Academic Requirements

The formal requirement for admission to the Master's degree in Finance is the completion of a Bachelor's degree granted by a recognised university in Economics or related disciplines. Candidates are required to be adequately prepared in the fields of economics and basic quantitative subjects.

Specifically, admission to USI master's programmes requires a Bachelor's degree from a university or another Swiss academic institution, or a foreign Bachelor's degree from an equivalent institution that is recognized or accredited in the country of origin.

The following requirements particularly apply:

• The certificate must be issued by a recognized higher education institution in the country where the candidate completed their studies.
• The university degree must confirm at least three years of study (at least 180 ECTS credits).
• 80% of the credits must have been obtained at a recognized higher education institution.
• At least 50% of the credits must have been earned at the university that issued the degree.

The Bachelor's degree must be completed prior to starting the Master's programme. The term may be postponed in case some assessments are recorded, or the Bachelor thesis is defended later on, on a case-to-case basis.

Candidates with a Bachelor's degree from a recognised University of Applied Sciences may be admitted with 30-60 additional ECTS to be earned during or before the beginning of the programme, with Bachelor or Master courses according to a study programme defined by the scientific director. Admissions will be treated on a case-by-case basis. 

The number of places is limited to 70 to ensure an optimal learner-to-faculty ratio; therefore, there will be a selection.
Applicants will be selected based on the following criteria:

1. Academic background and undergraduate average grade, with particular attention to performance in finance-related and quantitative courses.
2. Letter of motivation, which should clearly articulate the applicant’s interest in and suitability for the programme.
3. CV and extracurricular activities, showcasing relevant experiences and achievements.
4. GMAT or GRE scores, if available (submission of these scores is mandatory for candidates whose Bachelor is obtained in a non-EU/non-EFTA Country).
5. Fulfilment of the English language requirement, which must be demonstrated through recognized certifications or equivalent qualifications. Applications lacking a valid English certification at the time of review — or, at the latest, by the corresponding application deadline based on visa requirements — will be deemed incomplete and will not be reviewed.
   See Language Requirements page for details.

Applications will be reviewed in three rounds, with deadlines at the end of February, April, and June (the June deadline only for Swiss and EU/EFTA candidates). Late applications will not be accepted.
Admission decisions will be communicated to applicants within three weeks after each review round.