Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) is a public university in Ticino, with campuses in Lugano, Mendrisio and Bellinzona. It was established in 1996.[1] In 2024/25 it had 4,536 students, 49% of them from Italy and 20% from other countries.[2] In the QS World University Rankings 2027 it is 456th, up 17 places on 2026.[3]
For students who enrol from the 2027/28 academic year, USI charges a semester fee of CHF 5,000 in bachelor’s and master’s programmes. The fee is reduced to CHF 2,000 for Swiss nationals and for foreign nationals who were legally resident in Switzerland or Liechtenstein when they gained their entry qualification, among other groups.[4] Most bachelor’s programmes are taught in Italian; most master’s programmes are taught in English.[5][6]
Key facts
| Official name | Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) |
| Location | Lugano, Switzerland (main address Via Buffi 13, 6900 Lugano); campuses in Lugano, Mendrisio and Bellinzona[1] |
| Type | Public university; one of the 12 certified public universities in Switzerland[1] |
| Founded | 1996[1] |
| Students | 4,536 in 2024/25: 1,940 bachelor’s, 1,934 master’s, 591 doctoral and 71 in continuing education[2] |
| Origin of students 2024/25 | 21% Canton Ticino, 10% rest of Switzerland, 49% Italy, 20% other countries[2] |
| Faculties | Academy of Architecture; Biomedical Sciences; Communication, Culture and Society; Economics; Informatics; Faculty of Theology of Lugano (affiliated to USI)[7] |
| Study programmes | 9 bachelor’s programmes[5] and 29 master’s programmes[7] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 456th of 1,504 universities, up 17 places from 2026[8] |
| THE World University Rankings 2027 | Band 301–325 of 2,297 universities[8] |
| Main languages of teaching | Italian in most bachelor’s programmes; English in the Informatics and Data Science bachelor’s and in most master’s programmes[5] |
| Semester fee, enrolment from 2027/28 | CHF 5,000 per semester; CHF 2,000 for the groups named on the fee page[4] |
| Application fee | CHF 100 for most applicants (CHF 200 for Architecture); exemptions apply[9] |
| Official website | usi.ch |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.
About Università della Svizzera italiana
Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) was established in 1996. It describes itself as one of the 12 certified public universities in Switzerland and a member of swissuniversities, organised in six faculties and spread over campuses in Lugano, Mendrisio and Bellinzona.[1] The Academy of Architecture, Biomedical Sciences, Communication, Culture and Society, Economics, Informatics and the Faculty of Theology of Lugano (affiliated to USI) make up the structure.[7]
The largest faculty by enrolment in 2024/25 was Economics with 1,121 students, followed by Communication, Culture and Society (1,064), the Academy of Architecture (823), Informatics (654), Biomedical Sciences (441) and Theology (433).[2] USI’s portrait page gives different totals (4,749 students and 1,591 professors and researchers from 115 countries) without naming a year; this page uses the dated count for 2024/25.[1]
How is USI ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, USI is 456th of 1,504 universities, up 17 places on 2026. USI says the rise came mainly from the “Citations per Faculty” indicator, where it gained 20 places and is 414th. It also reports 16th place for international students and 35th for international faculty.[3] The Swiss broadcaster RSI gives the same position and notes that three Swiss universities are in the top 100: ETH Zurich (8th), EPFL (22nd) and the University of Zurich (98th).[10]
USI’s rankings page adds the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027 (band 301–325 of 2,297 universities), the THE Young University Rankings 2024 (44th among universities under 50 years old) and the THE World’s Best Small Universities 2024 (9th among universities with fewer than 5,000 students).[8] The university itself advises that rankings should be read with caution. Rankings differ by publisher and year. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at USI?
USI offers 9 bachelor’s programmes:[5]
- Architecture (Mendrisio campus)
- Italian Language, Literature and Culture
- Communication
- Economics
- Informatics
- Data Science
- Theology and Philosophy (both at the Faculty of Theology, affiliated to USI)
- Medicine, taught at the University of Basel or the University of Bern, partner institutions of the USI Faculty of Biomedical Sciences
It also offers 29 master’s programmes of 90 or 120 ECTS credits (three or four semesters).[7] Examples are Finance, Economics, Management, Informatics, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Software Engineering with AI, Media Management, Corporate Communication, International Tourism, Architecture and Oncology, Translational Immunology and Aging.[7] The Informatics and Data Science bachelor’s programmes are taught entirely in English, and the Economics bachelor’s also has an English-language track beside the Italian one.[5] All master’s programmes are taught in English except the master’s in Lingua, letteratura e civiltà italiana and in Economia e politiche internazionali (Italian) and the master’s in Public Management and Policy (bilingual Italian/English).[6]
How much does USI cost?
| Who | Fee per semester, enrolment from 2027/28 |
|---|---|
| Standard rate, bachelor’s and master’s | CHF 5,000 |
| Reduced rate (groups below) | CHF 2,000 |
USI states that from the 2027/28 academic year a semester fee of CHF 5,000 applies to bachelor’s and master’s programmes.[4] The fee is due at the start of each semester, and payment is required to obtain or renew enrolment.[4] Two semesters make up an academic year,[6] which our calculation puts at CHF 10,000 at the standard rate and CHF 4,000 at the reduced rate.
Who pays the reduced CHF 2,000?
USI lists these groups:[4]
- Students of Swiss nationality.
- Foreign nationals who were legally resident in Switzerland or Liechtenstein when they obtained their secondary school diploma or other university entry qualification.
