- #=405 QS Global World Ranking
- PublicStatus
- Very HighResearch Output
- 3,865Total Students
- 459Faculty
- 2,686Int'l Students
The University’s position in the current QS World University Rankings.
Whether the University is funded by the government of that country or state, or funded by private donations.
The research intensity of the University, based on the number of papers output relative to the University’s size.
The number of full time equivalent students enrolled at the University.
The number of full time equivalent teaching staff employed by the University.
The number of full time equivalent international students enrolled at the University.
USI - Università della Svizzera italiana
About
USI. Create freely, act responsibly.
Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) is one of the 12 certified public universities in Switzerland and member of swissuniversities. It is organised in five faculties and is active in several study and research areas, among which: architecture, communication sciences, computational science, data science, economics, health studies, humanities, informatics, law, medicine and biomedicine.
USI is a young and lively university, a hub of opportunity open to the world where students are offered a quality interdisciplinary education in which they can be fully engaged and take centre stage, and where our researchers can count on having the space to freely pursue their initiative.
Around 2900 students and about 850 professors and researchers, hailing from over 100 countries, convene every day on the three campuses in Lugano, Mendrisio and Bellinzona. The relatively small size of the campuses encourages the free flow and open exchange of ideas within the academic community. USI encourages faculty, students and researchers to develop their potential, and appreciates their curiosity and willingness to experiment with new ways of thinking, learning, teaching and working.
Established in 1996, USI is in constant evolution, always taking on new challenges while remaining true to its three guiding principles: quality, openness and responsibility.
Why USI
Seven reasons for choosing USI:
- Quality of the Swiss university system
- International faculty
- Leading interdisciplinary education
- Teacher/student radio 1 to 8
- Strong ties with the business world
- Flexible structure, open to the exchange of ideas
- International, dynamic and welcoming environment
USI is a young and agile university that offers to its students a quality education and an enhancing study experience. International faculty teach students with an interdisciplinary, engaging and interactive approach, leaving room to practical application.
The quality of the study curricula is complemented by USI small size, by its cosmopolitan environment and its informal and dynamic culture.
These elements make USI a hub of opportunity open to the world, where students can engage in direct dialogue with their professors and define their educational path, discover unexpected horizons and embrace international careers.
Admission to the Undergraduate programmes:
1. Swiss diplomas, awarded in Switzerland
- Maturità federale and Maturità cantonale recognised by the appropriate Federal Commission;
- Maturità commerciale cantonale (Scuola cantonale di commercio, Bellinzona);
- Final diploma from a university of applied sciences or diploma of a technical college recognised by the appropriate federal authorities: in these cases, where the field of study selected is the same as the previous one, the single Faculties may recommend admitting candidates to an advanced level of the programme and exempt them from particular examinations or from the internship period.
- School-leaving certificates issued by Swiss schools abroad are equally accepted.
2. Foreign diplomas
Applicants in possession of a foreign secondary education and/or of a foreign university diploma considered to be equivalent are admitted to the undergraduate programme. As a rule, reference is made to the guidelines of the University Admissions Commission of the Rectors’ Conference of the Swiss Universities. Should there be doubt about the equivalence of a foreign qualification, this can be resolved by means of an interview or exam; language requirements and/or supplementary courses may also be required.
Admission to the Postgraduate programmes:
1. General requirements:
Bachelor's (undergraduate) degree from an acknowledged university. Holders of a Bachelor’s degree are admitted unconditionally to a Master’s program in the same subject area. Admission to programs in other subject areas can be subject to the addition of levelling courses, by assessement of the competent Faculty in charge of evaluating the application.
2. Specific requirements:
Please refer to the individual Master programme websites, in the Admissions secton.
3. Language
The admission to English-language Master programmes at USI requires a good command of English.
Find out more about English level and official language certificate required for admission.
The University, through the Career Service, offers to its students a series of activities and contact services with the job market.
In particular, the Service:
- promotes and develops internship opportunities, coordinating curricular internships;
- helps students who are seeking their first jobs, providing counselling and career-oriented services;
- organises information sessions on a variety of companies and organisations, in the private and public sector, nationally and internationally.
More in detail:
- The internship: Find an internship / job, Internship stories / Info stage
- Application dossier
- Career grants
- Meet the companies
- USI Career Forum
- Long Night of the Careers
- USI & Careers Guide
About
USI. Create freely, act responsibly.
Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) is one of the 12 certified public universities in Switzerland and member of swissuniversities. It is organised in five faculties and is active in several study and research areas, among which: architecture, communication sciences, computational science, data science, economics, health studies, humanities, informatics, law, medicine and biomedicine.
USI is a young and lively university, a hub of opportunity open to the world where students are offered a quality interdisciplinary education in which they can be fully engaged and take centre stage, and where our researchers can count on having the space to freely pursue their initiative.
Around 2900 students and about 850 professors and researchers, hailing from over 100 countries, convene every day on the three campuses in Lugano, Mendrisio and Bellinzona. The relatively small size of the campuses encourages the free flow and open exchange of ideas within the academic community. USI encourages faculty, students and researchers to develop their potential, and appreciates their curiosity and willingness to experiment with new ways of thinking, learning, teaching and working.
Established in 1996, USI is in constant evolution, always taking on new challenges while remaining true to its three guiding principles: quality, openness and responsibility.
Why USI
Seven reasons for choosing USI:
- Quality of the Swiss university system
- International faculty
- Leading interdisciplinary education
- Teacher/student radio 1 to 8
- Strong ties with the business world
- Flexible structure, open to the exchange of ideas
- International, dynamic and welcoming environment
USI is a young and agile university that offers to its students a quality education and an enhancing study experience. International faculty teach students with an interdisciplinary, engaging and interactive approach, leaving room to practical application.
The quality of the study curricula is complemented by USI small size, by its cosmopolitan environment and its informal and dynamic culture.
These elements make USI a hub of opportunity open to the world, where students can engage in direct dialogue with their professors and define their educational path, discover unexpected horizons and embrace international careers.
Admission to the Undergraduate programmes:
1. Swiss diplomas, awarded in Switzerland
- Maturità federale and Maturità cantonale recognised by the appropriate Federal Commission;
- Maturità commerciale cantonale (Scuola cantonale di commercio, Bellinzona);
- Final diploma from a university of applied sciences or diploma of a technical college recognised by the appropriate federal authorities: in these cases, where the field of study selected is the same as the previous one, the single Faculties may recommend admitting candidates to an advanced level of the programme and exempt them from particular examinations or from the internship period.
- School-leaving certificates issued by Swiss schools abroad are equally accepted.
2. Foreign diplomas
Applicants in possession of a foreign secondary education and/or of a foreign university diploma considered to be equivalent are admitted to the undergraduate programme. As a rule, reference is made to the guidelines of the University Admissions Commission of the Rectors’ Conference of the Swiss Universities. Should there be doubt about the equivalence of a foreign qualification, this can be resolved by means of an interview or exam; language requirements and/or supplementary courses may also be required.
Admission to the Postgraduate programmes:
1. General requirements:
Bachelor's (undergraduate) degree from an acknowledged university. Holders of a Bachelor’s degree are admitted unconditionally to a Master’s program in the same subject area. Admission to programs in other subject areas can be subject to the addition of levelling courses, by assessement of the competent Faculty in charge of evaluating the application.
2. Specific requirements:
Please refer to the individual Master programme websites, in the Admissions secton.
3. Language
The admission to English-language Master programmes at USI requires a good command of English.
Find out more about English level and official language certificate required for admission.
The University, through the Career Service, offers to its students a series of activities and contact services with the job market.
In particular, the Service:
- promotes and develops internship opportunities, coordinating curricular internships;
- helps students who are seeking their first jobs, providing counselling and career-oriented services;
- organises information sessions on a variety of companies and organisations, in the private and public sector, nationally and internationally.
More in detail:
- The internship: Find an internship / job, Internship stories / Info stage
- Application dossier
- Career grants
- Meet the companies
- USI Career Forum
- Long Night of the Careers
- USI & Careers Guide
Available programs
University highlights
- 2021#=273
- 2022#=240
- 2023#=240
- 2024#=328
- 2025#=405
Scholarships
Campus locations
Campus Lugano,
Via G. Buffi 13 , Lugano , Ticino , Switzerland , 6900
Accademia di Architettura,
Largo Bernasconi 2 , Mendrisio , Ticino , Switzerland , 6850