ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences
Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften
One of Switzerland's largest universities of applied sciences, with eight schools in Winterthur, Zurich and Wädenswil.
- Students
- 14,995
- 12,086 undergraduates
- International
- 12%
- of students
- Tuition
- CHF 2,440
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 2007
About ZHAW
ZHAW was formed in September 2007 by merging the Zurich University of Applied Sciences Winterthur, the University of Applied Sciences Wädenswil and the Zurich schools of social work and applied psychology. Its oldest root is the Technikum Winterthur, founded in 1874, whose building still houses the School of Engineering. As a Swiss university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule), it focuses on practice-oriented teaching and applied research rather than PhD-heavy academic research.
The university has eight schools: Applied Linguistics, Applied Psychology, Architecture, Design and Civil Engineering, Engineering, Health Sciences, Life Sciences and Facility Management, Management and Law, and Social Work. It offers 34 bachelor's and 20 master's degree programmes and had 14,995 students in 2025, 12,086 of them undergraduates. Research and development is large for an applied university, with more than 1,600 projects and CHF 184 million of R&D investment in 2025.
Most teaching is in German. The main exception for international applicants is the BSc in International Management at the School of Management and Law in Winterthur, taught entirely in English with compulsory study abroad; Business Administration also has a Banking and Finance programme in English. Swiss universities of applied sciences expect a year of relevant work experience before study for many programmes, so ZHAW suits applicants who want a practical degree closely linked to employers.
Why students choose ZHAW
The BSc in International Management is taught fully in English and includes a compulsory semester or year at a partner university abroad.
Low public tuition: CHF 720 a semester, plus a CHF 500 surcharge per semester for non-Swiss nationals who come to Switzerland to study.
The School of Management and Law holds AACSB (since 2015), EQUIS (2023) and AMBA (2025) accreditation.
Engineering students can join an International Profile with English-taught modules, a C1 English certificate and a semester or placement abroad.
Admissions
Autumn semester 2027 entry
Selectivity
ZHAW publishes no acceptance rate. Admission depends on holding a recognised baccalaureate or equivalent, meeting the work-experience rule where it applies and, in Health Sciences, Social Work, Applied Linguistics and Psychology, passing an aptitude assessment. Foreign school-leaving certificates are checked for equivalence, and applicants whose certificate is not equivalent must pass an entrance exam.
Typical entry requirements
| Swiss baccalaureate | Federal vocational baccalaureate (Berufsmatura), specialised baccalaureate (Fachmatura) or academic Matura; academic Matura holders usually need one year of practical experience related to the field first (exceptions in some health, computer science, science and engineering programmes) |
|---|---|
| Foreign school-leaving certificate (e.g. A-levels, Abitur, IB) | Assessed for equivalence after you apply; for UK certificates, three A-levels with minimum grades B/B/C covering three of four required subject areas, otherwise an entrance exam |
| International Management (BSc, English-taught) | Academic baccalaureate or foreign equivalent plus at least one year of full-time work experience in a commercial field (evidence from abroad is accepted), and English at B2 level |
| Language | German at C1 for German-taught programmes; English at B2 for English-taught programmes |
| English language | IELTS 5.5 · TOEFL iBT 83 For International Management: B2 level, shown by IELTS overall 5.5, TOEFL iBT 83 (or 4.5 on the new scale), Duolingo 115, Cambridge B2 First (pass), Linguaskill B2 or TOEIC 4-skills 450. A certificate is required even from fluent speakers and graduates of international schools in Switzerland. German-taught programmes require German at C1 instead. |
Deadlines
- Application deadline, autumn semester 2027 Non-binding Next deadline · In ~7 months30 April 2027
Stated on the International Management programme page (30 April 2027). ZHAW's general calendar gives 30 April for new students, subject to change by school.
- Enrolment for autumn semester In ~10 months1 August 2027
General ZHAW date for enrolment; the International Management FAQ allows missing documents such as a language certificate until the end of July. Autumn semester starts in calendar week 38 (mid-September).
For autumn 2027 entry the application deadline is 30 April 2027, with the semester starting in calendar week 38. Dates can vary by school, so check your programme page; health, social work, linguistics and psychology programmes add aptitude assessments to the timeline.
How to apply
Apply online to the specific degree programme by the ZHAW application deadline of 30 April for autumn entry, uploading a CV with full education and employment history, your school-leaving certificate with grades from the last three years, any university transcripts, certified German or English translations, evidence of work experience where required and a language certificate. The registration fee is CHF 100. Foreign qualifications are checked for equivalence after you apply, and non-EU students must arrange a Swiss residence permit and health insurance themselves.
What admissions looks for
- A school-leaving certificate that gives university access and is equivalent to a Swiss baccalaureate, or a pass in the ZHAW entrance exam.
- At least one year of practical experience related to your field for many programmes; for International Management, full-time work in a commercial environment.
- For International Management, a good command of English, interest in international management and the ability to work with people from different cultures; work experience abroad is an advantage.
- Passing the aptitude assessment in Health Sciences, Social Work, Applied Linguistics and Applied Psychology.
Tips for applying to ZHAW
- 1 Plan your work year early: with an academic Matura or a foreign school certificate, most business programmes require 12 months of full-time commercial work before you start.
- 2 Check whether your school certificate is equivalent to a Swiss Matura; UK applicants need three A-levels at B/B/C or better across the required subject areas, or must sit the entrance exam.
- 3 Unless you apply to International Management or an English-taught stream, you need German at C1 level.