- Foreign nationals admitted on the basis of their dossier who are legally resident in Switzerland when the admission decision is issued.
- Students who acquire Swiss nationality during their studies, from the semester after naturalisation.
- Students in the asylum sector with a permit from the competent Swiss authorities.
- Swiss or EU citizens resident in Campione d’Italia.
What applies if you started earlier?
Students enrolled before 2027/28 keep the fee in force at their first enrolment until they finish their current bachelor’s or master’s degree. Students who move from a USI bachelor’s to a USI master’s, or switch to another USI programme, fall under the new fee from 2027/28.[4] The fee page does not state the amount for enrolments in 2026/27, doctoral fees or any other charges, so ask USI before you plan a budget. The page also does not list scholarship amounts and refers to a separate scholarships page.[4]
Tuition is only part of the bill. For living costs in Switzerland see our Switzerland guide and the Study in Switzerland guide.
How do you apply to USI?
You apply online through USI’s application platform. Applicants may apply to a maximum of two master’s programmes and upload a separate motivation letter for each.[9]
- Bachelor’s: direct access with a federal or cantonal Swiss maturità recognised by the competent federal commission, or with a foreign upper secondary qualification that is recognised. For foreign qualifications, USI refers to the swissuniversities country requirements.[11] Documents include an identity document, your school-leaving diploma or attendance certificate, a school transcript and a study plan (the last two for diplomas gained abroad), and a language certificate where the programme asks for one.[9]
- Master’s: a bachelor’s degree of at least three years (180 ECTS) from a recognised university, with at least half of the credits earned at the awarding university, as the Master in Finance page describes it. Documents include transcripts, a CV, a motivation letter and a language certificate. Some programmes ask for more, for example GMAT or GRE scores in Finance for degrees from outside the EU and EFTA.[12][9]
A registration fee of CHF 100 is due when you submit the application (CHF 200 for Architecture). It is non-refundable and, in the case of enrolment, is deducted from the first semester’s tuition, except in Architecture where it is kept as a deposit. Applicants whose previous degree comes from a Lisbon Convention country and applicants to the Faculty of Theology programmes do not pay it.[9]
We give no deadlines here because they change every year and differ by programme. Check the application deadline on the page of your programme.[9]
Which language level do you need?
Bachelor’s. For the English-taught bachelor’s programmes a good command of English is mandatory. In Informatics and Data Science no official language certificate is required, and the candidate is responsible for having enough English to follow the courses.[11] Italian-taught programmes ask for an Italian or English certificate as set out on each programme page; we did not read those levels.[9]
Master’s. For English-taught master’s programmes, applicants whose previous degree was not taught in English must provide an internationally recognised certificate at level B2+ of the CEFR (the European scale from A1 to C2) or an equivalent test result such as TOEFL or IELTS. Exemptions apply to USI bachelor’s graduates in Communication, Economics, Informatics and Data Science, and to applicants whose bachelor’s was taught entirely in English or included at least 120 ECTS of English-taught coursework. Applications without a valid certificate by the deadline are treated as incomplete.[12]
Italian. Italian is not required for admission to the English-taught programmes. USI offers free language courses in Italian, German, French and English to enrolled bachelor’s and master’s students.[12] Exchange students need at least B2 in the language of the courses they take (Italian and/or English).[6]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the semester fee at USI?
For students enrolling from 2027/28 it is CHF 5,000 per semester in bachelor’s and master’s programmes, or CHF 2,000 for the groups named on USI’s fee page, such as Swiss nationals and foreign nationals resident in Switzerland or Liechtenstein when they gained their entry qualification.[4]
How is USI ranked?
Can you study in English at USI?
What English level does USI require for a master’s?
Level B2+ of the CEFR, shown by an internationally recognised certificate, unless you are exempt, for example because your bachelor’s was taught entirely in English.[12]
More about studying in Switzerland
- Switzerland: best universities
- Study in Switzerland: complete guide
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Switzerland
- Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH)
- EPFL
- ETH Zurich
- FHNW
- Franklin Switzerland
- Geneva Graduate Institute
- HES-SO
- IMD Business School
- University of Basel
- University of Bern
- University of Fribourg
- University of Geneva
- University of Lausanne
- University of Lucerne
- University of Neuchâtel
- University of St.Gallen (HSG)
- University of Zurich
- Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW)
- Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK)
Sources
[1] USI: Portrait (at a glance) (page without a date)
[2] USI: The academic year 2024-25 in figures (press release of 16 Dec 2024)
[3] USI: QS World University Rankings 2027, USI strengthens its position (press release of 18 Jun 2026)
[4] USI: Tuition and scholarships (page without a date; the same text on the USI Desk site is dated 21 Aug 2026)
[5] USI: Bachelor’s at a glance (page without a date)
[6] USI: Fact Sheet 2026/2027, Lugano campus (for exchange students) (document for 2026/27 without a day date; its ranking list is outdated and not used)
[7] USI: Master’s at a glance (page without a date)
[8] USI: Rankings (page without a date; lists THE 2027 and QS 2027)
[9] USI: Application (bachelor’s and master’s) (page without a date; shows the 2026/27 and 2027/28 intakes)
[10] RSI: Università, l’USI avanza nella graduatoria mondiale (in Italian) (news report of 18 Jun 2026)
[11] USI: Bachelor in Informatics, admission (page without a date; the admission rules for Swiss and foreign diplomas are the same across bachelor’s programmes)
[12] USI: Master in Finance, admission (page without a date; programme page, used for the rules on English-taught master’s programmes)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.