Master's
CHF 4,000 / year
Università della Svizzera Italiana
Lugano, Switzerland
"Switzerland's Italian-speaking public university, in Lugano"
At a Glance
Accept Rate
—
Avg Salary/Yr
—
Ranking
#473 (QS)
PSW VISA
6 months
About Università della Svizzera Italiana
Universita della Svizzera italiana (USI) is a public university in the canton of Ticino, the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, founded in 1996. It is one of the 12 public universities accredited in Switzerland. It has campuses in Lugano, Mendrisio and Bellinzona and faculties of architecture, biomedical sciences, communication, economics, informatics and theology. It offers more than 40 master's programmes, many taught in English, in fields such as informatics, AI, finance and communication. It scores at the top of the QS scale for international faculty and students.
Rankings & Recognition
#473
Ranked #473 (joint) in the QS World University Rankings 2026 (#456 in QS 2027).
Accreditations & Memberships
swissuniversities
QS 2026 Performance Breakdown
Score out of 100 across each QS evaluation pillar, with Università della Svizzera Italiana's global standing for that metric.
Academic Reputation
9.3#
Employer Reputation
9.4#
Faculty / Student
70.3#
Citations / Faculty
43.4#
Intl. Faculty
100.0#
Intl. Students
100.0#
Intl. Research Network
42.7#
Employment Outcomes
2.2#
Sustainability
48.2#
#
Key Facts
1996
Founded
Lugano, Mendrisio, Bellinzona
Campuses
40+
Master's Programmes
#473
QS 2026
CHF 4,000 / semester
Tuition (non-resident)
Popular Programs
Artificial Intelligence
Data Science
Informatics
Finance
Corporate Communication
Architecture
Application Details
Application Route
USI online application
Non-EU Deadline (Sep)
30 Apr 2027
Non-EU Deadline (Feb)
31 Oct 2026
English Level
B2+ (CEFR)
Standardized Test Requirements
| Test | Minimum Score |
|---|---|
|
IELTS (English-taught MSc)
|
6.5 |
|
TOEFL iBT (English-taught MSc)
|
85 |
|
Cambridge English (MSc)
|
First, grade B |
|
TOEIC Listening & Reading
|
860 |
Study Abroad & Visa Details
Visa Approval Rate
85%
I-20 Processing
D visa + B permit (study)
Post-Study Work
6 months (job-seeking)
Green Card Pathway
Work permit (quota)
Financials
Application Fee
CHF 100
Avg Scholarship
CHF 4,000 / year (FFL)
Career Outcomes
6 months
Post-Study Work
15
Work While Study
Where Graduates Land
Faculty & Alumni
Academic Staff —
Student-Staff Ratio —
—
Notable Alumni
Campus & Location
USI's main campus is in Lugano, with the Academy of Architecture in Mendrisio and biomedical research in Bellinzona. Informatics works closely with the Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence (IDSIA).
Campus Details
3
campuses (Lugano
Mendrisio
Bellinzona)
Campus Forecast
Warmest (Jul): 18 to 27 C
Coldest (Jan): 1 to 7 C
Climate: Humid subtropical
Student Life & Housing
Housing
Housing: Student residences and private rental in Lugano
Dining
Dining: University mensa on campus
Health & Wellness
Health: Mandatory Swiss health insurance (or approved student cover)
Activities & Clubs
Student associations
USI Sport
Lake Lugano
Diversity & Demographics
Total Students
International Students
Countries Represented
Cost Deep-Dive
Tuition - non-resident (2026/27)
CHF 4,000 / semester
Tuition - non-resident (from 2027/28)
CHF 5,000 / semester
Tuition - Swiss / resident
CHF 2,000 / semester
Application fee
CHF 100
Intakes & Deadlines
Most master's start in September, and some also admit in February. For the Master in Data Science, non-EU/EFTA applicants apply by 30 April 2027 for September 2027 and by 31 October 2026 for February 2027; Swiss/EU/EFTA applicants have later deadlines. From 2027/28 the standard fee is CHF 5,000 per semester, with CHF 2,000 for Swiss and resident students.
Scholarships at Università della Svizzera Italiana
1 scholarship available
These are general eligibility guidelines. Always confirm exact requirements with the university's admissions office or your Sukhada counsellor.
Academic Requirements
Undergraduate
Recognised secondary certificate; language of programme
Postgraduate
Bachelor's (180 ECTS); IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 85 / TOEIC 860
English Proficiency
IELTS (English-taught MSc)
TOEFL iBT (English-taught MSc)
Cambridge English (MSc)
First, grade BTOEIC Listening & Reading
Required Documents
Passport copy
Secondary school leaving certificate (bachelor)
Bachelor's degree certificate and transcript (master)
Academic transcripts with grading scale
English (or German / Italian / French) language certificate
CV and motivation letter
Certified translations if not in English, German, French or Italian
Letter of admission (visa)
Proof of sufficient funds (visa)
Swiss health insurance
Application Process
1
Choose programme
Check the programme page for entry requirements, language of instruction and the deadline for applicants who need a visa.
2
Apply online
Submit the online application with transcripts, CV, motivation letter and language certificate, and pay the application fee.
3
Receive admission
Wait for the admission decision and the official letter of admission from the institution.
4
Study visa
Non-EU/EFTA applicants apply for a national D visa at the Swiss embassy or consulate with the admission letter and proof of funds.
5
Arrive and register
Register with the local residents office (commune) within 14 days of arrival to receive a B residence permit for study.
6
Enrol and insure
Pay the semester or term fees, complete enrolment and take out Swiss health insurance within 3 months.
Campus & Location
USI's main campus is in Lugano, with the Academy of Architecture in Mendrisio and biomedical research in Bellinzona. Informatics works closely with the Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence (IDSIA).
Master's
4
Università della Svizzera Italiana
📍 Lugano
Master's
Finance
Università della Svizzera Italiana
📍 Lugano
Master's
Corporate Communication
Università della Svizzera Italiana
📍 Lugano
Master's
Data Science
Università della Svizzera Italiana
📍 Lugano
Master's
Artificial Intelligence
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