Admission

Candidates holding one of the following educational qualifications have direct access to the Bachelor’s programmes of the Università della Svizzera italiana (USI):

• 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.

Applicants in possession of foreign secondary education and/or of a foreign university diploma considered to be equivalent are eligible 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 (swissuniversities). Where equivalence cannot be unequivocally defined, candidates may be invited to attend an interview or to sit a test, and supplementary, pre-university courses may be prescribed.

Italian diplomas
Secondary education (or high school) diplomas conferred by the following types of schools are considered equivalent:

• Classical Gymnasium (or Lyceum);
• Scientific Lyceum;
• Language Lyceum;
• Social sciences (or Humanities) Lyceum.

The following secondary education diplomas are also considered equivalent:

• Arts Lyceum limited to the Bachelor programmes in Architecture and in Italian language, literature and culture;
• High school degree in Administration, Finance and Marketing, conferred by a vocational high school (or trade school in economics), limited to the Bachelor programmes in Economics, Communication and Informatics;
• High school degree in Informatics and Telecommunications, conferred by a vocational-technical high school, limited to the Bachelor in Informatics.

All other secondary education diplomas conferred by high schools or vocational high schools are not deemed equivalent. Exceptions can be taken into consideration for similar subject areas of study and upon fulfilment of the guidelines of the Admissions Commission at swissuniversities (formerly CRUS, or Rector's Conference of the Swiss Universities).

With concerns to degrees conferred before implementing the current set of rules and regulations, the convergence tables for secondary education programmes, as foreseen by the previous regulatory system for the high school and vocational high school system, shall apply. However, diplomas conferred by teacher training schools, professional art schools and all other four-year secondary education schools will not be acknowledged.

Other countries

As to qualifications awarded in other countries:

• The European Baccalaureat is considered equivalent, whereas the International Baccalaureat is accepted as a suitable equivalent only if the final average grade is above a specific class. More information is available on the swissuniversities' website.
• The International Baccalaureat is accepted as an equivalent qualification only if the final average grade is above a specific score threshold and include 6 subjects, with at least 3 at Higher Level, one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject. For details on the accepted subjects and the minimum final score, please refer to the appropriate guidelines issued by swissuniversities
• A US High School final diploma is not recognised as equivalent to the required certificate of secondary education. US applicants seeking admission to USI must submit evidence of passing 6 (six) APT (Advanced placement tests) with a minimum mark of 3. Please refer to the appropriate guidelines issued by swissuniversities.
• For foreign students, a good command of Italian is required for the Bachelor in Communication (B2 level of the international language certificate's frames).

Candidates aged 25 or more, although not in possession of the required certificate of secondary education, may be admitted if their previous training and work experience (appropriately documented in their application file) is considered to be sufficient and relevant.

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 (only for candidates who obtain a high school diploma abroad),
• Study plan (only for candidates who obtain a high school diploma abroad),
• 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 program),
• 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,
• Certified translation of diplomas not issued in Italian, German, French, English, or Spanish,
• Any additional documentation required by the form.

Following cases are exempted from the application fee payment:

• candidates with a Swiss secondary diploma and EPFL/ETHZ/HES/FH/SUP.

Bachelor and Master in Architecture

The registration fee for candidates for the Bachelor and Master in Architecture is CHF 200.-.
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”)

Applicants by portfolio for the Bachelor in Architecture are invited to pay CHF 200.-.

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.