Admission conditions for a Bachelor programme for candidates with a foreign secondary school diploma

Registration conditions for holders of a foreign diploma of secondary education

General rules for secondary education :

Unless otherwise specified, only diplomas of secondary education representing a broad curriculum are recognised (essentially of the literature or science type), subject to certain requirements in relation to average mark and additional entrance exams.

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.

*currently 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 :

D - be issued by the government or, where relevant, by an institution recognised by the government and authorised to issue this type of diploma

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).

* 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.

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.

List of qualifications and requirements by country

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.

General rules for university studies :

If university studies are required for admission to a Bachelor's degree, only university programmes comparable to those existing in Switzerland and followed at public universities (or at least accredited universities recognised by UNIL) are accepted. The studies must take place in the country where the diploma of secondary education was granted. The total number of credits gained and courses taken within the bachelor programme or the university degree deemed equivalent by the Rectorate, must have been achieved at a university recognized by the Rectorate of the University of Lausanne. 

The following programmes in particular are not recognised:

- University programmes with a lesser duration than those of Swiss universities, as well as those including more than 15 credits ECTS out of a total of 180 (or equivalent) for internships

- Technological or vocational university courses;

- Correspondence courses or distance learning programmes.

The required diploma does not automatically give entitlement to registration, which is accorded only after examination of the application.