Application

Academic Year 2026/27

Autumn Semester 2026 (begin September 2026)

Opening of applications: 9 December 2025.

The deadlines for submitting an application for the Autumn may differ depending on the selected programme.
We therefore invite you to consult the Application Procedure/ Application deadline section on the page relating to the programme of interest.

Spring Semester 2027 (begin February 2027)

Opening of applications: 14 September 2026.

The programmes offering admission in the Spring Semester 2027 are as follows:

• Bachelor programmes: Bachelor in Communication, Bachelor in Lingua, letteratura e civiltà italiana, Bachelor of Theology, Bachelor in Philosophy.
• Master programmes: Master in Architecture (candidates with a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from SUP/HES/FS); Master in History and Theory of Art and Architecture; Master in Media Management; Master in Lingua, letteratura e civiltà italiana; Master in International Tourism; Master in Public Management and Policy; Master in Data Science; Master in Informatics; Master of Theology; Master of Arts in Diritto canonico ed ecclesiastico comparato; Master of Arts in Philosophy.

The deadlines for submitting an application for the Autumn may differ depending on the selected programme.
We therefore invite you to consult the Application Procedure/ Application deadline section on the page relating to the programme of interest.

Overview of study programmes

For a complete overview of the individual programme pages and enrolment deadlines, please visit:

• Overview Bachelor Programmes
• Overview Master Programme 

Standard application:

Following documents are required in order to submit an application:

• Copy of a personal identity document (ID or passport)
• Copies of academic qualifications* (high school diploma/school attendance certificate)
• School transcript 
• Study plan 
• Italian/English language certificate (as specified in the "Admission" section of the programme)
• Copy of the residence permit for foreign candidates already residing in Switzerland
• Certified translation of diplomas not issued in Italian, German, French, English, or Spanish
• Any additional documentation required by the form
• For foreign qualifications: documentation required in accordance with swissuniversities requirements

* while awaiting the high school diploma (or equivalent), the student must submit the school attendance certificate issued by the school.

Mature students (on dossier application for candidates aged 25 or more, although not in possession of the required certificate of secondary education)

Following documents are required in order to submit an application:

• Copy of a personal identity document (ID or passport)
• Copies of academic qualifications (bachelor's degree, license, master's degree, high school diploma/school attendance certificate)
• School transcript 
• Study plan 
• Certificate of Bachelor's/Master's exams (transcript)
• Curriculum vitae
• Candidate's motivational letter
• Certificate of employment
• Italian/English language certificate (as specified in the "Admission" section of the programme)
• Certified translation of diplomas not issued in Italian, German, French, English, or Spanish
• Copy of the residence permit for foreign candidates already residing in Switzerland
• Any additional documentation required by the form

Following documents are required in order to submit an application:

• Copy of a personal identity document (ID or passport)
• Copies of academic qualifications* (Bachelor's degree/ License, Master's degree, High School Diploma/ school attendance certificate)
• Certificate of Bachelor's/ Master's exams (transcript)
• Curriculum vitae
• Candidate's motivational letter
• Italian/ English language certificate (as specified in the "Admission" section of the programme)
• Certified translation of diplomas not issued in Italian, German, French, English, or Spanish
• Copy of the residence permit for foreign candidates already residing in Switzerland
• Any additional documentation required by the form. Please check the Admission section of the programme for any additional documents required.

The motivation letter and the Curriculum Vitae must be written in the language of instruction of the programme.
Candidates may apply for a maximum of two programmes.
For each programme you apply for, a separated motivation letter must be uploaded.

* while awaiting the degree, the student must provide the transcript of exams taken, specifying in the motivational letter the expected date of obtaining the degree (for this, it is necessary to submit a declaration issued by the University of origin).

Following cases are exempted from the application fee payment:

• candidates with previous degree studies completed in countries signatories of the Lisbon Convention*
• candidates of the Bachelor and Master programmes offered by the Faculty of Theology (affiliated to USI).

For those who are not exempted (see above), at the time of submission of the application form, a registration fee of CHF 100.- is required (application fee waiver is not possible).
The registration fee is non-refundable in the event of withdrawal by the student or rejection. In case of enrolment, the fee will be deducted from the first semester's tuition fees.

Bachelor and Master in Architecture

The registration fee for candidates for the Bachelor and Master in Architecture is CHF 200.- (exempted are candidates with a Swiss secondary diploma and EPFL/ETHZ/HES/FH/SUP).
The registration fee is not deducted from the tuition but is retained as a deposit, which will be refunded at the end of the studies (with any necessary deductions if applicable).

Mature student Bachelor applicants (“on dossier”)

The application fee for mature students (“on dossier”) is CHF 100.-, counting for the higher administrative costs of processing more complex files.
Exemptions are not provided.
Applicants by portfolio for the Bachelor in Architecture are invited to pay CHF 200.-.
Payment is not required for candidates of the Bachelor and Master programmes offered by the Faculty of Theology (affiliated to USI).

Payment methods

The payment through Saferpay is requested before submitting the application.
The application fee is non-refundable in the event of withdrawal by the student or rejection. In the event of enrolment, the fee will be deducted from the first semester's tuition fees.

*What is the Lisbon Convention?

The Lisbon Convention regulates the recognition of university degrees between signatory countries and considerably simplifies the administration of admission procedures.
For this reason, candidates whose previous degree studies were completed in countries inside this Convention (see list below), are exempted from the application fee.

In order to better protect future USI students against potential fraud, we wish to draw attention to fake USI intermediary services and/or misleading advertisements on the Internet, as well as related board and accommodation/matriculation proposals.

USI has no intermediaries whatsoever in these roles.

Enrollment at USI can only occur when applications are validated by its Faculty admission officers or when submitted online - in Italian or in English - via the official website of USI. The latter offers all relevant information on admission requirements, procedures, fees and accommodation: https://www.usi.ch/en.

When in doubt, we strongly recommend:

• To check and verify the identity of the intermediary;
• Not to submit any personal documents or information;
• To pay particular attention to messages written in languages other than Italian or English, which are the only two languages used by USI for all its official communications;
• To be suspicious of any advance payment requests, as USI does not request advance payment of tuition fees and/or rent.

Please report any fake or fraudulent advertisements to USI: [email protected].

USI shall take no responsibility for damages relating to incidents of this kind, to the use of such intermediary services, and to the acceptance of such proposals.