Scientific track above 80%
Check every required subject and prepare for the examination named by the university. Passing the grade threshold is one condition, not a complete admission decision.
UNDERSTANDING UNIVERSITY ENTRY
Swiss university admission with a Bahraini national diploma
For a Bahraini national certificate, the study track, subjects and grades all matter; some routes also require an exam. We assess your child’s record to identify suitable Swiss universities and any preparation needed.
Discuss my child’s options
A personal conversation with an admissions counselor.
Selected public university routes · 2026/27
The key entry requirements
School subjects · final three years
- First language
- Native-language subject.
- Second language
- A separate language subject.
- Mathematics
- Required in the school curriculum.
- Biology, chemistry or physics
- At least one natural-science subject.
- Geography, history or economics/law
- A humanities or social-science subject.
- Sixth subject
- Another language, natural science or humanities subject; computer science or philosophy is also eligible here.
Grades & admission routes
University of Geneva
80% + ECUSAt least 80% overall and the ECUS complementary examination. Literary and scientific tracks are listed; the six subject categories still apply.
ETH Zurich
Reduced or full entrance examThe reduced exam requires the national certificate and admission to the same subject at a recognised university in Bahrain. Otherwise, the full exam applies.
EPFL
Entrance examThe national certificate allows an application through the exam route. EPFL assesses the curriculum to determine the full or reduced exam.
What this means for your childMaths and biology, chemistry or physics remain part of the required curriculum, including for the literary track. An 80% average alone is insufficient for Geneva.
See the full university requirementsHOW SWISSADMISSIONS HELPS
Which universities could your child aim for?
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 optionsCheck the academic fit
We assess the diploma, subjects and grades against the requirements of the intended programmes.
Identify suitable universities
We build a shortlist around your child’s academic profile, interests and preferred teaching language.
Plan the next steps
We prepare the application with you. If something is missing, we explain the accepted alternatives and preparation options.
A closer look at the requirements
Explore the detail below, or let us review how it applies to your child.
Compare university requirements · 2026/27
Bahrain’s Shahadat Al-Thanawaya Al-Aama, or General Secondary Education Certificate, is listed with both literary and scientific tracks. The track label is only the starting point: subject coverage and the overall result must also meet the receiving university’s requirements. Several 2026/27 university entries combine an 80% average with ECUS.
| University | What to check |
|---|---|
| University of Geneva | General-education national certificate with an average of at least 80%, plus ECUS. Both literary and scientific tracks are listed, subject to the required curriculum. The country entry does not additionally require a Bahraini university admission certificate. Official requirements |
| ETH Zurich | Certificate plus admission to the intended subject at a recognised university in Bahrain, plus the reduced ETH examination; otherwise the comprehensive examination. ETH assesses the complete application. German requirements also apply. Official requirements |
| EPFL | National certificates from countries outside the EU/EFTA/UK fall within the eligible examination category. EPFL determines the full or reduced exam after assessing the curriculum. Swiss nationality or prior Swiss residence is not a prerequisite for these national diplomas. Official requirements |
Examples concern public-university Bachelor entry in 2026/27; recheck the intake, programme and language rules. Private universities, hospitality schools and universities of applied sciences (HES/FH) set their own requirements.
Considering an applied university, business or hospitality school?
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.
What can your family do next?
Literary-track applicant
Review the actual mathematics and science record. The listing of the literary track should not be read as a waiver of the general-education subject requirements.
Changing the intended university
Recheck the route before changing preparation courses. ETH asks for subject-specific Bahraini admission evidence for its reduced examination, whereas Geneva’s country entry is organised differently.
Documents and common questions
Have these documents ready
- National certificate identifying the literary or scientific track.
- Final three years of grades, including the basis for the overall average.
- Bahraini subject-specific university admission evidence if pursuing ETH’s reduced-exam route.
- Requested language evidence and accepted translations of school documents.
Questions parents ask
Does 80% mean admission without an examination?
No. The Geneva entry combines the grade condition with ECUS and general-education requirements. Check programme conditions and the current rules before applying.
Is a Bahraini university offer required everywhere?
No. ETH’s reduced-exam route specifies one for the intended subject. Geneva’s 2026/27 Bahrain entry does not list that additional document; requirements should be checked institution by institution.
Sources and scope
This page covers Bahrain’s national Shahadat Al-Thanawaya Al-Aama, including the listed literary and scientific tracks. The university examples refer to 2026/27.
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
Let’s review your child’s options
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.