Foreign language applicants for a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree or teaching diploma program must prove that they have a sufficient command of the main language of instruction of the study program in which they wish to enroll.

Proof of proficiency at the C1 or a higher level in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) must be submitted for the respective main language of instruction.

Foreign language applicants are those whose first or primary language is different from the main language of instruction of the study program in which they wish to enroll.

The first or primary language refers to the language a person is most competent in when communicating in written and spoken forms. This corresponds to the C2 or a higher level in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

A language certificate that the University of Zurich recognizes must be submitted at the latest before matriculation. We recommend submitting it with the application already, if it is available.

Applicants who have one of the following qualifications do not need to prove their language proficiency:

• A federal or Swiss maturity certificate, or federally or Swiss recognized maturity certificate
• A Federal professional maturity certificate in combination with proof of passing supplementary examinations
• A specialized maturity certificate recognized in all of Switzerland in combination with proof of passing supplementary examinations
• Maturità ginnasiale commerciale del Canton Ticino
• A Bachelor’s degree from UZH
• A Bachelor’s or comparable degree in the relevant language of instruction from a university or a university of applied sciences located in a region where the official language is the same as the language of instruction (does not apply to distance learning or studies at campuses in countries where the official language differs from the language of instruction)
• Completion of the last three years at an upper secondary school in the language of instruction relevant for the studies and in a region where the official language is the same as the language of instruction

For applicants up to and including the Fall Semester 2018

The main language of instruction is the language in which the program is primarily taught. The main languages of instruction at the University of Zurich are German and English. Below you will find information about which main language of instruction is used for the various study programs.

Many study programs also offer modules that are taught in other languages. For example, the main language of instruction of all Bachelor’s programs is German, but many Bachelor’s programs at the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics also have modules in English. For more information, please refer to the overview of degree and study programs and the course catalogue.

For applications as of Spring Semester 2019

The main language of instruction is the language in which the program is primarily taught. The main languages of instruction at the University of Zurich are German, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Romanian. Below you will find more information about the main language of instruction of the various study programs.

Many study programs also offer modules that are taught in other languages. For example, the main language of instruction of all Bachelor’s programs is German, but many Bachelor’s programs at the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics also have modules in English. For more information, please refer to the overview of degree and study programs and the course catalogue.

Study programs with German as the main language of instruction

The following study programs have German as the main language of instruction:

• All Bachelor’s study programs
• All subjects of the teaching degree program
• All Master’s study programs of the Faculty of Medicine, the Vetsuisse Faculty, and the Faculty of Theology
• At the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences: All Master’s study programs, except Master’s study programs in English linguistics and/or literature. Further exception as of Spring Semester 2019: All Master’s study programs in French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Romanian linguistics and/or literature
• At the Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics: All Master’s study programs in business administration
• At the Faculty of Law: All Master’s study programs except the Master of Law double degree programs in English that are listed below

Recognized Language Certificates for German

The University of Zurich recognizes the following language certificates for German that correspond to level C1 or higher in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR):

Study programs with English as the main language of instruction

The following study programs have English as the main language of instruction:

• Master of Law UZH double degree (general studies), Master of Law UZH double degree (European and international law) and Master of Law UZH double degree (international business law)
• All Master’s study programs of the Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics, except business administration
• All Master’s study programs of the Faculty of Science
• All Master’s study programs in English linguistics and/or literature

Recognized Language Certificates for English

The University of Zurich recognizes the following language certificates for English that correspond to level C1 or higher in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR):

* We must receive the TOEFL test results directly from ETS (institution code: 0348).

Recognized Language Certificates for French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Romanian

The University of Zurich recognizes the following language certificates that correspond to level C1 or higher in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR):