The University of Geneva (UNIGE), founded in 1559, is based in one of the world’s main centres of international diplomacy. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it was 168th in the world and the fifth-highest-ranked university in Switzerland. It’s known for international relations, law, medicine, translation and interpreting, and the sciences.
Geneva’s bachelor’s degrees are taught in French, and its admission rules depend closely on your school diploma, so international students need to check the details early. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on the University of Geneva’s own guidance and official Swiss government information.
1. Plan to study in French
French is the main language of instruction at the University of Geneva, especially at bachelor’s level, and you need a good level of French, B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Many master’s programmes are taught in English or are bilingual.
2. Check whether your diploma qualifies
Your school diploma must be a general-education qualification, which usually means you studied six subjects in each of your last three years: your first language, a second language, mathematics, a natural science, a humanities or social science subject, and one elective. The minimum average depends on the diploma, for example 12/20 for several French-system baccalaureates. If your diploma doesn’t meet the conditions, you may need a university degree instead. UNIGE enrolment conditions.
3. Find out whether you need the ECUS exam
Some foreign diplomas aren’t recognised as equivalent to the Swiss maturité on their own. If that applies to yours, you’ll also have to pass the ECUS, the supplementary entrance exam for Swiss universities, before you can enrol. UNIGE’s enrolment conditions list which diplomas need it.
4. Apply by 28 February if you need a visa
Applications for the autumn semester open in mid-January. If you need a visa for a stay of more than 90 days, or you don’t hold a recognised Swiss bachelor’s degree, the deadline is usually 28 February, while other applicants can apply until 30 April. Deadlines vary by faculty and programme, so check yours as soon as the 2027-28 conditions are published.
5. Pass the French exam or get exempted
Unless you’re exempt, you’ll take UNIGE’s French exam, which for the autumn semester is held on the Monday of the 36th week of the year and costs CHF 100. You can be exempted from the basic test with a recognised diploma, such as the DELF B2 or DALF C1 or C2 with at least 60 points (including 15 for written production), or the TCF or TEF at B2 level, so it’s best to take one of these in your home country. UNIGE French exam.
6. Know what happens if you fail the French test
If you narrowly fail the basic test, you may be offered a place on the preparatory year at the School of French Language and Civilization (ELCF), and if you pass it, you can start your programme the following year. The Faculty of Humanities also requires a supplementary writing test. In some faculties, such as Economics and Management, the test can be for assessment only if you studied in English, but then you can’t change your major.
7. Understand the fees
The University of Geneva charges CHF 500 per semester, made up of CHF 65 in fixed fees and CHF 435 in administrative fees, regardless of nationality. If you don’t have a Swiss school diploma, there’s a CHF 65 registration fee when you apply, which is deducted from your first semester’s fees. Students in financial hardship can apply to have the CHF 435 waived. UNIGE tuition fees.
8. Budget for life in Geneva
Geneva has very low tuition fees but is one of the most expensive cities in the world to live in, so your living costs will be far higher than your fees. Scholarships for international bachelor’s students are limited, and student housing is scarce, so plan your funding and start looking for a room as soon as you apply.
9. Apply for your visa and residence permit early
If you’re from the EU/EFTA, you don’t need a visa: you register with the commune where you live within 14 days of arriving and receive a residence permit for study. If you’re from outside the EU/EFTA, you’ll usually need a national (D) visa for a stay of more than 90 days, which you apply for at the Swiss embassy or consulate in your home country once the University of Geneva has admitted you. You’ll need your admission letter and proof that you can pay your tuition and living costs, and processing can take several weeks, so apply as soon as you’re admitted. Health insurance is compulsory for everyone living in Switzerland, so arrange it when you arrive. SEM: entry and visas.
10. Plan for work during and after your studies
If you’re from outside the EU/EFTA, you can work up to 15 hours a week during term, but not until six months after your course starts. Your employer has to apply for permission from the cantonal authorities, and the University of Geneva must confirm that the job won’t delay your studies. After you graduate from a Swiss university, you have six months to look for a job that matches your qualifications, and you can be admitted to work if your job is of overriding scientific or economic interest. SEM: working in Switzerland FAQ.
Applying for a master’s or PhD at Geneva?
Many UNIGE master’s programmes are taught in English, including several in international relations, economics and the sciences. Each faculty sets its own requirements, and deadlines for applicants who need a visa are usually earlier. For a PhD, you usually need to find a supervisor first, and many doctoral students are employed as teaching or research assistants. See our 50 sample SOPs and free GRE practice tests.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
Apply to more than one university to give yourself options. Read our guides to ETH Zurich, EPFL, the University of Zurich and the University of Basel. Our guide to studying in Switzerland explains how the Swiss system works, and our free study abroad assessment can help you build a shortlist.
Information was taken from the University of Geneva’s official enrolment, French exam and fee pages, the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) and the QS World University Rankings 2027, and checked in October 2026. Admissions rules, deadlines, fees and immigration rules can change, so always confirm the details on the University of Geneva’s admissions website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with the University of Geneva.