IB Diploma and University Admission in Switzerland: 32 Points and the Right Six Subjects
Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.
Swiss universities do not have an entrance exam for holders of a recognised school certificate, and they do not rank applicants by grades for most degrees. The question is simply whether your certificate is accepted. For the IB Diploma the answer depends on two things: the total without bonus points and the subjects you took.
The typical rule
The University of Basel publishes its rule in full, and it shows the pattern used by Swiss cantonal universities:
- At least 32 out of 42 points in the six subjects. Bonus points from Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay are not counted.
- One subject from group 4 or group 5 at Higher Level, that is, a science or mathematics.
- Six subjects in these categories:
| Category | Accepted subjects |
|---|---|
| 1 | First language |
| 2 | Second language |
| 3 | History, Geography, Economics or Business and Management |
| 4 | Physics, Biology or Chemistry |
| 5 | Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches or Applications and Interpretation |
| 6 | Computer Science, Music, Philosophy, Psychology, Social Anthropology, or one more subject from groups 2, 3 and 4 |
Two details catch students out. The former Mathematical Studies course is not accepted. Economics and Business and Management count as one subject even if you took both.
With these conditions met, the diploma gives access to all bachelor's programmes at that university, except those with restricted admission.
Where it differs
- Each university sets its own conditions. They are published together, certificate by certificate, on the swissuniversities website and are updated every year. They are valid only for the application period they are published for, so check the year.
- ETH Zurich and EPFL, the two federal institutes of technology, publish their own conditions for the IB, and applicants who do not meet them can be asked to sit an entrance examination.
- Medicine. Places in human medicine and dental medicine are limited, and for applicants without Swiss citizenship or a qualifying residence status there are special restrictions that apply regardless of the diploma.
If you fall short
Several Swiss universities admit applicants whose certificate is recognised only in part on condition that they pass the supplementary examination of the Swiss universities (ECUS). It is described in recognition of school certificates in Switzerland; the general route is in how to get into a university in Switzerland.
Language
Bachelor's degrees are taught mainly in German, French or Italian, depending on the region. Universities expect an advanced command of the teaching language, and some ask for a certificate. ETH Zurich teaches its bachelor's programmes mainly in German and admits new students only in the autumn semester. English-taught bachelor's programmes exist but are few: our catalogue lists 67 of them.
Costs
Tuition at public universities is low by international standards; living costs are not. See how much it costs to study in Switzerland.
Official sources
- swissuniversities: admission requirements by country and certificate
- University of Basel: admission with the IB Diploma
- ETH Zurich: application with other certificates
Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.