Dr. Thomas Bernauer

Professor

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Biography

Thomas Bernauer is a professor of political science at ETH Zurich’s Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences (D-GESS) and a member of the Center for Comparative International Studies (CIS). He obtained his doctoral degree from the University of Zurich in 1992 and has had a distinguished career as a researcher and educator. Bernauer has worked at prominent institutions including the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research and Harvard University. Since joining ETH Zurich in 1995, he has been involved in various academic and administrative roles, including Dean of the D-GESS and Founding Director of the Institute of Science, Technology Policy. His research agenda encompasses international governance, environmental challenges, and the dynamics of international environmental cooperation, and he has published extensively on these topics. Bernauer has been a lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and has contributed significantly to the understanding of political conditions that influence societal challenges across borders.

Research Interests

International Governance Environmental Challenges International Environmental Cooperation

Experience

Professor

1995-01-01 — Present

ETH Zurich • Zürich, Switzerland

Full Professor of Political Science in the Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences.

Dean

2004-01-01 — 2006-01-01

ETH Zurich • Zürich, Switzerland

Dean of the Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences.

Founding Director

2015-01-01 — 2021-01-01

ETH Zurich’s Institute of Science, Technology Policy • Zürich, Switzerland

Founded and directed the Institute of Science, Technology Policy.

Courses

Political Economy Doctoral Colloquium Public Policy Designing Public Policy Research Technology, Society, Markets and State Public Sphere and Stakeholders in Policy-Making Communication and Negotiation Policy-Making Practice

Requirements for ETH Zurich

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.4
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
TOEFL
Total
Required:100
GRE General
Verbal
Required:159
Verbal Percentile
Required:80
Quantitative
Required:168
Quantitative Percentile
Required:81
Analytical Writing
Required:4.5
Writing Percentile
Required:85
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in a related field (Engineering, Natural Sciences, or Mathematics) Minimum 180 ECTS credits Subject-specific knowledge equivalent to ETH Bachelor's programs
Application Checklist
  • Bachelor's degree diploma or transcript
  • Official academic transcripts
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Letter of Motivation (1 page)
  • Two academic recommendation letters
  • English language proficiency certificate
  • GRE General Test (for non-EU/EFTA applicants)
Specialization Notes

The GRE is mandatory for students who did not obtain their Bachelor's degree in an EU/EFTA state. Some departments (e.g., Computer Science) have specific ECTS credit requirements in core subjects.