USI - Università della Svizzera italiana : Rankings, Fees & Courses Details | Top Universities
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USI - Università della Svizzera italiana

Location

Campus Lugano, Lugano Switzerland

Ranking

# =328QS World University Rankings

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8Undergraduate programs

PGicon

27Postgraduate programs

Tuitionfee

8,000 CHFTuition Fee/year

About USI - Università della Svizzera italiana

USI is a young and agile university that offers its students a quality education and an enhancing study experience. International faculty teach students with an interdisciplinary, engaging, and interactive approach, leaving room for practical application.

The quality of the study curricula is complemented by USI's small size, its cosmopolitan environment, and its informal and dynamic culture.

These elements make USI a hub of opportunity open to the world, where students can engage in direct dialogue with their professors and define their educational path, discover unexpected horizons, and embrace international careers.

Who we are

USI. Create freely,
act responsibly
.

Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) is one of the 12 certified public universities in Switzerland and member of swissuniversities. It is organised in six faculties and is active in several study and research areas, among which: architecture, communication sciences, computational science, data science, economics, health studies, humanities, informatics, law, medicine and biomedicine.

USI is a young and lively university, a hub of opportunity open to the world where students are offered a quality interdisciplinary education in which they can be fully engaged and take centre stage, and where our researchers can count on having the space to freely pursue their initiative.

3'922 students and 1'008 professors and researchers, hailing from 114 countries, convene every day on the four campuses in Lugano, Mendrisio and Bellinzona. The relatively small size of the campuses encourages the free flow and open exchange of ideas. USI encourages faculty, students and researchers to develop their potential, and appreciates their curiosity and willingness to experiment with new ways of thinking, learning, teaching and working.

Established in 1996, USI is in constant evolution, always taking on new challenges while remaining true to its three guiding principles: quality, openness and responsibility.

Why USI

Seven reasons for choosing USI:

  • Quality of the Swiss university system
  • International faculty
  • Leading interdisciplinary education
  • Teacher/student ratio 1 to 7
  • Strong ties with the business world
  • Flexible structure, open to the exchange of ideas
  • International, dynamic and welcoming environment

Mission

Based on the Law that regulates the Università della Svizzera italiana, USI mission consists of:

  • providing quality education
  • conducting internationally relevant scientific research;
  • contributing to the development of the region by enabling the transfer of knowledge, innovation, entrepreneurship and cultural and scientific debate in their areas of competence.

Vision

USI aspires to become the natural choice for those yearning to grow intellectually, humanly, and responsibly.

USI envisions to be a way for the future and strives to be known as:

  • An institution that believes in diversity
  • A hub for great talent
  • A partner of choice for knowledge transfer
  • A knowledge lab
  • A place where senses and aesthetics, in addition to logic and reason, are fostered
  • A model employer
  • A region-wide campus

Values

In pursuit of its mission, USI draws inspiration from three main values:

  • quality
  • openness
  • responsibility

Moreover, USI has made some specific commitments: to gender equality in the organisation of public events and to sustainable development.

About USI - Università della Svizzera italiana

USI is a young and agile university that offers its students a quality education and an enhancing study experience. International faculty teach students with an interdisciplinary, engaging, and interactive approach, leaving room for practical application.

The quality of the study curricula is complemented by USI's small size, its cosmopolitan environment, and its informal and dynamic culture.

These elements make USI a hub of opportunity open to the world, where students can engage in direct dialogue with their professors and define their educational path, discover unexpected horizons, and embrace international careers.

Who we are

USI. Create freely,
act responsibly
.

Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) is one of the 12 certified public universities in Switzerland and member of swissuniversities. It is organised in six faculties and is active in several study and research areas, among which: architecture, communication sciences, computational science, data science, economics, health studies, humanities, informatics, law, medicine and biomedicine.

USI is a young and lively university, a hub of opportunity open to the world where students are offered a quality interdisciplinary education in which they can be fully engaged and take centre stage, and where our researchers can count on having the space to freely pursue their initiative.

3'922 students and 1'008 professors and researchers, hailing from 114 countries, convene every day on the four campuses in Lugano, Mendrisio and Bellinzona. The relatively small size of the campuses encourages the free flow and open exchange of ideas. USI encourages faculty, students and researchers to develop their potential, and appreciates their curiosity and willingness to experiment with new ways of thinking, learning, teaching and working.

