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The path to university studies in Switzerland

24.03.2023 – RUTH VON GUNTEN, EDUCATIONSUISSE

University, university of applied sciences and university of teacher education: these are the three types of university in Switzerland. They all offer three-year bachelor’s programmes and subsequent master’s programmes. A brief summary of the most important facts.

Three types of university

The universities offer studies in law and economics, in mathematics and natural sciences, and in humanities and social sciences, while the federal institutes of technology ETH (Zurich) and EPF (Lausanne) focus on engineering, mathematics and natural sciences. The universities of applied sciences focus on practical-oriented courses of study, particularly in the fields of health, social sciences, business administration, innovative technologies, music, and art. The universities of teacher education train students to become qualified teachers for the various school levels.

Admission requirements

The requirement for admission to a bachelor’s degree programme is a federally recognised Matura certificate or an equivalent foreign diploma. The universities set country-specific standards for foreign diplomas. The current criteria can be viewed online: revue.link/requirements. Admission to a university of applied sciences normally requires a vocational apprenticeship followed by a vocational baccalaureate or a maturity certificate from an upper secondary school- followed by an internship year. We recommend to clarify the admission requirements directly with the university of applied sciences of your interest. At the universities of teacher education, the admission requirements vary depending on the degree programme.

Required languages skills

Good language skills in at least one national language, depending on the language region in which you want to study, are usually essential. There are only a few bachelor’s programmes that are lectured purely in English, whereas many master’s programmes are in English.

Application deadlines

Most bachelor’s programmes start in September and the application deadline is 30 April with rare exceptions such as medicine or special programmes like sports science. Universities of applied sciences and universities of teacher education may have different application deadlines.

educationsuisse, education in Switzerland, Alpenstrasse 26, 3006 Berne, Switzerland | Tel. +41 31 356 61 04 | email www.educationsuisse.ch

PICTURE  Semester time at the ETH Zurich Hönggerberg campus Photo: ETHZ / Alessandro della Bella

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