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Application Procedure

Candidates are invited to submit their application using the online form available on the page www.usi.ch/en/education-application.

Required documentation:
The following pieces of documentation have to be uploaded in the online form:

  • Copy of past diplomas (Bachelor, licentiate, four-year degree, maturity);
  • Official transcript of results of university examinations;
  • Certified translation of any diplomas written in a language other than Italian, German, French, English, or Spanish;
  • Curriculum vitae (Resume) - in the language of the Master's programme;
  • Personal letter of motivation drafted by the candidate - in the language of the Master's programme;
  • Official certification of proficiency in English;
  • Copy of an identity card or passport;
  • Copy of residence permit for foreign nationals already domiciled in Switzerland.

Copy of past degree certificates
Where a candidate has not fulfilled all the requirements for the Bachelor's degree, licentiate or other, a copy of the diploma may be sent at a later stage, but in any case no later than the beginning of the matriculation period. If so, please indicate the expected date of the award and enclose an official document issued by the awarding institution confirming these terms.

Letter of motivation
Candidates are required to draft a letter (not more than one page) introducing themselves and explaining their particular interests and reasons for seeking admission to a given Master's degree.

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  • Application deadlines

    Academic Year 2026/27

    Autumn Semester 2026 (September)

    Opening of applications: 9 December 2025.

    The deadlines for submitting an application for the Autumn intake are:

    • 30 April 2026 for international (non-EU/EFTA) candidates.
    • 30 June 2026 for Swiss and European (EU/EFTA) candidates who do not require a visa

    Late applications will be considered only in the case of available places.

    Spring Semester 2027 (February)

    Opening of applications: 14 September 2026.
    Please be informed that applications will be considered only in the case of available places.

    The deadlines for submitting an application for the spring intake are:

    • 31 October 2026 for international (non-EU/EFTA) candidates
    • 15 January 2027 for Swiss and European (EU/EFTA) candidates who do not require a visa

    Late applications will be considered only in the case of available places.

  • Application fee

    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.

    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.

    List of Countries that have signed the Lisbon Convention

    		  

    Albania
    Andorra
    Armenia
    Australia
    Austria
    Azerbaijan
    Belarus
    Belgium
    Bosnia and Herzegovina
    Bulgaria
    Canada
    Croatia
    Cyprus
    Czech Republic
    Denmark
    Estonia
    Finland
    France
    Georgia

    Germany
    Greece
    Holy See
    Hungary
    Iceland
    Ireland
    Israel
    Italy
    Kazakhstan
    Kyrghyz Republic
    Latvia
    Liechtenstein
    Lithuania
    Luxembourg
    Macedonia
    Malta
    Moldova
    Monaco
    Montenegro

    Netherlands
    New Zealand
    Norway
    Poland
    Portugal
    Romania
    Russia
    San Marino
    Serbia
    Slovakia
    Slovenia
    Spain
    Sweden
    Switzerland
    Tajikistan
    Turkey
    Ukraine
    United Kingdom
    United States

  • Fraud warning / Security notice

    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.

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