Established in 1996, USI is in constant evolution, always taking on new challenges while remaining true to its three guiding principles: quality, openness and responsibility.

Why USI

Seven reasons for choosing USI:

  • Quality of the Swiss university system
  • International faculty
  • Leading interdisciplinary education
  • Teacher/student ratio 1 to 7
  • Strong ties with the business world
  • Flexible structure, open to the exchange of ideas
  • International, dynamic and welcoming environment

Mission

Based on the Law that regulates the Università della Svizzera italiana, USI mission consists of:

  • providing quality education
  • conducting internationally relevant scientific research;
  • contributing to the development of the region by enabling the transfer of knowledge, innovation, entrepreneurship and cultural and scientific debate in their areas of competence.

Vision

USI aspires to become the natural choice for those yearning to grow intellectually, humanly, and responsibly.

USI envisions to be a way for the future and strives to be known as:

  • An institution that believes in diversity
  • A hub for great talent
  • A partner of choice for knowledge transfer
  • A knowledge lab
  • A place where senses and aesthetics, in addition to logic and reason, are fostered
  • A model employer
  • A region-wide campus

Values

In pursuit of its mission, USI draws inspiration from three main values:

  • quality
  • openness
  • responsibility

Moreover, USI has made some specific commitments: to gender equality in the organisation of public events and to sustainable development.

Available programs

USI Bachelors's degrees are 3-year (6 semesters) full-time study programs that comply with the principles set out by the Bologna Declaration. 

The USI Bachelor's diploma enables students to continue at the postgraduate level (Master's degree). 

Our programmes

Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) offers 7 Bachelor's programmes: 

  • Architecture
  • Italian Language, Literature and Culture
  • Communication
  • Economics
  • Informatics
  • Data Science
  • Theology
  • Philosophy

The Bachelor in Architecture is organised at the Academy of Architecture, on the Mendrisio campus.

All other Bachelor programs are organised on the Lugano campus. USI Bachelor curricula provide levels of specialisation and, at the same time, a multidisplinary approach, combining quality education with a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, offering many opportunities for informal dialogue between faculty and students.

Credits

All courses are awarded with ECTS points. The European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) guarantees that credits are compatible and transferable within all European universities. A full time academic year consists of 60 ECTS (30 credits each semester). Full Bachelor studies correspond to 180 ECTS. The second level of university studies (postgraduate or Master's degree), which completes the "3 + 2" system (Bologna system), consists in three or four semesters, equivalent to 90 or 120 ECTS.

Educational model

International faculty teach students with an interdisciplinary, engaging and interactive approach. The USI educational model is enhanced by a system that closely accompanies students in their learning path, with small classes enabling group exercises and direct dialogue with professors.

Teaching language

The official teaching language of the Bachelors in Architecture, Economics, Communication, Italian Language, Literature and Civilisation, Theology and Philosophy is Italian. Interested students can attend intensive Italian courses before the beginning of the autumn semester and the extensive courses throughout the academic year.

The Bachelor of Science in Informatics is taught entirely in English. Interested students are offered an intensive English language course before the beginning of the academic year and a technical English course during the first semester.

The Master's degrees at USI are defined by their high level of specialization, leading to international careers both in the professional and academic fields. Distinguished faculty in the respective disciplines provide innovative and quality teaching with a strong interdisciplinary approach and in collaboration with local and international institutions. The direct dialogue with professors and the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the Univeristy are the elements that enable students to broaden their views and to define their education individually. Theory is applied in case studies and consulting projects for companies and other business entities (field project).

The Master of Science or Master of Arts degrees are full-time graduate-level specialisation programs (3 or 4 semesters) awarded with 90-120 ECTS points.

