University of Geneva
Université de Genève
Calvin's 1559 academy, now a French-speaking research university beside the UN, WHO and CERN.
- Students
- 18,241
- 8,606 undergraduates
- International
- 40%
- of students
- Tuition
- CHF 1,000
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 1559
About UNIGE
The University of Geneva began in 1559 as the Academy of Geneva, founded by John Calvin as a theological and humanist seminary. It added the sciences, law and philosophy during the Enlightenment, and became a secular university after its Faculty of Medicine was created in 1873. Today it has nine faculties and 13 interfaculty centres and institutes, and it enrolled 18,241 students in autumn 2025, about 40 percent of them from outside Switzerland.
UNIGE's research strengths include the life sciences (molecular biology and bioinformatics), particle physics and astrophysics: Geneva astronomers Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz discovered the first exoplanet orbiting a Sun-like star. The university hosts or co-hosts seven National Centres of Competence in Research and is a member of the League of European Research Universities. It works closely with Geneva-based international organisations such as the WHO, the International Committee of the Red Cross and CERN.
French is the language of teaching, especially at bachelor's level, and applicants need B2-level French. Tuition is low (CHF 500 per semester) and the same for everyone, but Geneva is one of the world's most expensive cities and student housing is scarce. UNIGE suits French-speaking or French-learning students who want a broad research university with an international outlook.
Post tenebras lux
“Light after darkness” — university motto
Why students choose UNIGE
Fees are CHF 500 per semester for every student, whether Swiss or international.
Ranked 55th in the world in ARWU 2026, the top comprehensive university in Switzerland in that ranking.
Close ties with international Geneva, including the WHO, the ICRC, the International Telecommunication Union and CERN, plus a Global Studies Institute.
Seven National Centres of Competence in Research are hosted or co-hosted at UNIGE, including PlanetS on planetary science and SwissMAP on mathematics and physics.
Admissions
Autumn semester 2027 entry
Selectivity
Admission to most bachelor's programmes depends on whether your school-leaving certificate meets UNIGE's enrolment conditions (equivalence with the Swiss Maturité) and on French proficiency. There is no published acceptance rate. Human medicine and dentistry are restricted, with swissuniversities pre-registration and eligibility limits for foreign nationals.
Typical entry requirements
| Swiss Maturité | A federally recognised Swiss Maturité gives access to bachelor's programmes (restricted programmes such as Medicine have extra requirements) |
|---|---|
| IB Diploma | At least 32 points without bonus points, with three Higher Level subjects (including one of Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology or Physics) and three at Standard Level |
| German Abitur | Zeugnis der allgemeinen Hochschulreife covering six general-education subjects, with an average of 2.5 or better (otherwise proof of admission to a German university in the same subject), plus the French exam unless exempt |
| A-levels (UK) | Six subjects including three A-levels (one in Mathematics or a science), with grade B in two A-levels and C in the third, plus three GCSE/AS subjects at minimum grades |
| US High School Diploma | High School Diploma with six AP exams scored 3 or higher in the required general-education subjects |
| English language | French, not English, is the main language of instruction, especially at bachelor's level. Applicants need B2 French, shown by a recognised diploma or by passing UNIGE's French exam (CHF 100). Swiss nationals and holders of French-language school diplomas are exempt. The Bachelor in Economics and Management also sets an English level. |
Deadlines
- Human medicine and dentistry (swissuniversities pre-registration) Non-binding Next deadline · In ~4 months15 February 2027
Compulsory pre-registration with swissuniversities between early December and 15 February before the autumn semester, in addition to the UNIGE application. Eligibility for foreign nationals is limited.
- Autumn semester: applicants who need a Swiss visa Non-binding In ~5 months28 February 2027
Application window 15 January to 28 February. Applies to nationalities that need a visa for a stay of more than 90 days, unless you hold a Swiss residence permit valid beyond 30 April, and to applicants who must sit the ECUS exam.
- Autumn semester: other applicants Non-binding In ~7 months30 April 2027
Application window 15 January to 30 April for applicants who do not need a visa (for example EU/EFTA nationals) or who hold a Swiss residence permit valid beyond 30 April.
UNIGE publishes a fixed yearly pattern (autumn semester: 15 January to 28 February or 30 April, depending on nationality and visa status). The 2027 dates above apply that pattern; use the enrolment conditions tool on UNIGE's site to confirm the deadline for your profile.
How to apply
Create a Switch edu-ID, then complete one online application per programme on UNIGE's application portal. Holders of non-Swiss secondary diplomas pay a CHF 65 registration fee, which is deducted from the first semester's fees. Human medicine and dentistry also require pre-registration with swissuniversities by 15 February.
What admissions looks for
- A school-leaving certificate recognised by UNIGE as general education, covering six subjects studied in each of the last three years of upper secondary school.
- A minimum grade average or score for many certificates, for example 32 IB points or an Abitur of 2.5.
- French at B2 level, either through a recognised diploma or UNIGE's own French exam.
- A complete and correct application: once submitted it cannot be modified, and missing documents must be supplied within about seven days.
Tips for applying to UNIGE
- 1 Use the filters on UNIGE's enrolment conditions page (nationality, school diploma, programme) to see the exact requirements and deadline for your profile.
- 2 If you need a visa, apply by 28 February, not 30 April, and start looking for housing early: a local address is needed for your student residence permit.
- 3 Sit a recognised French exam at B2 level in your home country to avoid the UNIGE French test in September; if you narrowly fail that test, you may be offered a preparatory year instead.
- 4 Medicine applicants must pre-register with swissuniversities by 15 February; missing this step ends the application.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in CHF
Fees are the same CHF 500 per semester for all students. The University of Geneva and HES-SO Geneva offer need-based financial aid, including emergency grants, help with health and exchange costs, and exemption from the CHF 435 supervision fee for students in financial difficulty. Applying for aid is free.
- CHF 500 (CHF 65 fixed plus CHF 435 supervision)
- Semester fees
- CHF 65, deducted from first-semester fees
- Registration fee for non-Swiss diplomas
- CHF 100
- French exam fee
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (autumn and spring)
Physics and Astronomy (Faculty of Sciences)
Particle physics and astrophysics are core research strengths, and Geneva's astronomy department is where the first exoplanet orbiting a Sun-like star was found.
Medicine
The Faculty of Medicine had the most students at UNIGE for the first time in 2025, after bachelor's entrants rose 13.4%; admission runs through swissuniversities.
International Relations (Global Studies Institute)
Taught in a city full of UN agencies and NGOs; bachelor's entrants at the GSI rose 11.6% in 2025.
Translation and Interpreting
Taught by a dedicated Faculty of Translation and Interpreting in a multilingual diplomatic city.
Information Systems and Business Analytics (Bachelor, GSEM)
A new bachelor's programme launched in September 2026 at the Geneva School of Economics and Management.
Psychology and Educational Sciences
UNIGE's second-largest faculty (2,873 students in 2025), carrying on the tradition of Jean Piaget, who taught and directed research in Geneva.
Research
- Hosts or co-hosts seven National Centres of Competence in Research, including Frontiers in Genetics, PlanetS, SwissMAP, Chemical Biology and Synaptic Bases of Mental Diseases.
- Michel Mayor, professor emeritus in UNIGE's Department of Astronomy, and Didier Queloz discovered 51 Pegasi b in 1995, the first exoplanet found orbiting a Sun-like star, and shared the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics.
- Research strengths named by the university include molecular biology, bioinformatics, elementary particle physics and astrophysics.
- Member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU) and the 4EU+ European University Alliance.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Sciences
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Humanities
- Geneva School of Economics and Management (GSEM)
- Geneva School of Social Sciences
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Theology
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences
- Faculty of Translation and Interpreting
- Global Studies Institute
Student life
UNIGE is a city university spread across several buildings in central Geneva, with Uni Bastions beside the Parc des Bastions as its historic home. About 40 percent of students come from abroad, and many international organisations are within walking or tram distance. The university has a limited number of residences and does not automatically provide housing, so most students rent privately in a tight market. Campus life services cover sport, culture and language classes, with financial aid for students in difficulty.
- Uni Bastions, the historic main building, sits on the Parc des Bastions in the city centre.
- About 40% of students are international (7,280 of 18,241 in 2025).
- The university's financial aid covers access to sports, culture and language classes.
- UNIGE is part of the 4EU+ alliance, the Coimbra Group and LERU, which support exchanges across Europe.
Housing. UNIGE runs a limited number of student residences but does not automatically house students, and it advises admitted students to secure accommodation before arriving.
Location
Geneva is a French-speaking city at the tip of Lake Geneva, bordered by France and home to UN offices, the Red Cross and, nearby, CERN. It is compact, safe and very international, but living costs are among the highest in the world and student housing is hard to find, so budget carefully and start your search early.
Nearest airport: Geneva Airport (GVA)
Notable alumni
- MH Martin HairerFields Medal-winning mathematician; BSc in mathematics and PhD in physics from UNIGE
- JD Jacques DubochetBiophysicist and 2017 Nobel laureate in Chemistry; completed his biophysics thesis at Geneva and Basel
- MM Michel MayorAstrophysicist and 2019 Nobel laureate in Physics; doctoral thesis at the University of Geneva
- JH Jean HoerniSilicon transistor pioneer who developed the planar process; degree and PhD from UNIGE
- CN Claude NicollierSwitzerland's first astronaut; post-diploma degree in astrophysics from UNIGE
- DV Diane von FürstenbergFashion designer known for the wrap dress; studied economics at UNIGE
- MB Manolo BlahnikShoe designer; enrolled at UNIGE to study politics and law
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to speak French to study at the University of Geneva?
Yes, for almost all bachelor's programmes. French is the main language of instruction, and you need B2-level French, shown by a recognised diploma or by passing UNIGE's French exam.
How much are tuition fees at the University of Geneva?
CHF 500 per semester for all students, Swiss or international. Applicants with a non-Swiss diploma pay a CHF 65 registration fee, which is then deducted from the first semester's fees.
What is the application deadline for the University of Geneva?
For the autumn semester, applications open on 15 January and close on 28 February if you need a Swiss visa, or 30 April otherwise. Medicine also requires swissuniversities pre-registration by 15 February.
What IB score do I need for the University of Geneva?
At least 32 points without bonus points, with three Higher Level subjects (one of them Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology or Physics) and three at Standard Level, plus the French requirement.
Does the University of Geneva provide student housing?
It has some residences but does not automatically house students. UNIGE advises booking accommodation before arrival, since you need a residential address to get a student residence permit.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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