USI Master's at a glance

The Master of Science or Master of Arts degrees are full-time graduate-level specialisation programs (3 or 4 semesters) awarded 90-120 ECTS points.

 

Master's degrees are offered in the following subject areas:

  • Humanities

- Master in Architecture
- Master in History and Theory of Art and Architecture
- Master in Lingua, letteratura e civiltà italiana
- Master in Philosophy
- Master of Theology (at the Faculty of Theology, affiliated to USI)
Master in Scienza, filosofia e teologia delle religioni (at the Faculty of Theology, affiliated to USI)
Master in Interreligious Dialogue: Science, Philosophy and Theology of Religions (at the Faculty of Theology, affiliated to USI)
- Master in Diritto canonico ed ecclesiastico comparato (at the Faculty of Theology, affiliated to USI)

  • Finance

- Master in Finance
- Master in European Studies in Investor Relations and Financial Communication
- Master in Financial Technology and Computing

  • Tourism

- Master in International Tourism

  • Political economy

- Master in Economia e politiche internazionali
- Master in Economics
- Master in Public Management and Policy (PMP)

  • Management and marketing

- Master in Management
- Master in Management and Informatics
- Master in Marketing and Transformative Economy
- Master in Digital Fashion Communication
- Master in Corporate Communication
- Master in Public Management and Policy (PMP)

  • Health studies

- Master in Communication, Management and Health
- Master in Cognitive Psychology in Health Communication
- Master of Medicine

  • Media and Communication

- Master in Media Management
- Master in Communication, Management and Health
- Master in Cognitive Psychology in Health Communication
- Master in Corporate Communication
- Master in Digital Fashion Communication
- Master in European Studies in Investor Relations and Financial Communication

  • Informatics

- Master in Informatics
- Master in Artificial Intelligence
Master in Computational Science
- Master in Software and Data Engineering
- Master in Management and Informatics
- Master in Financial Technology and Computing

  • Computational science

- Master in Computational Science

The Master's degrees at USI are defined by their high level of specialisation, leading to international careers both in the professional and academic fields. Distinguished faculty in the respective disciplines provide innovative and quality teaching with a robust interdisciplinary approach and collaboration with local and international institutions. The direct dialogue with professors and the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the University are the elements that enable students to broaden their views and define their education individually. The theory is applied in case studies and consulting projects for companies and other business entities (field projects).

Study credits

All courses are awarded ECTS points. The European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) guarantees that credits are compatible and transferable within all European universities. A full-time academic year consists of 60 ECTS (30 credits each semester).

 

Admission requirements

  • 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 assessing the competent Faculty in charge of evaluating the application.

Students who have exceeded the number of attempts to pass exams (definitive failure) in any Swiss or foreign university cannot be admitted to the same Faculty or subject area (Art. 6, Regulations for admissions and enrolment).
 

  • Specific requirements:

Please refer to the individual Master program websites in the 'Admissions' section (see above for the list of programs).

Admission of candidates with academic curricula other than those indicated for each Master's program above is assessed individually. Program directors may require such candidates to include additional courses in their study plans when deemed essential for their academic curriculum.
 

  • Language:

Admission to the A.Y. 2023/24

Admission to English-language Master programmes at USI requires a good command of English. Non-native English speakers applying to the Master’s or whose previous degree was obtained in another language are required to provide an internationally acknowledged language certificate equal to the B2 level as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Language Learning (CEFR) or equivalent (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS, etc.).

The B2 level on the CEFR corresponds to the following scores in internationally acknowledged exams:

  Score
IELTS* 5.5
TOEFL* Internet-based*: 65
Cambridge English B2 First
TOEIC Listening & Reading: 785
Speaking: 150
Writing: 160
   

Important:

  • The language certificate must be included in the application package.
  • We only accept the above English qualifications (IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge English, TOEIC).
  • The certificate must still be valid at the point of the application. We generally cannot accept language test results older than three years as of September 1st.
  • *Update 30.01.2023 - Academic Year 2023/24: certificates obtained by passing the IELTS Academic Online or TOEFL iBT Home Edition tests may also be submitted for admission to the programme.

 

Admission to the A.Y. 2024/25

Admission to English-language Master programmes at USI requires a good command of English. Non-native English speakers applying to the Master’s or whose previous degree was obtained in another language are required to provide an internationally acknowledged language certificate equal to the B2+ level as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Language Learning (CEFR) or equivalent (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS, etc.).

The B2+ level on the CEFR corresponds to the following scores in internationally acknowledged exams:

  Score
IELTS 6.5
TOEFL Internet-based: 85
Cambridge English First grade B
TOEIC Listening & Reading: 860
Speaking: 170
Writing: 170
   

Important:

  • The language certificate must be included in the application package.
  • We only accept the above English qualifications (IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge English, TOEIC).
  • The certificate must still be valid at the point of the application. We generally cannot accept language test results older than three years as of September 1st.
  • Certificates obtained by passing the IELTS Academic Online or TOEFL iBT Home Edition tests may also be submitted for admission to the programme.