Master's degrees are offered in the following subject areas:

Humanities

  • Master in Architecture
  • Master in History and Theory of Art and Archictecture
  • Master in Lingua, letteratura e civiltà italiana
  • Master in Philosophy
  • Master of Theology
  • Master in Interreligious Dialogue: Science, Philosophy and Theology of Religions
  • Master in Diritto canonico ed ecclesiastico comparato

Finance

  • Master in Finance
  • Master in European Studies in Investor Relations and Financial Communication
  • Master in Financial Technology and Computing

Tourism

  • Master in International Tourism

Political Economy

  • Master in Economia e politiche internazionali
  • Master in Economics
  • Master in Public Management and Policy (PMP)

Management and Marketing

  • Master in Management
  • Master in Management and Informatics
  • Master in Marketing and Transformative Economy
  • Master in Digital Fashion Communication
  • Master in Corporate Communication
  • Master in Public Management and Policy (PMP)

Health

  • Master in Communication, Management and Health
  • Master in Cognitive Psychology in Health Communication

Media and Communication

  • Master in Media Management
  • Master in Communication, Management and Health
  • Master in Cognitive Psychology in Health Communication
  • Master in Corporate Communication
  • Master in Digital Fashion Communication
  • Master in European Studies in Investor Relations and Financial Communication

Informatics

  • Master in Informatics
  • Master in Artificial Intelligence
  • Master in Software and Data Engineering
  • Master in Management and Informatics
  • Master in Financial Technology and Computing

Computational Science

  • Master in Computational Science

University information

Admission to the Undergraduate programmes:

1. Swiss diplomas, awarded in Switzerland

  • Maturità federale and Maturità cantonale recognised by the appropriate Federal Commission;
  • Maturità commerciale cantonale (Scuola cantonale di commercio, Bellinzona);
  • Final diploma from a university of applied sciences or diploma of a technical college recognised by the appropriate federal authorities: in these cases, where the field of study selected is the same as the previous one, the single Faculties may recommend admitting candidates to an advanced level of the programme and exempt them from particular examinations or from the internship period.
  • School-leaving certificates issued by Swiss schools abroad are equally accepted.


2. Foreign diplomas

Applicants in possession of foreign secondary education and/or of a foreign university diploma considered to be equivalent are admitted to the undergraduate programme. As a rule, reference is made to the guidelines of the University Admissions Commission of the Rectors’ Conference of the Swiss Universities (swissuniversities). Where equivalence cannot be unequivocally defined, candidates may be invited to attend an interview or to sit a test, and supplementary, pre-university courses may be prescribed.


Admission to the Postgraduate programmes:

1. General requirements:

Bachelor's (undergraduate) degree from an acknowledged university. Holders of a Bachelor’s degree are admitted unconditionally to a Master’s program in the same subject area. Admission to programs in other subject areas can be subject to the addition of levelling courses, by assessement of the competent Faculty in charge of evaluating the application.

2. Specific requirements:

Please refer to the individual Master programme websites, in the Admissions secton.

3. Language

The admission to English-language Master programmes at USI requires a good command of English.
Find out more about English level and official language certificate required for admission.


General

6.5+
2,695
48%
52%
1,864
44%
56%
403
23%
77%

Student life

Seven reasons for choosing USI:

  • Quality of the Swiss university system
  • International faculty
  • Leading interdisciplinary education
  • Teacher/student ratio 1 to 7
  • Strong ties with the business world
  • Flexible structure, open to the exchange of ideas
  • International, dynamic and welcoming environment

These elements make USI a hub of opportunity open to the world, where students can engage in direct dialogue with their professors and define their educational path, discover unexpected horizons and embrace international careers.

The University, through the Career Service, offers to its students a series of activities and contact services with the job market.

In particular, the Service:

  • promotes and develops internship opportunities, coordinating curricular internships;
  • helps students who are seeking their first jobs, providing counselling and career-oriented services;
  • organises information sessions on a variety of companies and organisations, in the private and public sector, nationally and internationally.


More in detail:

  • The internship: Find an internship / job, Internship stories / Info stage
  • Application dossier
  • Career grants
  • Meet the companies
  • USI Career Forum
  • Long Night of the Careers
  • USI & Careers Guide

Tuition fee and scholarships

Domestic Students

4,000 CHF
-

International Students

8,000 CHF
-

One of the important factors when considering a master's degree is the cost of study. Luckily, there are many options available to help students fund their master's programme. Download your copy of the Scholarship Guide to find out which scholarships from around the world could be available to you, and how to apply for them.

In this guide you will find:
opportunities

Where to look for scholarship opportunities

how_to

How to apply to scholarships relevant to you

list

A list of available scholarships around the world

checklist

A scholarship application checklist

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download_icon Download Scholarship Guide

Rankings & ratings

USI - Università della Svizzera italiana is one of the top public universities in Lugano, Switzerland. It is ranked #=328 in QS World University Rankings 2024.

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