Foreign School Certificates in Switzerland: What Universities Recognise
Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.
Switzerland has no national office that recognises foreign school certificates for study. Each university decides, using criteria agreed by the universities' association, swissuniversities, and published country by country. The rules are strict compared with neighbouring countries, so check them before planning anything else.
The general conditions
A foreign upper secondary certificate is recognised for bachelor's admission if it is broadly equivalent to the Swiss baccalaureate. In practice the universities look for:
- the highest school-leaving qualification of the country, obtained after at least twelve years of schooling
- general education in the last three years, covering a set range of subjects: a first language, a second language, mathematics, natural sciences, humanities and social sciences, and an elective
- for many countries, a minimum final grade, or proof of a university place in the home country in the same field
The page for each country on the swissuniversities website states exactly what is accepted and with which additional conditions. Individual universities, especially the two federal institutes of technology, add their own requirements, such as a minimum average or an entrance examination.
If your certificate is only partly recognised
Several universities accept such applicants on condition that they pass the supplementary examination of the Swiss universities (ECUS), held in Fribourg, in subjects such as mathematics, history, a science and languages. Preparatory courses exist. The federal institutes of technology run their own entrance examinations instead.
Universities of applied sciences
These institutions are built for holders of a vocational baccalaureate. With a general school certificate you normally need a year of work experience in the field before admission. For foreign certificates the school assesses equivalence itself.
Medicine
Places in medicine are restricted, and foreign applicants living abroad are as a rule not admitted. Exceptions concern people with a specific residence status in Switzerland.
What to send
- the application form of the university, usually online, with a fee
- copies of the school-leaving certificate and the transcripts of the last years
- an identity document
- a language certificate in the language of instruction
Universities accept documents in German, French, Italian and English. Anything else needs a translation by an officially recognised translator. After admission, you show the originals or certified copies at enrolment. Legalisation is requested for some countries: the university tells you. See sworn translations and apostille and legalisation.
Deadlines
The usual deadline for an autumn start is 30 April, and earlier for applicants who need a visa or sit an entrance examination: several universities set dates in winter. Non-EU applicants should apply as early as the university allows, because the visa procedure takes months. See student visa for Switzerland.
Recognition for work is different
If you already hold a degree and want to work in a regulated profession in Switzerland, recognition is handled by federal bodies, not by the universities. That procedure has nothing to do with admission to a bachelor's degree.
Where to look next
Official sources
- swissuniversities: admission to universities, by country
- ECUS: supplementary examination of the Swiss universities
- State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation: recognition of foreign qualifications
Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.