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International Baccalaureate

General Provisions

Recognition of foreign upper secondary school-leaving certificates: general provisions for all countries

Recognised upper secondary school-leaving certificate

  • International Baccalaureate

with the following general education subjects

  1. First language (native language)
  2. Second language
  3. Mathematics (Higher Level / Standard Level)
  4. Natural sciences (biology, chemistry or physics)
  5. Humanities and social sciences (geography, history or economics / business and management)
  6. Elective (one subject from category 2, 4 oder 5 or computer science or philosophy. Computer science and philosophy can only be chosen as a sixth subject) 

Language skills and/or exams under reserve

The following subjects are recognised

  • All languages
  • Economics
  • Business and management
  • Geography
  • History
  • Philosophy
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Physics
  • Mathematics: applications and interpretation standard or higher level; analysis and approaches standard or higher level
  • Computer science

Admission requirements of each university

valid for the academic year 2023/24

EPFL

 International Baccalaureate including the subjects 1) mathematics, 2) physics, and 3) first modern language at the HL level (SL in a ‘Language A’ subject is also accepted for the modern language). The total points must be 38 out of 42 or above (excluding bonus points). Three of the following additional subjects must have been completed at the SL (or HL) level: 1) applied mathematics or computer science, 2) general geography, 3) general history or general philosophy, 4) second modern language, 5) chemistry or biology (both Mathematics: Analysis and approaches’ and Mathematics: Applications and interpretation are considered as mathematics subjects, not as applied mathematics ones). Otherwise: Entrance Examination EPFL

ETHZ

Admission without entrance examination if the following requirements are fulfilled:

  1. 38 out of 42 points (without bonus points);
  2. At Higher Level (HL): a) Mathematics: applications and interpretation or Mathematics: analysis
    and approaches, b) physics or chemistry or biology, c) 1 language A;
  3. At Standard Level (SL): three additional subjects of the following: physics, chemistry, biology, geography, history, economics or business management, 1 further language only, computer science.

Otherwise: Reduced Entrance Examination ETHZ

Basel

Recognised with a minimum of 32 out of 42 points (not counting bonus points) and including 6 subjects, one out of each of the 6 categories mentioned above. At least 3 of these subjects must be taken at Higher Level (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject)
In the category 6. Elective also accepted: Computer Science, Music, Philosophy, Psychology, Social Anthropology

Bern

Recognised with a minimum of 32 out of 42 points (not counting bonus points) and including 6 subjects, one out of each of the 6 categories mentioned above. At least 3 of these subjects must be taken at Higher Level (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject)

Fribourg

Recognised with a minimum of 32 out of 42 points (not counting bonus points) and including 6 subjects, one out of each of the 6 categories mentioned above. At least 3 of these subjects must be taken at Higher Level (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject)

Genève

Recognised with a minimum of 32 out of 42 points (not counting bonus points) and including 6 subjects, one out of each of the 6 categories mentioned above. At least 3 of these subjects must be taken at Higher Level (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject) 

Lausanne

Recognised with a minimum of 32 out of 42 points (not counting bonus points) and including 6 subjects, one out of each of the 6 categories mentioned above. At least 3 of these subjects must be taken at Higher Level (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject)

Luzern

Recognised with a minimum of 32 out of 42 points (not counting bonus points) and including 6 subjects, one out of each of the 6 categories mentioned above. At least 3 of these subjects must be taken at Higher Level (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject)

Neuchâtel

Recognised with a minimum of 32 out of 42 points (not counting bonus points) and including 6 subjects, one out of each of the 6 categories mentioned above. At least 3 of these subjects must be taken at Higher Level (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject)

St. Gallen

Recognised with a minimum of 32 out of 42 points (not counting bonus points) and including 6 subjects, one out of each of the 6 categories mentioned above. At least 3 of these subjects must be taken at Higher Level (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject) + HSG selection procedure

Zürich

Recognised with a minimum of 32 out of 42 points (not counting bonus points) and including 6 subjects, one out of each of the 6 categories mentioned above. At least 3 of these subjects must be taken at Higher Level (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject) 

USI

Recognised with a minimum of 32 out of 42 points (not counting bonus points) and including 6 subjects, one out of each of the 6 categories mentioned above. At least 3 of these subjects must be taken at Higher Level (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject)