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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
- First language (native language)
- Second language
- Mathematics (Higher Level / Standard Level)
- Natural sciences (biology, chemistry or physics)
- Humanities and social sciences (geography, history or economics / business and management)
- 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:
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) |
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) |