🏛️University of Zurich

Zurich, Switzerland

QS World 2026 · #84

Switzerland's largest university, broad across Medicine, Law and the Humanities.

About UZH

University of Zurich is Switzerland's largest university and, unlike its technical neighbour ETH Zurich, covers the full range of Medicine, Law, Humanities and Social Sciences. It has produced more Nobel laureates than any other Swiss university — including Albert Einstein, who earned his doctorate there.

Why students choose it

  • Switzerland's largest university, broad across all major disciplines
  • More Nobel laureates than any other Swiss university
  • Albert Einstein earned his doctorate here

🎓 Free application support for UZH

Submit a free enquiry and Tutopiya's admissions team will guide you through your application to UZH — 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

AAA (A Level)  ·  IB 36

High 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

German (Bachelor's) — most Bachelor's programmes are taught in German; English becomes more common at Master's level.

Campus

city campus, Zurich

🏆 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 UZH'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

Medicine

⏱️ Typical duration: 5–6 years where entered straight from school (UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong); typically a 4-year postgraduate MD entered after a Bachelor's (US, Canada)

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Typical entry: Requires Chemistry + Biology · Eignungstest / EMS (mandatory aptitude test for Medicine)

Economics

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years

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Typical entry: Requires Mathematics

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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Natural Sciences

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years

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

Humanities

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years

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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 UZH ranks on your personal shortlist

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

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More Switzerland universities

UZH FAQ

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

What grades do I need to get into UZH?

As a typical benchmark for international entry, UZH expects around AAA at A Level or 36 points on the IB Diploma. This is indicative for UZH'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 UZH's own admissions page before applying.

How much does UZH cost for international students?

International tuition at UZH 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 UZH'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 UZH?

UZH 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 UZH's own admissions page, since deadlines can shift year to year.

What IELTS score do I need for UZH?

Switzerland universities, including UZH, 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 UZH known for?

Switzerland's largest university, broad across Medicine, Law and the Humanities. University of Zurich is Switzerland's largest university and, unlike its technical neighbour ETH Zurich, covers the full range of Medicine, Law, Humanities and Social Sciences. It has produced more Nobel laureates than any other Swiss university — including Albert Einstein, who earned his doctorate there.

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

Yes — UZH 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 UZH and every other Switzerland university we track, tagging each as reach, target or safety.

Need help applying to UZH? Get free application support.

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