Master of Medical Education (MME)

The Master of Medical Education Program Bern (MME Bern) is a part-time, postgraduate Master of advanced studies in medical education provided by the Medical Faculty of the University of Bern. It was developed in collaboration with the University of Illinois in Chicago and was established in 1999.

The study program follows a systematic, evidence-based approach, and thus prepares participants for the growing demands in initial and continuing education in the healthcare sector.

Target audience

The MME program involves international experts and is directed towards graduates of all healthcare professions alongside their employment. The program requires the participants’ presence at course weeks which are offered over two years.

The aims of the MME program

The MME program Bern offers a broad range of courses with the following aims:

• Training of leaders with competences in medical education
• Imparting of knowledge of evidence-based teaching and lesson methods
• Support in the development of innovative teaching projects and curricula
• Promotion of leadership skills in the medical sector
• Imparting of scientific knowledge in the area of medical education
• Networking with international and national experts
• Building of a network among the participants and promotion of an active, collaborative learning environment

Program structure

The MME program is designed to be conducted alongside participants’ employment and has a modular format. Performance is measured according to the European Credit Transfer System ECTS. One credit corresponds to a workload of 25-30 hours. Credits can be acquired for all study activities within the MME course.

The minimum requirements to be awarded the Master diploma are:

• Successful completion of at least 9 MME course weeks, including 6 core courses,
• Writing of at least 6 post-course assignments (three on core courses),
• Conducting of a project with minimum qualification E,
• Writing of a Master’s thesis with minimum qualification E,
• Acquisition of 60 ECTS credits.

The study duration is normally two years (4 semesters) plus several months for completing the Master’s thesis. As it is particularly difficult to complete the MME program whilst working full-time, a reduction of working hours is strongly recommended (guideline: approx. 80% of full-time hours). The MME degree must be completed within 4 years.

Master’s degree

Upon successful completion of the degree program, participants can carry the title of “Master of Medical Education” of the University of Bern (MME Unibe). The title is awarded by the Medical Faculty Bern in conjunction with the University of Illinois College of Medicine (COM Chicago).

Course contents

The program comprises 12 one-week courses. To achieve the Master’s degree, attendance of at least 9 course weeks is mandatory, 6 of which must be core courses. The course weeks normally take place in Bern. One of the 12 courses is held in a seminar hotel and a further course is held abroad.

With respect to content, the modules cover relatively self-contained topics, but refer to and are aligned to one another. The focus is on contents such as Curriculum Development, Cognitive Psychology, Assessment and Evaluation, Leadership and Education Research.

Over 90% of the course is conducted in English. An exception to this is course week 2 on the theme of communication, which is held in German.

In the course weeks, we offer professional coaching across both study years.

Course offering

Year 1

Module 1 Setting the stage for Medical Education

Module 2 Communication

Module 3 Curriculum Development

Module 4 Learning Environment

Module 5 Assessment in the Health Professions

Module 6 Scholarship

Year 2

Module 7 Educational Research

Module 8 Qualitative Research and Thesis Workshop

Module 9 Leading Educational Change

Module 10 Visit of Medical Schools Abroad

Module 11 Program Evaluation

Module 12 Special Topics

University of Bern, Institute for Medical Education (IML)

The MME program employs national and international lecturers as well as various committees for the planning, implementation and further development of the international, high-quality MME degree course:

Program Director and Administration

• Sandra Trachsel, PhD, MME, program director and Elke Bayha, PhD, deputy program director

Functions: Lead and compile the course program, appoint the course leaders, organise courses, are responsible for admission and coaching of the participants, allocation of credits, general logistics, public relations, etc.

• Isabelle Zürcher, MME Administration

Functions: Administration and book keeping

The MME program employs national and international lecturers as well as various committees for the planning, implementation and further development of the international, high-quality MME degree course.

Curriculum Committee

• Prof. Dr. Sissel Guttormsen (President), Director of the Institute of Medical Education, University of Bern, Switzerland
• Prof. Dr. Hans-Jürgen Christen, MD, MME, Chief Physician Neuropaediatrics Centre for Children and Adolescents Auf der Bult, Hanover & University Professor University of Göttingen, Germany
• Prof. Dr. Anne Herrmann-Werner, MD, MME, Professorship for Medical Didactics, Clinical Simulation and Educational Research, Tübingen Institute for Medical Education (TIME), Germany
• Prof. Dr. Sören Huwendiek, MD, MME, Head of department Assessment und Evaluation, Institute of Medical Education, University of Bern, Switzerland
• Dr. Sandra Trachsel, MME Unibe, MME Programme Director, IML, University of Bern, Switzerland

Functions: Authorisation of persons for thesis supervision, examination and approval of Master theses on behalf of the Office of the Dean, admission of participants without classical university education, decision-making body in the case of conflicting performance assessment.
 

The quality of the course contents is ensured by national and international experts with long-standing experience in education and education research. The teaching portfolio ensues in cooperation with other universities from Switzerland, Europe, the USA and Canada.

