Università della Svizzera italiana
Switzerland's Italian-speaking university: English-taught informatics in Lugano, architecture in Mendrisio.
- Students
- 4,749
- Tuition
- CHF 10,000
- 2027-28
- Founded
- 1996
- QS World Ranking
- #456
- 2027 edition
About USI
The Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) opened in 1996 as the public university of Italian-speaking Switzerland, and is one of 12 certified public universities in the country. It is small by design: 4,749 students and 1,591 professors and researchers from 115 countries, spread over campuses in Lugano, Mendrisio and Bellinzona in the canton of Ticino.
USI has six faculties: the Academy of Architecture in Mendrisio, Biomedical Sciences, Communication, Culture and Society, Economics, Informatics, and the affiliated Faculty of Theology of Lugano. Italian is the official teaching language for bachelor's degrees in Architecture, Communication, Economics and Italian studies, but the BSc in Informatics and the Bachelor in Data Science are taught entirely in English, and Economics has offered a parallel English track since 2024/25.
The Academy of Architecture grew out of a project developed with the architect Mario Botta, and the Faculty of Informatics, founded in 2004, works with the Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence (IDSIA), where DeepMind co-founder Shane Legg did his PhD research. USI suits students who want small classes, close contact with professors and an Italian-speaking corner of Switzerland.
Why students choose USI
The BSc in Informatics and the Bachelor in Data Science are taught entirely in English, so you can study in Switzerland without Italian.
The Academy of Architecture in Mendrisio teaches through design studios led by practising architects, with five years of teaching plus a year in a professional office.
USI ranked 9th in THE's World's Best Small Universities 2024, and small classes allow direct dialogue with professors.
Swiss fees are moderate: from 2027/28, CHF 5,000 a semester for international students and CHF 2,000 for Swiss students and residents.
Admissions
Autumn semester 2027 (academic year 2027/28)
Selectivity
USI publishes no admission rate. Admission is based on holding a Swiss maturità or a foreign secondary diploma considered equivalent under swissuniversities guidelines, plus programme language requirements. The Academy of Architecture may limit numbers and can introduce a selective test if applications exceed capacity.
Typical entry requirements
| Swiss maturità (federal or cantonal) | Direct access to all bachelor's programmes |
|---|---|
| International Baccalaureate | Accepted if the final score is above the swissuniversities threshold, with 6 subjects including at least 3 at Higher Level, one of them mathematics or a natural science |
| Italian licei and other European diplomas | Liceo classico, scientifico, linguistico and scienze umane diplomas are equivalent; the European Baccalaureate is accepted with six subjects meeting swissuniversities rules |
| US high school diploma | Not sufficient on its own; you also need six AP exams with scores of at least 3 |
| English language | IELTS 5.5 · TOEFL iBT 70 Figures shown are for the English track of the Bachelor in Economics (B2: IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 70, Cambridge First grade C or TOEIC), which can be shown at enrolment or within four weeks of the semester start. Informatics and Data Science are taught in English. Italian-taught programmes require Italian at B2 for non-native speakers (e.g. Communication, and the Italian track of Economics). |
Deadlines
- Non-EU/EFTA applicants (all bachelor's programmes) Non-binding Next deadline · In ~7 months30 April 2027
Applications for autumn 2027 open in December 2026. Also the deadline for architecture applicants who need a visa or apply 'by portfolio'.
- Architecture: Swiss and EU/EFTA school-leaving certificates Non-binding In ~8 months1 June 2027
Bachelor in Architecture at the Mendrisio campus.
- Swiss and EU/EFTA applicants who do not need a visa Non-binding In ~9 months30 June 2027
For Informatics, Economics, Data Science and other Lugano programmes; late applications only if places remain.
These are USI's published deadlines for the 2027/28 academic year. The Bachelor of Medicine is taken at the University of Basel or Bern (in German) and follows those universities' procedures.
How to apply
Apply online through USI's application form (in Italian or English), uploading your secondary school diploma or proof of current attendance, transcripts, passport or ID and any required Italian or English certificate, with certified translations for documents not in Italian, German, French, English or Spanish. A CHF 100 application fee applies unless your previous studies were in a Lisbon Convention country (Architecture: CHF 200 deposit). USI checks eligibility and sends the outcome; admitted students then matriculate.
What admissions looks for
- A secondary school diploma recognised as equivalent to the Swiss maturità under swissuniversities guidelines.
- The required language level: English B2 for English-taught tracks, Italian B2 for Italian-taught ones.
- For architecture applicants by portfolio, a portfolio of projects, motivation and passing written tests and an interview.
Tips for applying to USI
- 1 Check your diploma against the swissuniversities country guidelines before applying; IB students need to meet the score threshold and subject rules.
- 2 If you are from outside the EU/EFTA, apply by 30 April 2027 to leave time for the Swiss entry permit, which requires documents in Italian.
- 3 Choose your language stream in Economics carefully: English and Italian tracks run in parallel, each with its own B2 certificate requirement.
