The University of Fribourg is a public university[1] in the bilingual canton of Fribourg.[2] It has six faculties and about 10,000 students.[3] It presents itself as the only bilingual university in Switzerland, offering courses in French, German or both, with some programmes in English.[3]
The semester fee is CHF 985 for foreign students and CHF 835 for Swiss and Liechtenstein students, including foreign students who lived in Switzerland or Liechtenstein when they gained their entry certificate. Both amounts include a CHF 115 basic registration fee.[4] Applicants with a foreign diploma need level B2 in French or German.[5] We could not confirm a QS World University Rankings 2027 position.[6]
Key facts
| Official name | Université de Fribourg / Universität Freiburg (University of Fribourg) |
| Location | Fribourg, Switzerland (Avenue de l’Europe 20, 1700 Fribourg) |
| Type | Public university; created in 1889 by an act of the parliament of the canton of Fribourg[1] |
| Founded | 1889: lectures began on 4 November 1889 with 29 students; roots in an Academy of Jurisprudence founded in 1763[7] |
| Students | About 10,000 in bachelor’s, master’s and PhD programmes; over 800 professors, lecturers and research assistants[3] |
| Faculties | Six: Arts and Humanities; Science and Medicine; Management, Economics and Social Sciences; Education; Law; Theology[3] |
| Languages of teaching | French, German or both; some programmes and many classes in English[2] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | Position not confirmed; the university’s rankings page gives 642nd without naming the edition[8] |
| Times Higher Education | “Among the Top 500 universities” according to the university’s rankings page (no year given)[8] |
| Semester fee, foreign students | CHF 985 (CHF 870 tuition + CHF 115 basic fee); year not stated on the page[4] |
| Semester fee, Swiss and Liechtenstein students | CHF 835 (CHF 720 tuition + CHF 115 basic fee); also applies to foreign students resident in Switzerland or Liechtenstein when they gained their entry certificate[4] |
| Semester fee, doctoral students | CHF 295 (CHF 180 tuition + CHF 115 basic fee)[4] |
| Language level for foreign applicants | B2 in French or German (bachelor’s and master’s)[5] |
| Official website | unifr.ch |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.
About the University of Fribourg
The University of Fribourg opened its first lectures on 4 November 1889 in the faculties of humanities and law, attended by 29 students; the Faculty of Theology followed at Easter 1890. The driving force behind the foundation was the Fribourg councillor Georges Python.[7] Its roots go back to an Academy of Jurisprudence founded in 1763.[7] Wikipedia describes the university as public and as created by an act of the parliament of the canton of Fribourg.[1]
Today it has six faculties and about 10,000 students, who are supported by over 800 professors, lecturers and research assistants.[3] The university stresses its bilingualism: it offers a full range of courses in both French and German, which it says is unique in Switzerland and Europe.[2] The university does not give a year for these figures.[3]
How is the University of Fribourg ranked?
We could not confirm a position in the QS World University Rankings 2027 (published 18 June 2026). The university’s own rankings page says it is positioned 642nd in QS among more than 1,500 ranked universities but does not name the edition; Wikipedia’s infobox attributes that figure to 2026.[8][1] The Swiss broadcaster RSI reports that Fribourg is one of the Swiss universities that lost places in QS 2027, without giving its position.[6]
In other rankings the university says it is among the top 500 in Times Higher Education (no year given), in the 501–600 tier of the Shanghai ranking (ARWU), and in the top 200 for Arts and Humanities in the THE subject ranking.[8] The university also notes that rankings use different methods and can favour some disciplines. Rankings differ by publisher and year. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at the University of Fribourg?
The university has six faculties:[3]
- Arts and Humanities
- Science and Medicine
- Management, Economics and Social Sciences
- Education
- Law
- Theology
There are also numerous interdisciplinary institutes and centres of excellence.[3] In most cases students can choose French or German as their only language of study. Languages and literature are always taught in the corresponding language, some programmes are given only in German or only in French, and at master’s level some programmes are given only in English.[2] If you take a programme that is partly in French and partly in German, you receive a diploma with the note “Bilingual curriculum, French/German” once you have earned at least 40% of the credits in each language.[2]
How much does the University of Fribourg cost?
| Who | Basic registration fee | Tuition | Total per semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swiss or Liechtenstein students, and foreign students resident in Switzerland or Liechtenstein when they gained their entry certificate | CHF 115 | CHF 720 | CHF 835 |
| Foreign students | CHF 115 | CHF 870 | CHF 985 |
| Doctoral students | CHF 115 | CHF 180 | CHF 295 |
| Post-doctoral students | CHF 115 | – | CHF 115 |
These are the semester fees on the university’s fee page. The page does not state which academic year they apply to.[4] The university bills an autumn and a spring semester,[4] so our calculation puts a full year at CHF 1,970 for foreign students and CHF 1,670 at the reduced rate.