- 4 Budget for Swiss living costs: ZHAW's School of Engineering estimates CHF 1,390 to 2,280 a month, far more than tuition.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in CHF
The School of Management and Law does not award its own grants or scholarships and refers international students to the limited scholarships offered by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. Expect extra costs such as about CHF 750 a semester for books and licences at the School of Management and Law and a laptop you buy yourself.
- CHF 100 (waived if you pass the admission assessment and enrol at the next start date)
- Registration fee
- CHF 100, one-off
- Enrolment fee
- About CHF 750 per semester
- Books and licences, School of Management and Law
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters: autumn semester starts in calendar week 38 (mid-September), spring semester in calendar week 8
International Management (BSc)
Six semesters in Winterthur taught entirely in English, with a compulsory semester or year at one of the school's partner universities and business projects with companies.
Aviation (BSc)
Engineering for new propulsion technologies, aircraft concepts, drones and air taxis, available full-time, work-study or in the English-taught International Profile.
Computer Science and Data Science (BSc)
School of Engineering programmes where the required year of practical experience can be gained during or after study.
Physiotherapy, Nursing, Midwifery and Occupational Therapy (BSc)
Health degrees at the School of Health Sciences in Winterthur, with admission by aptitude assessment.
Communication and Media Studies (BA)
The School of Applied Linguistics' journalism and organisational communication degree, which Swiss FDP politician Benjamin Mühlemann studied.
Research
- More than 1,600 R&D projects, a third of them with companies in the canton of Zurich, and CHF 184 million of R&D investment in 2025.
- ZHAW joined the European Engineering Learning Innovation and Science Alliance (EELISA) in 2023.
- Interdisciplinary centres include the Digital Health Lab, the Datalab and ZHAW robotics.
- ZHAW reports CHF 663 million of value creation in the canton of Zurich (2023) and 535 partner universities in 63 countries.
Schools & faculties
- School of Applied Linguistics
- School of Applied Psychology
- School of Architecture, Design and Civil Engineering
- School of Engineering
- School of Health Sciences
- School of Life Sciences and Facility Management
- School of Management and Law
- School of Social Work
ZHAW's 2025 regional-impact study reports that graduates largely remain employed in their chosen profession five years after graduation and that 46 percent are hired by an employer in one of its three campus municipalities. It gives 3,757 graduates in 2025.
Student life
ZHAW is spread across Winterthur, Zurich and Wädenswil rather than one campus, and most students live in shared flats. Winterthur's engineering students keep the Frackwoche (Tailcoat Week) tradition dating from 1925: a 'last shave' at the Fischermädchen fountain, 100 days of beard growing, then a parade of home-built vehicles through the old town in July. Students join the Academic Sports Association Zurich (ASVZ) and the ZHAW students association, and Winterthur has an Erasmus Student Network section.
- Frackwoche and the Frackumzug parade, a School of Engineering tradition since 1925.
- ASVZ sports membership for CHF 35 a semester.
- Compulsory study abroad in International Management, with partner schools in more than 40 countries.
- Student housing through WOKO/SWOWI, including 77 units on Bürglistrasse in Winterthur.
Housing. ZHAW has no guaranteed housing; it points students to WOKO/SWOWI residences and private providers in Winterthur, Wädenswil and Zurich, with some furnished rooms for incoming exchange students.
Location
Winterthur, where ZHAW has its registrar's office and its largest location, is a city in the canton of Zurich, and the university also teaches in Zurich and Wädenswil. Life in Switzerland is expensive: ZHAW's School of Engineering estimates CHF 1,390 to 2,280 a month for living costs, with rent of CHF 500 to 800.
Nearest airport: Zurich Airport (ZRH)
Notable alumni
- KK Karin Keller-SutterMember of the Swiss Federal Council since 2019 and President of the Swiss Confederation in 2025; studied interpreting at the Dolmetscherschule Zürich, now part of ZHAW
- PV Peter VoserCEO of Royal Dutch Shell from 2009 to 2013; studied business administration from 1979 to 1982
- HP Hans PrimasTheoretical chemist and ETH Zurich professor; studied chemistry at the Technikum Winterthur from 1948 to 1951
- RK Roman KaiserGivaudan fragrance chemist who pioneered headspace analysis of natural scents; studied chemistry
- SF Sandra FauschMember of the Landtag of Liechtenstein since 2025; BSc in environmental engineering (2018)
- SW Silvan WickiSwiss sprinter (100 m and 200 m) who competed at two European Championships; studied at ZHAW
- BM Benjamin MühlemannSwiss FDP politician and former newspaper editor; studied journalism and communication in Winterthur
Frequently asked questions
Does ZHAW teach bachelor's degrees in English?
Mostly in German. The BSc in International Management is taught fully in English, Business Administration has a Banking and Finance programme in English, and engineering students can take English-taught modules in the International Profile.
How much does ZHAW cost for international students?
Tuition is CHF 720 a semester, and ZHAW's fee table adds CHF 500 a semester for non-Swiss nationals who come to study, about CHF 2,440 a year. Living costs are much higher, estimated at CHF 1,390 to 2,280 a month.
Do I need work experience to study at ZHAW?
Often, yes. With an academic Matura or foreign school certificate, many programmes, including International Management, require a year of relevant work experience before you start; some engineering, science and health programmes let you gain it during or after study.
What is the ZHAW application deadline for 2027?
30 April 2027 for the autumn semester, which starts in mid-September (calendar week 38).
What IELTS score does ZHAW require?
For International Management, IELTS overall 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 83, showing B2-level English; German-taught programmes require German at C1 instead.
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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