University of Fribourg

Fribourg, Switzerland

Switzerland's oldest Catholic university, uniquely bilingual in French and German.

About Fribourg

Fribourg is Switzerland's only bilingual university, offering most programmes in both French and German — a distinctive feature reflecting its location on the country's language border. Founded in 1889, it's also Switzerland's oldest Catholic university, with particularly strong Law and Theology faculties.

Why students choose it

  • Switzerland's only fully bilingual university (French and German)
  • Switzerland's oldest Catholic university
  • Strong Law and Theology faculties

🎓 Free application support for Fribourg

Submit a free enquiry and Tutopiya's admissions team will guide you through your application to Fribourg — personal statement, interview prep and deadlines — at no cost, no obligation. Application fees are typically waived through our university partnerships.

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Typical entry grades

ABB (A Level)  ·  IB 32

Solid tier · indicative for the flagship courses below — always verify per-course requirements directly with the university.

Tuition (international, per year)

Most public universities (minimal fees)

low tier for Switzerland — figures are typical ranges, not this specific university's published fee.

Language of instruction

French and German (bilingual) — Switzerland's oldest Catholic university, most programmes offered in both languages.

Campus

campus campus, Fribourg

🏆 Scholarships to look into

Informational only — scholarship amounts, deadlines and even which schemes are running change often (sometimes per intake), so treat this as a starting point, not a guarantee. Always confirm current details directly with the scholarship provider or Fribourg's financial aid office.

Swiss public university tuition is already low for everyone, so scholarship schemes are smaller in number and mainly aimed at exceptional students or postgraduate/research applicants.

  • Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships: Federally funded, but mainly for postgraduate/research study and exchange, not undergraduate admission.
  • University excellence scholarships: ETH Zurich, EPFL and other universities offer a small number of merit-based awards for outstanding incoming students — competitive with limited places.

Want help figuring out which of these you'd actually qualify for? Talk to a free Tutopiya counsellor.

Popular courses

Law

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years for an undergraduate LLB (UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia); typically a 3-year postgraduate JD entered after a Bachelor's (US, Canada)

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Theology

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years

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Economics

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years

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Typical entry: Requires Mathematics

Humanities

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years

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Natural Sciences

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years

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Typical entry: Requires two of Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Maths

Durations are typical for Switzerland — always confirm the exact length (including any placement or integrated Master's year) on the course's own page before applying.

Not sure which course fits your grades and interests? Run the full shortlist builder →

How to apply

Main intake(s)
September
Typical deadline
Varies widely by institution — ETH Zurich and EPFL close around 30 April

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5–7.0 overall (English-taught tracks)

Most Bachelor's programmes are German- or French-medium — proficiency in the language of instruction is usually required alongside or instead of English.

See where Fribourg ranks on your personal shortlist

Enter your grades and budget in the free Switzerland University Shortlist Builder to see whether Fribourg is a reach, target or safety for you — alongside every other Switzerland university that matches.

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Fribourg FAQ

Quick answers about grades, tuition, deadlines and applying to Fribourg as an international IGCSE / A Level / IB student.

What grades do I need to get into Fribourg?

As a typical benchmark for international entry, Fribourg expects around ABB at A Level or 32 points on the IB Diploma. This is indicative for Fribourg's flagship courses — competitive subjects like Medicine and Law usually sit above this baseline, and the exact requirement varies by course, so always confirm the specific figure on Fribourg's own admissions page before applying.

How much does Fribourg cost for international students?

International tuition at Fribourg typically falls in the Most public universities (minimal fees) range (low tier for Switzerland). This is a typical range for the university's tuition tier, not Fribourg's specific published fee for every course — confirm the exact figure for your intended programme directly with the university.

When is the application deadline for Fribourg?

Fribourg follows Switzerland's typical intake calendar: September, with applications generally due varies widely by institution — eth zurich and epfl close around 30 april. Always verify the exact date on Fribourg's own admissions page, since deadlines can shift year to year.

What IELTS score do I need for Fribourg?

Switzerland universities, including Fribourg, typically ask international applicants for 6.5–7.0 overall (English-taught tracks). Most Bachelor's programmes are German- or French-medium — proficiency in the language of instruction is usually required alongside or instead of English.

What is Fribourg known for?

Switzerland's oldest Catholic university, uniquely bilingual in French and German. Fribourg is Switzerland's only bilingual university, offering most programmes in both French and German — a distinctive feature reflecting its location on the country's language border. Founded in 1889, it's also Switzerland's oldest Catholic university, with particularly strong Law and Theology faculties.

Can I apply to Fribourg with IGCSE, A Level or IB qualifications?

Yes — Fribourg accepts applicants from IGCSE-to-A-Level, IGCSE-to-IB-Diploma, and directly from the IB Diploma. Tutopiya's free Switzerland University Shortlist Builder matches your predicted or actual grades against Fribourg and every other Switzerland university we track, tagging each as reach, target or safety.

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