University of Zurich
Universität Zürich
Switzerland's largest university, founded by a democratic state in 1833, where Einstein earned his doctorate.
- Students
- 29,037
- International
- 20%
- of students
- Tuition
- CHF 2,440
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 1833
About UZH
Founded in 1833, the University of Zurich was the first university in Europe founded by a democratic state rather than a monarch or the church. Today it is Switzerland's largest university, with 29,037 students enrolled at the start of the fall 2026 semester, 19.6% of them from abroad. Its main building, with its domed tower, overlooks the old town next to ETH Zurich, and its science campus is at Irchel.
UZH has seven faculties: Theology and the Study of Religion; Law; Business, Economics and Informatics; Medicine; the Vetsuisse Faculty; Arts and Social Sciences; and Science. They span more than 150 departments and institutes. Law, human medicine and psychology have the most students. The university says twelve Nobel Prize winners have taught and researched at UZH, including Erwin Schrödinger and Rolf Zinkernagel.
Bachelor's teaching is in German as a rule, and students usually combine a major with a minor. UZH suits applicants who speak German at C1 level or above, hold a school-leaving certificate that matches the Swiss Matura, and want a large research university in one of Europe's most liveable (and most expensive) cities.
Why students choose UZH
Tuition is low for a top-100 university: CHF 720 per semester, plus a CHF 500 surcharge for foreign bachelor's students.
Many bachelor's programmes pair a major with a minor, so you can combine, for example, economics with a language or informatics.
Proximity to ETH Zurich and the University Hospital puts students in one of Europe's densest research districts.
Albert Einstein received his doctorate from UZH, and physicists like Schrödinger later taught here.
Admissions
Fall Semester 2027 (starting September 2027)
Selectivity
UZH has no selective admission for most bachelor's programmes: applicants who meet the formal requirements (a qualifying school-leaving certificate and C1 language proficiency) are admitted. Medicine (human, dental, veterinary, chiropractic) has capped places set by the canton and may require an aptitude test, and foreign nationals need a residence permit approved by UZH to be admitted.
Typical entry requirements
| Swiss Matura (gymnasial maturity certificate) | Admission to all faculties |
|---|---|
| Non-Swiss school-leaving certificates | Must correspond to the Swiss Matura in objective, content and length: at least 90% general education and, in the last three years, six continuous subjects (first language, a foreign language, maths, a natural science, a humanities/social science, plus one more); country-specific rules on swissuniversities.ch |
| Certificates only partly equivalent (Lisbon Convention countries) | Admission possible with at least two years of completed university study in a relevant field |
| Language | C1 (CEFR) in the programme's main language, usually German: Goethe C1/C2, DSH-2/3, DSD II, telc C1 Hochschule or TestDaF |
| English language | Bachelor's programmes are taught mainly in German, so C1 German is the key requirement. English certificates matter mainly for English-taught master's programmes. |
Deadlines
- Bachelor's, applicants who need a visa Non-binding Next deadline · In ~5 months28 February 2027
Window 1 January to 28 February, so the admission decision arrives in time for a Swiss national D visa
- Bachelor Medicine Non-binding In ~6 months31 March 2027 (swissuniversities registration by 15 February 2027)
Fall start only
- Bachelor's, applicants without visa requirements Non-binding In ~7 months30 April 2027
Window 1 January to 30 April; deadlines cannot be extended
Deadlines are UZH's fixed annual windows for the Fall Semester. A late window (1 May to 31 July, CHF 300 surcharge) exists only for applicants with a Swiss university entrance qualification.
How to apply
Apply online through UZH's application portal within the deadline, upload your school-leaving certificate and language proof, and pay the CHF 150 application fee for foreign qualifications. Checking a complete dossier can take up to three months. Medicine applicants must also register with swissuniversities by 15 February.
What admissions looks for
- A school-leaving certificate that matches the Swiss Matura in educational goal, subject breadth and length.
- C1-level proficiency in the programme's language of instruction, usually German.
- Where required, a minimum overall grade on your certificate, or a pass in the ECUS examination.
- For medicine, a place within the cantonal quota and, for foreign nationals, an approved residence permit.
Tips for applying to UZH
- 1 Check your country page on swissuniversities.ch first; it states exactly which subjects and grades your certificate needs for UZH.
- 2 If you need a visa, apply by 28 February, not 30 April, as UZH needs to decide three months before you enter Switzerland.
- 3 Get your German C1 certificate before applying; you cannot start your programme without it.
- 4 Some majors, including Business and Economics and Informatics, cannot be started in the Spring Semester, so plan for a fall start.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in CHF
UZH's Student Financial Aid Office supports students in financially challenging situations. Fees are low, but Zurich living costs are high. Master's-level support from UZH is limited to students with a Swiss bachelor's degree.
- CHF 150
- Application fee (foreign qualifications)
- CHF 59 per semester
- Mandatory semester contributions
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (Fall Semester and Spring Semester)
Law
One of UZH's most popular programmes, in the Faculty of Law.
Human Medicine
Among the programmes with the most students, with places capped by the canton.
Psychology
One of the three largest fields of study at UZH.
Business, Economics and Informatics
A combined faculty; majors in Business and Economics and Informatics start in the fall only.
Veterinary Medicine (Vetsuisse Faculty)
Taught in the Vetsuisse Faculty, the veterinary faculty UZH runs jointly with the University of Bern, in German.
Research
- Twelve Nobel laureates have taught and researched at UZH, including Erwin Schrödinger, Paul Karrer and Rolf Zinkernagel.
- CHF 360 million in third-party research funding and CHF 1.7 billion total revenue (latest annual report).
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Theology and the Study of Religion
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics
- Faculty of Medicine
- Vetsuisse Faculty
- Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
- Faculty of Science
Student life
UZH is spread across Zurich: the main building and humanities institutes sit above the old town next to ETH, the science faculty is on the green Irchel campus, and other sites include Oerlikon. There is no residential college system, and most students live in shared flats or student housing and use Zurich's trams. The Academic Sports Association Zurich (ASVZ), funded through the semester contribution runs a large university sports programme shared with ETH. The lake, the Limmat river and the nearby mountains shape free time.
- Academic Sports Association Zurich (ASVZ), included in the semester contribution
- Main building above the old town, next to ETH Zurich
- Irchel campus park for the Faculty of Science
- Museums including the Zoological Museum and the Museum of Anthropology
Housing. UZH does not guarantee housing; Zurich's rental market is very tight and expensive, so start looking months ahead.
Location
Zurich is Switzerland's largest city, a finance and tech hub on a lake with the Alps on the horizon. It is safe, clean and very efficient, with excellent public transport, but it is one of the most expensive cities in the world, especially for rent. German (and Swiss German) is the everyday language, though English is widely spoken.
Nearest airport: Zurich Airport (ZRH)
Notable alumni
- AE Albert EinsteinPhysicist; earned his PhD at UZH
- RL Rosa LuxemburgMarxist theorist and revolutionary
- DL Doris LeuthardPresident of the Swiss Confederation
- IC Ignazio CassisPresident of the Swiss Confederation
- EK Elisabeth KoppFirst woman elected to the Swiss Federal Council
- EH Eugen HuberJurist who drafted the Swiss Civil Code
- JK Jakob KellenbergerPresident of the International Committee of the Red Cross
- FK Florence KelleyAmerican social and political reformer
Frequently asked questions
Are UZH bachelor's programmes taught in English?
As a rule, no. UZH bachelor's programmes are taught in German, and foreign-language applicants must prove C1 German, for example Goethe C1, DSH-2 or TestDaF.
What is the University of Zurich application deadline?
For the Fall Semester, 30 April if you do not need a visa and 28 February if you do. Medicine applicants must also register with swissuniversities by 15 February.
How much does UZH cost per year?
Tuition is CHF 720 per semester, plus a CHF 500 surcharge per semester for foreign bachelor's students and CHF 59 in mandatory contributions. Living costs in Zurich are far higher than tuition.
Is my high school diploma accepted at UZH?
It must match the Swiss Matura in content and length, with six continuous academic subjects in the last three years. swissuniversities.ch lists the rules for each country, and some countries also require the ECUS exam.
What is UZH's QS ranking?
UZH is 98th (tied) in the QS World University Rankings 2027. It stopped providing data to the THE rankings in 2024, so it has no THE rank.
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.
Explore nearby in the world top 100
Universities ranked close to UZH in the QS World University Rankings 2027.