Accommodation
Participants are responsible for arranging their own accommodation for the duration of their stay in the city of the IPDET On-Site Program they attend. Below you will find information on accommodation, transportation, and provisions for the 2025 IPDET On-Site Programs.
BERN, Switzerland
IPDET On-Site participants are responsible for arranging their own accommodation for the duration of their stay in Bern. We suggest to search/book accommodation directly after your application has been approved by IPDET as you may profit from a broader offering and better rates when booking early.
IPDET will not be able to make personalized suggestions with regards to accommodation establishments nor find/book accommodation for you. Please do not approach us with requests regarding accommodation – due to the high number of participants, we are unable to help organise adequate accommodation for you! Please also note that IPDET cannot offer on-campus accommodation. Thank you for your understanding!
Note to all participants who have already taken part in the International Program for Development Evaluation Training in previous years: The IPDET Full Board option will not be offered in 2025!
However, please find below some information regarding accommodation in Bern for your consideration.
Special Bern Hotel Rates for IPDET Participants
IPDET has negotiated special rates with several hotels in Bern near the University for our participants. Please check out IPDET’s 2025 BERN HOTEL LIST. Note that there are many more hotels available in the city of Bern and that this is only a small selection of accommodation options! Prices listed are as indicated by the hotels and not guaranteed.
Other Open Accommodation Options
- Hostels: Bern offers some newly built Hostels, like YouthHostel or Hostel77, which provide various options of accommodation.
- Airbnb: For private apartments offers.
And again: Hotels and other accommodation in Bern are in high demand during the summer; arranging your accommodation well in advance is advisable!
Bern LIBERO Ticket
- Overnight guests of all accommodation establishments in the city of Bern receive the Bern LIBERO Ticket for their entire stay and thus enjoy free travel on all public transportation in zones 100/101 of the LIBERO tariff network (including the Gurtenbahn, Marzilibahn, and Münsterplattformlift, as well as travel to and from Bern Belp Airport).
- The guest receives the Bern Ticket at the hotel reception.
- On the day of arrival, the reservation confirmation serves as a transfer ticket from the Bern train station or Bern Belp Airport to the accommodation. We recommend asking the hotel’s reception when booking your room.
If you are staying elsewhere, you can buy a weekly public transportation ticket at a ticket vending machine at any public transport station, at the SBB desk at Bern main station, or directly in the SBB Mobile App (official app of the Swiss Federal Railways).
SBB – Swiss Federal Railways
Swiss Federal Railways (German: SBB (Schweizerische Bundesbahnen); French: CFF (Chemins de fer fédéraux suisses); Italian: FFS (Ferrovie federali svizzere)) is the national railway company of Switzerland. You find all necessary information regarding public transportation in Switzerland (e.g., time tables, travel pass offerings, ticket fees) following www.sbb.ch/en.
We recommend downloading the SBB Mobile App (official app of the Swiss Federal Railways) as it will greatly help you find your way around with public transportation in Switzerland. You can check in good time if your train will arrive on time; you can buy tickets and show your ticket faster during the ticket inspection; you will be able to find your way better at the station and have reliable map information etc.
On Course Days
- On days of scheduled On-Site Program (Monday-Friday in the Core Course week; Monday-Thursday in the Workshops week), IPDET will offer lunch as well as morning and afternoon tea/coffee at the University cafeteria.
- The University cafeteria provides vegetarian and meat/fish options. It is not possible for IPDET to offer suitable meal alternatives for all dietary requirements (e.g., we cannot provide vegan, gluten-free, or Halal food).
- Breakfast and dinner will not be provided by IPDET on course days! The hotels in the city offer an excellent breakfast buffet – either already included in the night tariffs or purchasable as an add-on depending on the establishment.
- On Friday evening of the Core Course week (July 11), an exclusive graduation dinner is included in the tuition fee. The graduation ceremony will be held following the last Core Course session; afterwards a celebratory buffet dinner will take place at a nice restaurant alongside the Aare River.
During the Weekend
- No food is provided during the weekend (and on Friday of the Workshops week).
NAIROBI, Kenya
IPDET On-Site participants are responsible for arranging their own accommodation for the duration of their stay in Nairobi. We suggest to search/book accommodation directly after your application has been approved by IPDET as you may profit from a broader offering and better rates when booking early.
IPDET will not be able to make personalized suggestions with regards to accommodation establishments nor find/book accommodation for you. Please do not approach us with requests regarding accommodation – due to the high number of participants, we are unable to help organise adequate accommodation for you! Please also note that IPDET cannot offer on-campus accommodation. Thank you for your understanding!
Note to all participants who have already taken part in the International Program for Development Evaluation Training in previous years: The IPDET Full Board option will not be offered in 2025!
Food
Monday to Friday: Coffee breaks and Lunch at the University’s Cafeteria/Mensa.
Full Board participants and scholarship recipients will be provided accommodation in student lodgings at the University of Bern. It’s important to be aware that these accommodations are NOT hotels.
Location
The student houses are called “Bümpliz-Nord”,”Tscharnergut” and “Bolligen”, approximately 15-minute distance by public transport to the IPDET site.
- Rooms: Single room, equipped with a single bed, desk, storage space, bed linen and towels.
- Bathroom: Shared bathroom for 2-3 persons, located separately from the room.
- Amenities: A communal kitchen is available on each floor.
- Conditions: The student houses are comfortable and clean but do not provide luxury, and there is no air-conditioning. It’s important to note that residing in a student house may not be suitable for everyone due to certain cultural, religious, or personal restrictions. If you have any uncertainties, please get in touch with the IPDET office before selecting the full-board option.
- Restrictions:
- Bringing spouses and children is impossible, as the student’s houses do not provide suitable facilities for families.
- For security reasons, changing rooms without informing the Students Lodge office is prohibited.
- Bookings: The IPDET office handles the booking when you choose the full board option. You will receive the necessary information.
Check-in and Check-out
- Check-in: Sundays between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., i.e. July 14 or 21
- Check-out: Saturdays until 10:00 a.m., i.e. July 20 or 27
- Note: IPDET only covers accommodation from Sunday before the start of the booked program to Saturday morning after the end of the booked program.
Food
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided each day of the scheduled program (Mon-Fri) at the University Cafeteria providing vegetarian and meat/fish options. Please note that it is not possible for IPDET to offer suitable meal alternatives for all dietary requirements (e.g., we cannot provide vegan or Halal food). Please note before applying, if you are on a specific diet or have particular allergies (e.g., coeliac disease), the full board product might not suit your needs!
- No food is provided on weekends.
Transport
Each full board participant receives a public transportation ticket upon On-Site registration! This Ticket is called “Libero-Ticket” and valid within the program time. It allows the utilization of any public transport in the city of Bern.
For the Tuition-Only option, participants will arrange their own accommodation. Below are some special rate offers and information for participants’ consideration.
Special rates accommodation for IPDET participants
IPDET has negotiated special rates with several hotels in Bern near the University for our participants. Please click here for the special rates list for IPDET 2024.
Other open accommodation options
- Hostels: Bern offers some newly built Hostels, like YouthHostel or Hostel77, which provide various options of accommodation
- Airbnb: for private apartments offers
Hotels and accommodations in Bern are in high demand during the summer; arranging your accommodation well in advance is advisable.
Food
Monday to Friday: Coffee breaks and Lunch at the University’s Cafeteria/Mensa.
Transport
- If staying in a hotel: Most hotels hand out the “Libero-Tickets” at check-in, which allow public transport in the city of Bern. We recommend asking the hotel’s reception when making the booking.
- If staying elsewhere, you can buy a weekly ticket at the machine at any public transport station.