University of Zurich

The University of Zurich began in 1833 and is the largest university in Switzerland. It was the first university in Europe founded by a democratic state. Over its long history it has put weight on building a wide range of academic programs and on interdisciplinary study. That work has made it a leading higher education and research institution in Europe and worldwide. Its contributions run across many fields, above all science and medicine, and throughout its history it has been home to many prominent academics and researchers.

Albert Einstein is among its best-known alumni; he studied here before he developed his groundbreaking theories in physics. The record shows in the research: its alumni and faculty have received numerous Nobel Prizes. The university is also recognized for the arts and humanities, with influential work in fields such as linguistics, philosophy and history. It remains a center of academic strength and intellectual work, with an environment that supports critical thinking and groundbreaking research.

Admission Requirements For International Students

Undergraduate

Students from the US

• Upper secondary school-leaving certificate + Advanced Placement Tests including 6 independent general education subjects, each with a minimum grade of 3: 1.
• First language (native language);
• 2. Second language;
• 3. Mathematics/calculus;
• 4. Natural sciences (biology, chemistry or physics);
• 5. Humanities and social sciences (geography, history or economics/law) and
• 6. Elective: one subject from category 2, 4 or 5, or computer science or philosophy.
• Computer science and philosophy can be chosen only as a sixth subject

Students from the UK

• England, Wales and Northern Ireland:
  • Upper secondary school-leaving certificate including 6 independent general education subjects, with at least 3 GCE AL / AICE AL / Pre-U Principal Subject / IAL (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject).
  • Grade B for 2 subjects (M2 for Pre-U Principal Subject), grade C for 1 subject (M3 for Pre-U Principal Subject). Grade 5 or B for 3 additional subjects at level GCE AS / AICE AS / Pre-U Short Course / IAS or GCSE / IGCE, at least grade C for GCE AS / AICE AS / IAS, at least grade M3 for Pre-U Short Course)
• Scotland:
  • Upper secondary school-leaving certificate including 6 independent general education subjects, each one with at least grade 3 resp. C.
  • At least 3 subjects must be at Advanced Higher Level (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject), 1 Higher and 2 Standard grade

Students from Germany

• Upper secondary school-leaving certificate with a grade average of 2.0, or a certificate of university admission in the chosen academic subject from a recognised German university (not distance learning).
• A certificate of university admission is compulsory for these subjects: Psychology and Biology

Students from France

• Upper secondary school-leaving certificate + a certificate of university admission in the chosen academic subject from a recognised French university or a grade average of 12/20.
• The subject Enseignement Scientifique cannot be recognised as a scientific subject (category 4)

International Baccalaureate Students

1. First language (native language)
2. Second language
3. Mathematics (Higher Level / Standard Level)
4. Natural sciences (biology, chemistry or physics)
5. Humanities and social sciences (geography, history or economics / business and management)
6. Elective (one subject from category 2, 4 or 5 or computer science or philosophy. Computer science and philosophy can be chosen only as a sixth subject) 

The following subjects are recognised

• All languages
• Economics /business management
• Geography
• History
• Philosophy
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Mathematics: applications and interpretation standard or higher level; analysis and approaches standard or higher level
• Computer science

Recognised with a minimum of 32 out of 42 points (bonus points not counted) and including 6 subjects, one from each of the 6 categories above. At least 3 of these subjects must be taken at Higher Level (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject)

• Certificate in English Proficiency for programs taught in English
  • A certificate of English proficiency from internationally recognized proficiency tests such as IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT.
• Certificate in German Proficiency for programs taught in German
  • A certificate of German proficiency from internationally recognized proficiency tests such as TestDaF, TELC, or Goethe-Zertifikat.
• Certificate in French Proficiency for programs taught in French.
  • A certificate of French proficiency from internationally recognized proficiency tests such as DELF, DALF.

Graduate

If you are applying to a graduate program at the University of Zurich, you must meet the admission requirements set out below.

• Bachelor's Degree Diploma
• High Grade Point Average
• Official transcripts of the courses you took during your university education
• Work experience may be required for certain programs
• Certificate in English Proficiency for programs taught in English
  • A certificate of English proficiency from internationally recognized proficiency tests such as IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT.
• Certificate in German Proficiency for programs taught in German
  • A certificate of German proficiency from internationally recognized proficiency tests such as TestDaF, TELC, or Goethe-Zertifikat.
• Certificate in French Proficiency for programs taught in French.
  • A certificate of French proficiency from internationally recognized proficiency tests such as DELF, DALF.
• A GRE/GMAT exam score may be required, in line with the specific admission requirements of certain programs.

Alumni and faculty members of the University of Zurich have been awarded a total of 12 Nobel Prizes.

• 5 Nobel Physics Laureates
• 4 Nobel Chemistry Laureates
• 2 Nobel Physiology or Medicine Laureates
• 1 Nobel Literature Laureates