Registration conditions for holders of a foreign diploma of secondary education |
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General rules for secondary education : The list of foreign diplomas giving access to Bachelor studies is based upon the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region no 165 (Lisbon Recognition Convention), recommendations of the Rectors’ Conference of the Swiss Universities* "Recommandations du 7 septembre 2007 de la CRUS relatives à l’évaluation des diplômes d’études secondaires supérieures étrangers", as well as on the decisions of the Commission on admission and credential evaluation of swissuniversities. Essentially the diploma must be the equivalent (in terms of hours and subjects) to a Swiss secondary school-leaving diploma ("maturité"). In particular it must : |
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A - represent the highest level of secondary education in the country of issue, as a result of 12 years of study (or 11 years, if year 9, 10 and 11 belong to - higher - secondary education) | ||||||
B - have been delivered after a complete, non shortened programme | ||||||
C - give a general access to all university faculties in the country of issue | ||||||
D - be issued by the government or, where relevant, by an institution recognised by the government and authorised to issue this type of diploma |
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E - be considered to represent a general education covering the six teaching subjects listed below :
These six subjects must have been studied in each of the last three years of secondary education. The subject 6. Free choice must have been studied in each of the last three years of secondary education in the same category of subjects (2, 4 or 5). |
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IMPORTANT The simple fact that a qualification gives access to university studies in the country of issue does not necessarily authorise registration at UNIL. |
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The following qualifications are not recognised :
* pedagogical, commercial, technical or teaching diplomas; * vocational or specialised diplomas (construction, art, home economics, etc); * diplomas for evening courses, correspondence courses or adult education courses; * entrance exams to another Swiss or foreign university. Diplomas issued by combining study periods in several upper secondary education systems are recognised only if the last three years have been successfully followed at upper secondary level. These years have to correspond with the last three years of the respective systems. |
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The recognition of foreign diplomas of secondary education by the University of Lausanne is subject to particular conditions (particularly regarding the average mark and additional entrance exams). In case of doubt, candidates are responsible to provide all necessary documents establishing their eligibility. |
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If, in addition to the diploma of secondary school, a certificate of university admission is required, it must:
1) concern a study place in the same orientation as that chosen at UNIL ; 2) be provided by a recognised university of the country where the diploma of secondary school was granted; 3) certificates delivered for distance studies are not accepted. If the present regulation authorises a change of orientation, the certificate of university admission must in all cases concern an orientation and a programme recognised by UNIL. The requirement to pass the Complementary Examination of Swiss Higher Education Institutions (ECUS) remains valid. |
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General rules for university studies : The following programmes in particular are not recognised: |
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Note: candidates who have already studied at a university without obtaining a degree may find their application subject to restrictions. The required diploma does not automatically give entitlement to registration, which is accorded only after examination of the application. |
Online enrolment and preparation of your application Access to the online enrolment and the list of the documents you have to send by postal mail. (there is no need to send the documents by email or fax in parallel) Do not forget to take note of all the information mentioned in the next tab. |
How to enrol at UNIL
First of all select the Bachelor programme you wish to apply for
Deadline for candidates who need a visa for their studies in Switzerland : 28 February 2019
General deadline : 30 April 2019
Medicine: compulsory pre-enrolment before 15 February 2019 at swissuniversities in Bern. It is essential to follow the procedure required by swissuniversities within the deadlines. In April at the latest, swissuniversities will inform all pre-enrolled candidates personally about the procedure to be followed later in order to enrol in medical studies.
Note: it is mandatory to submit an online application at UNIL before 30 April 2019, further to the pre-enrolment at swissuniversities.
Note : specific conditions for foreign students
Administrative fees
The administrative fees have to be paid before sending the documents.
Apply for a visa
How to obtain a visa for your studies in Switzerland.
Specific registration conditions for Bachelor programmes
Medicine, Pharmacy, Arts, Sport (Faculty of Social and Political Sciences), School of Criminal Justice (ESC), EFLE.
Qualifications and requirements
Only secondary education diplomas with a broad curriculum give access to enrolment at UNIL.
Please take note of the other requirements mentioned below regarding each country delivering the diploma.
Holders of foreign secondary education diplomas are admitted providing they pass additional exams: Complementary Examination of Swiss Higher Education Institutions (ECUS) or French exam
Processing of your application
What happens once you have confirmed your online enrolment and sent the required documents.
Online enrolment and preparation of your application
Access to the online enrolment and the list of the documents you have to send by postal mail.
Register for the Service courses (“cours satellite”) or the Cours de vacances for non-French speakers
If you wish to take French courses beside or before your regular studies.
Request for equivalences
For students who wish to obtain equivalences for their former university studies.