- 4 Budget realistically: USI estimates living costs in Lugano or Mendrisio at CHF 1,300 to 1,900 a month.
Costs & financial aid
2027-28 · figures in CHF
USI does not run a large need-based aid scheme itself; it points students to scholarships from public and private institutions listed on its scholarships page. Students enrolled before 2027/28 keep the fee in force at their first enrolment, but new students from 2027/28 pay the new CHF 5,000 or CHF 2,000 semester fee.
- CHF 5,000
- Semester fee from 2027/28 (international)
- CHF 2,000
- Semester fee from 2027/28 (Swiss and residents)
- CHF 100 (waived for previous studies in Lisbon Convention countries; deducted from first semester if you enrol)
- Application fee
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (autumn semester from September, spring semester)
Bachelor of Science in Informatics
Taught entirely in English by a faculty USI created in 2004, with complex programming projects from day one and partnerships with ETH Zurich, EPFL and Politecnico di Milano.
Bachelor in Data Science
Launched in 2024/25 jointly by the Faculties of Informatics and Economics, taught in English, with Informatics or Finance and Economics streams.
Bachelor in Architecture
At the Mendrisio Academy, built around design studios with a humanist and generalist approach, followed by a two-year master's.
Bachelor in Economics
Core courses offered in parallel Italian and English tracks since 2024/25.
Bachelor in Communication
An interdisciplinary programme running for almost 30 years, with specialisations in business, media and journalism, and digital culture; taught in Italian.
Research
- The Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence (IDSIA), run jointly with SUPSI, where Shane Legg did the research that preceded DeepMind.
- Affiliated biomedical institutes in Bellinzona, the Institute for Research in Biomedicine and the Institute of Oncology Research.
- USI reports strong results in QS and THE subject rankings for computer science, economics and medicine.
Schools & faculties
- Academy of Architecture (Mendrisio)
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences
- Faculty of Communication, Culture and Society
- Faculty of Economics
- Faculty of Informatics
- Faculty of Theology of Lugano (affiliated)
Student life
USI is a compact university: the main Lugano campus is built around a former civic hospital, the Academy of Architecture occupies historic and modern buildings in Mendrisio, and biomedical research is in Bellinzona. Classes are small, students and researchers come from 115 countries, and Italian and English are both used in teaching. Intensive and extensive Italian courses are available, and the university sports service, careers events and cultural programme fill the calendar. Living costs are high by European standards, at CHF 1,300 to 1,900 a month by USI's estimate.
- Students and researchers from 115 countries.
- Intensive Italian courses before each semester and extensive courses during the year.
- USI Alumni Award, given in 2024 to Shane Legg and in 2025 to architect Giacomo Brenna.
- Dies academicus each spring with a guest talk.
Housing. USI lists housing options including USI Home, Casa dell'Accademia in Mendrisio, a rental listings database and student residences; rooms cost about CHF 450 to 800 a month.
Location
USI's main campus is in Lugano, in Ticino, the Italian-speaking canton of Switzerland, close to the Italian border. The Academy of Architecture is in the town of Mendrisio, and biomedical research institutes are in Bellinzona. Everyday life and official paperwork are in Italian: non-EU students must start an online residence-permit application within 14 days of arriving in Switzerland, with documents written in or translated into Italian, and are then called to the Lugano Migration Office.
Nearest airport: Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP); Zurich Airport (ZRH)
Notable alumni
- SL Shane LeggCo-founder of DeepMind (now Google DeepMind); PhD from USI's Faculty of Informatics in 2008 and first USI Alumni Award winner
- GB Giacomo BrennaArchitect and co-founder of Studio Lopes Brenna; graduated from the Academy of Architecture in 2003 and received the USI Alumni Award 2025
Frequently asked questions
Can I study at USI in English?
Yes, for some bachelor's degrees: the BSc in Informatics and the Bachelor in Data Science are taught entirely in English, and Economics has an English track. Architecture, Communication and Italian studies are taught in Italian.
How much does USI cost for international students?
For students enrolling from 2027/28, the fee is CHF 5,000 per semester (CHF 10,000 a year), or CHF 2,000 per semester for Swiss students and those resident in Switzerland when they finished school. USI estimates living costs at CHF 1,300 to 1,900 a month.
What is the USI application deadline for 2027?
30 April 2027 for non-EU/EFTA applicants and 30 June 2027 for Swiss and EU/EFTA applicants who do not need a visa (Architecture: 1 June 2027). Applications open in December 2026.
Does USI accept the IB or a US high school diploma?
The IB is accepted if you meet the swissuniversities score threshold with 6 subjects, 3 at Higher Level including maths or a science. A US high school diploma alone is not enough; you also need six AP exams with scores of 3 or higher.
Can I study medicine at USI?
The Bachelor of Medicine linked to USI's Faculty of Biomedical Sciences is taken in German at the University of Basel or the University of Bern, USI's partner institutions.
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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