UNDERSTANDING UNIVERSITY ENTRY
Swiss universities look at A-level subjects and grades, often alongside earlier GCSE or IGCSE results. We review your child’s full school record to clarify their options and build a suitable university shortlist.
A personal conversation with an admissions counselor.
Selected public university routes · 2026/27
Plus three qualifying additional subjects: normally GCSE/IGCSE at 5/B or AS/IAS at C. The full subject categories apply.
Plus four accepted additional subjects at (I)GCSE/AS level. Mixed school-system records can require the comprehensive entrance exam.
The third subject is chemistry, biology or computer science. Earlier language and humanities requirements also apply; places are limited.
What this means for your childEPFL has separate rules for International A-levels: the domestic British direct-entry route above does not apply automatically. Accreditation determines the exam or possible CMS route.
See the full university requirementsHOW SWISSADMISSIONS HELPS
You do not have to work through every university’s rules alone. We turn your child’s school record and study plans into a clear way forward.
Discuss my child’s optionsWe assess the diploma, subjects and grades against the requirements of the intended programmes.
We build a shortlist around your child’s academic profile, interests and preferred teaching language.
We prepare the application with you. If something is missing, we explain the accepted alternatives and preparation options.
Explore the detail below, or let us review how it applies to your child.
Three good A-level results are only part of the picture. Swiss universities may also check the breadth and grades of earlier GCSE or IGCSE subjects. Domestic British and International A-level qualifications must be identified precisely: they do not lead to the same admission route at every institution.
| University | What to check |
|---|---|
| University of Geneva | Six independent general-education subjects: three A-level/IAL subjects at B, B and C or better, including mathematics or a natural science. Three additional qualifying subjects are needed; GCSE/IGCSE normally requires 5 or the applicable B equivalent, AS/IAS requires C. Check the full categories. Official requirements |
| University of Basel | The six-subject route also uses B, B, C at A-level, including mathematics or a natural science, with the specified three additional subjects and grades. All required achievements must come entirely from the British education system; a mixed curriculum needs particular care. Official requirements |
| ETH Zurich | For the published exam-free route: A grades in A-level mathematics, a natural science and a language, plus four accepted additional (I)GCSE/AS subjects. Otherwise an entrance exam may apply; combining A-levels with another school system can require the comprehensive exam. Official requirements |
| EPFL | Domestic British route: A or better in mathematics, physics and chemistry, biology or computer science at A-level; English, another modern language and history or geography at GCSE or above. Places are limited. International A-levels follow different exam/CMS rules depending on state accreditation. Official requirements |
Selected public university examples, not a complete admission decision. The full subject combinations, language requirements, application deadlines and programme rules still apply. Medicine has separate restrictions. Universities of applied sciences (HES/FH), private and hospitality schools assess applicants under their own policies. Recheck the conditions for your intended intake.
Applied universities (HES/FH), private and hospitality schools have their own entry requirements, which may include practical experience. We assess your child’s record to identify suitable options across these institutions.
Prepare all the certificates, including earlier GCSEs, rather than sending only the three final results. Keep evidence of the curriculum and awarding body ready if the university asks how the qualifications fit together.
Review the university shortlist before dropping a language or choosing the final A-level set. Ask whether an additional examined subject would actually meet the missing category, and check its practical timetable with the school.
Obtain the institution’s view on the missing element before adding a standalone examination or foundation course. Compare an accepted exam route, a different qualification or another institution. A generic foundation year is not a universal Swiss admission credential.
Not necessarily. The Swiss routes above also require earlier subjects or a broader set of certificates. Check that there are enough independent subjects and that they cover the required categories.
Not everywhere. EPFL makes an explicit distinction. The certificate and its accreditation matter, so an international school’s location or use of an English curriculum is not enough to determine the route.
Sometimes it may be relevant, but the level, subject, grade and combination must be accepted by the target university. Confirm that in advance; course attendance alone is not an examination result.
Bachelor admission requirements for 2026/27, checked on 4 October 2026.
These references cover the stated academic year. Check the rules for your intended intake when they are published. Meeting an academic threshold does not guarantee a place.
PERSONAL ADMISSIONS SUPPORT
Tell us about their school background and what they want to study. We will help clarify the entry requirements, identify suitable universities and organise the application.