National and international experts:

• Beckmann Matthias, Communication trainer, Sprachraum eG, Munich (DE)
• Berendonk Christoph, Prof., MD, MME, University of Bern (CH)
• Cristancho Sayra, Prof., PhD, Western Universitiy, London, Ontario (CA)
• Di Pasquale Francesco, Project Management Expert, Vendia Sàrl, Aubonne (CH)
• Eva Kevin, Prof., PhD, University of British Columbia, Vancouver (CA)
• Frölich-Steffen Susanne,Communication trainer, p.p. Sprachraum eG, Munich (DE)
• Gijselaers Wim H., Prof., PhD, Maastricht University (NL)
• Goldszmidt Mark, Prof., MD, PhD, MHPE, Western University, London, Ontario (CA)
• Guttormsen Sissel, Prof., PhD, University of Bern (CH)
• Huwendiek Sören, Prof., MD, PhD, MME, University of Bern (CH)
• Irniger Erika, Dipl. supervisor BSO, Bern (CH)
• Langewitz Wolf, Prof. emerit., MD, University Hospital Basel (CH)
• Lingard Lorelei, Prof., PhD, Western University, London, Ontario (CA)
• McConnell Meghan, Assoc. Prof., PhD, University of Ottawa (CA)
• Nendaz Mathieu, Prof., MD, University of Geneva (CH)
• Park Yoon Soo, Prof., PhD, University of Illinois, Chicago (US)
• Rémi Cornelia, Communication trainer, p.p. Sprachraum eG, Munich (DE)
• Ringsted Charlotte, Prof., MD, PhD, MHPE, Aarhus University (DK)
• Scheel-Sailer Anke, PD, MD, Bern Rehab Center, Heiligenschwendi (CH)
• Schmitz Christof, PhD, College M Bern (CH)
• Schmitz Felix, PhD, University of Bern (CH)
• Schnabel Kai, PD, MD, MME, University of Bern (CH)
• Steinert Yvonne, Prof., PhD, McGill University, Montreal (CA)
• Tekian Ara, Prof., PhD, MHPE, University of Illinois, Chicago (US)
• Wagner Felicitas Lony, PhD, University of Bern (CH)
• Züst Marc, PhD, University of Bern (CH)

As well as further lecturers for the course conducted abroad (USA, Canada, Europe).

Advisory Board

• Roman Hari, MD, MME (Dean of Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bern, ex officio, CH)
• Prof. Georges Bordage, MD, PhD (University of Illinois, Chicago, US)
• Prof. Ara Tekian, PhD, MHPE (University of Illinois, Chicago, US)
• Prof. Wim Gijselaers, PhD (Maastricht University, NL)
• Prof. Sigrid Harendza, MD, MME (Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, DE)
• Sandra Trachsel, PhD, MME (University of Bern, CH)
• 1 representative from the last MME program cycle
• 1 representative from the MME alumni board

Functions: Advising the program directorate and study leaders, PR, fostering international contacts/acceptance. Facilitating international cooperation.

Target audience

The MME program is targeted at interested persons in Switzerland and abroad, who have completed a university degree in human medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or pharmacy, who carry out teaching activity and hold a leadership function at a medical faculty, or hold equivalent employment in the healthcare sector.

Admission is also possible for qualified persons from other professions in the healthcare sector (university, university of applied sciences or equivalent at tertiary education level II). In such cases, please contact the programme director in advance.

Admission

Admission to the MME postgraduate degree course is normally decided by the programme director based on written application documents and under consideration of the available study places. In exceptional cases, the Vice Dean of Education at the Medical Faculty of Bern decides together with the President of the MME executive board. The decision on admission to the degree course is generally made 6-8 weeks following application.

Number of participants

Between 16 and 24.

Applicants who are kept on hold for capacity reasons will receive priority admission for the following MME programme.

Over 90% of the course is conducted in English. In some modules like module 2 on communication, German is also spoken. A good knowledge of English is a prerequisite for participation in the course. The program can still be attended if a participant lacks knowledge of German.

Costs

The two-year MME programme costs a flat rate of CHF 30'000 (approx. Euro 31’730). This sum covers the course fees including course material, thesis supervision and diploma fees, as well as the semester fees of the university for two years and a one-off fee for the Unicard. The tuition fees are paid in 2 instalments of CHF 15'000 (approx. Euro 15’865.-). Invoicing and credit management are through the University of Bern. Additionally, the participants pay costs of around CHF 500 (approx. Euro 529) for specific required reading. Individual travel and accommodation costs, in particular for the course conducted abroad, are at the participants’ own expense. Likewise, expenses for courses outside of the MME program are also paid by the participants.

The MME Program is funded from tuition fees and is organised with at least 16 participants.

Application

Start: February 2026
Application deadline: August 15, 2025
Link to the application form

Admission is possible until the maximum number of participants of 24 has been reached. Please use the online application form. Applications must include the following documents:

A  Letter of motivation

B  CV including photo:

1.     Formal education, continued education

2.     Professional activities

3.     Past and current teaching activities

4.     List of publications, projects, etc.

C  Additional documents

5.     Copies of graduation documents (diplomas, certificates of formal and continued education)

6.     Letters of reference from previous employers

7.     Letter of recommendation of the superior

8.     Specification of two persons of reference (incl. phone number and E-Mail)

D  Description of English skills for applicants whose native language is not English.

Each application will be carefully examined and evaluated.