic Sciences is established as an independent section with a specialized library. In 1950, four professors founded the Institute for Economic and Social Sciences (called ISES: Institut des sciences économiques et sociales) and thus the above mentioned library became an autonomous institute. This was the first step to an independent department of economic and social sciences, which was realized in 1974 within the Faculty of Legal, Economic and Social Sciences. In the course of this development and due to the fact that the amount of students and instructors was increasing, the Faculty of Legal, Economic and Social Sciences was divided into two autonomous faculties. The Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences as "ordo oeconomorum et sociologorum" has existed since the autumn of 1989. It is organized in five departments, the Department of Economics, Department of Business Administration, Department of Computer Sciences, Department of Social Sciences and Department of Econometrics and Statistics. There are 27 full professors, numerous associates as well as guest professors and teaching assistants. At last count there were approximately 1300 students enrolled at the Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences. In research and teaching importance is attached to the balance between theory and practice, between specialization and interdisciplinarity. The five teaching and research specializations of the Faculty
Political Economics Computer Science
Business Economics
Management Information Systems
Sociology Courses and Degrees 4-year course: 2-year basic course, then, for 3rd and 4th years, 3 options: business administration, political economics or management information systems. Awards: degree, doctorate, teaching diploma, degree with the mention "bilingual." Complementary diploma in information systems; diploma in computer science (with the Faculty of Science); diploma in journalism. FACULTY OF ARTS and HUMANITIESThe Faculty consists of seven departments, covering a very large field of interests. All of the branches are academic, though some are oriented towards professional training. Because of its diversity, the Faculty is multi-cultural, international, interdisciplinary and humanist. Bilingualism is encouraged; lectures are generally given in both languages. Literature, however, is taught in its own language. The seven departments of the Faculty Philosophy
Langauges and Literature
Historical Sciences
Social Sciences
Educational Sciences Curative and Specialzed Pedagogy Psychology Courses and Degrees 3-4year course (BA). Awards: degree (1 main subject + 2 subsidiary subjects); degree with the mention "bilingual" in history or philosophy; teaching diploma (secondary and grammar school); doctorate; diploma in special education (educational and clinical), in logopedics (German only), and in social work. FACULTY OF SCIENCEThe six departments of the Faculty provide a complete theoretical and practical education, with the exceptions of medicine and pharmacology (two years only). Teaching is bilingual: each student takes courses, does course and practical lab work in both languages (with linguistic support). However, students can choose to take exams in either French or German. The six departments of the Faculty
Mathematics
Physics
Chemistry
Geosciences
Biology
Medicine Courses and Degrees 4-year course. Awards: degrees in: mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry, biochemistry, geology, geography, biology; doctorates in mathematics, in natural sciences, in computer science; diploma for secondary and grammar school teaching. In medicine and pharmacology: two-year foundation course without clinical semesters. |
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American College Program - Office 6.110 - Av. de l'Europe 20 - CP 102 - 1700 Fribourg 
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Tel +41 26 / 300 8190 - Fax +41 26 / 300 9690 - acp [at] unifr.ch
| SkypeTel +41 26 / 300 8190 - Fax +41 26 / 300 9690 - acp [at] unifr.ch