Admission to bachelor’s studies with foreign educational qualifications

The admission to a degree program at the University of Basel is granted in accordance with the admission regulations of the President's Board and the regulations and rules of the university. The admission regulations for the upcoming academic year are issued in December by the President's Board.

The following is an overview of the requirements for admission to a bachelor's degree program in the academic year 2024/2025 (fall semester 2024 and spring semester 2025) .

Admission to a bachelor’s program requires proof of a secondary school leaving certificate or an equivalent degree issued by a higher education institution recognized by the University of Basel. (section 15 of the student regulations).

Country-specific admission requirements (list of countries)

A list arranged by country defines which educational qualifications permit access to all bachelor’s programs and which conditions apply (see “list of countries”). Secondary school leaving certificates are evaluated based on the criteria defined in the admission regulations which in turn are based on the “Recommendations for evaluating non-Swiss secondary school leaving certificates” adopted by the swissuniversities Chamber of Universities on 11 November, 2021.

The list of countries applies only for the relevant year of study. No transitional provisions are defined. Study programs with admissions restrictions remain subject to special requirements.
Special provisions governing the access of non-Swiss applicants to study medicine or dental medicine

For some secondary school leaving certificates, successful completion of the Complementary examination of the Swiss universities (ECUS) is also required. The Complementary Examination of the Swiss Universities (ECUS) is held just once per year in August. Therefore, corresponding applications are only possible for the fall semester and not for the spring semester.

International Baccalaureate IB

The International Baccalaureate is recognized according to the following provisions:
International Baccalaureate IB

Baccalauréat Européen

The Baccalauréat Européen is recognized according to the following provisions:
Baccalauréat Européen

Recognition criteria for non-Swiss secondary school leaving certificates

Non-Swiss secondary school leaving certificates must largely correspond to the Swiss Maturität certificate and are therefore only recognized if the criteria defined in the admission regulations regarding educational objective, educational content and period of study are cumulatively fulfilled. criteria

Partial recognition of a non-Swiss secondary school leaving certificate from a signatory country of the Lisbon Convention

A non-Swiss secondary school leaving certificate from a country that has ratified the Lisbon Convention is partially recognized with regard to...

Requirement for proof of admission

If a non-Swiss secondary school leaving certificate grants a person access to university but does not automatically entitle them to admission to all university bachelor’s degree programs within the relevant national education system, evidence must be submitted of admission to a degree program at a state-recognized university in the relevant country that is equivalent to the intended degree program at a Swiss university. This evidence must be up to date and must not relate to a distance learning program or evening course.

Recognition of degrees from foreign higher education institutions for admission

Applicants with degrees from a foreign higher education institution can be admitted to specific bachelor’s degree programs independent of proof of a secondary school leaving certificate. The degree must be...

Language skills

According to section 14 of the student regulations dated 13 November 2019 the two principal languages of instruction at the University of Basel are German and English. Corresponding language skills are prerequisites for the successful completion of a degree program.

Special provisions governing the access of non-Swiss applicants to study medicine or dental medicine

Special requirements for the access of non-Swiss applicants to the Bachelor’s in Medicine or the Master’s in Clinical and Dental Medicine must be fulfilled in addition to the general requirements.
Special provisions governing the access of non-Swiss applicants to study medicine or dental medicine