What the basic fee covers
The CHF 115 basic fee is made up of general costs (CHF 28), library (CHF 12), the student association AGEF (CHF 20), the Georges Python social fund (CHF 30), sports (CHF 15), copyright costs (CHF 5) and a Campus Card contribution (CHF 5).[4]
Other costs
The faculties set and collect examination fees separately.[4] Applicants also pay an application fee (see below). Doctoral students pay the semester fee until the end of the semester in which they defend their thesis.[4] Tuition is only part of the bill: for living costs see our Switzerland guide and the Study in Switzerland guide.
How do you apply to the University of Fribourg?
The route depends on the level and on your diploma. We give no deadlines here because they change every year; the university lists application periods on its admission pages, with a separate earlier period for candidates who need a visa.[9]
- Bachelor’s with a foreign certificate: you need an upper secondary school-leaving certificate based on a formal general education. If the country list requires it, you must also prove a place at a recognised university in the country that issued your certificate. Depending on the country list you may have to pass the Complementary Examination of the Swiss Higher Education Institutions (ECUS), which is held only in summer, so admission is possible for the autumn semester only.[5]
- Master’s with a foreign bachelor’s degree: you need a bachelor’s degree of 180 ECTS and at least three years of study, or an equivalent degree from a recognised university. Faculties may require additional studies before or alongside the master’s.[9]
You apply online and must pay the application fee before the application is processed: CHF 100 with a foreign diploma and CHF 50 with a Swiss diploma, plus CHF 50 for late applications. The fee is not refunded or carried over to another semester.[5][9]
Which language level do you need?
French and German are the languages of instruction, and you must master one of them. For foreign bachelor’s applicants the required level is B2 on the CEFR (the European scale from A1 to C2; B2 is upper-intermediate).[2][5] The master’s admission page asks for the same level (B2) in French or German and adds that certain master’s programmes are taught in English.[9]
The pages we read do not list which language certificates are accepted or what English level the English-taught programmes require, so ask your programme before you book a test. Many classes and some entire programmes are given in English.[2]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the semester fee at the University of Fribourg?
CHF 985 for foreign students and CHF 835 for Swiss and Liechtenstein students, including foreign students who lived in Switzerland or Liechtenstein when they gained their entry certificate. Doctoral students pay CHF 295.[4]
Is the University of Fribourg in the QS World University Rankings 2027?
Do I need French or German to study in Fribourg?
Why is Fribourg called a bilingual university?
It offers a full range of courses in both French and German, and students can often choose either as their language of study.[2]
What is the ECUS exam?
The Complementary Examination of the Swiss Higher Education Institutions. Depending on the country list, holders of some foreign diplomas must pass it before starting a bachelor’s degree. It is held only in summer, so these candidates can only start in the autumn semester.[5]
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
- Università della Svizzera italiana (USI)
- University of Basel
- University of Bern
- 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] Wikipedia: University of Fribourg (type, founding act and the QS figure in the infobox; secondary source)
[2] University of Fribourg: Languages of study (page without a date)
[3] University of Fribourg: About us (page without a date)
[4] University of Fribourg: University fees (page without a date)
[5] University of Fribourg: Admission to bachelor’s studies with a foreign certificate (page without a date; shows the 2026/27 semesters)
[6] RSI: Università, l’USI avanza nella graduatoria mondiale (in Italian; QS 2027 results for Swiss universities) (news report of 18 Jun 2026)
[7] University of Fribourg: History (page without a date)
[8] University of Fribourg: Rankings (page without a date; editions of the rankings are not named)
[9] University of Fribourg: Admission to master’s studies with a foreign bachelor’s degree (page without a date)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.