High school result and a scholarship plan
Check the university’s requirements before committing funds. A sponsor’s approval and the receiving university’s academic decision are separate steps in the family’s plan.
UNDERSTANDING UNIVERSITY ENTRY
Swiss university admission with a Kuwaiti national diploma
A Kuwaiti national certificate alone may be insufficient: some Swiss universities require a completed degree, while others offer an entrance-exam route. We review your child’s studies to identify suitable universities and explain what each option involves.
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
Completed university degreeA recognised degree from a programme lasting at least 3 years. The school certificate alone does not meet this requirement.
ETH Zurich
Reduced or full entrance examThe reduced exam requires the national certificate and admission to the same subject at a recognised university in Kuwait. 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 childFor Geneva, the university degree must be completed: one preparatory year or three years of attendance is not enough. ETH and EPFL have separate exam routes.
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
Kuwait’s national school certificate appears in the swissuniversities table as Shadat Al-Thanawiya-Al-A’ama. For 2026/27, Geneva requires a university degree; the school certificate alone does not meet this condition.
| University | What to check |
|---|---|
| University of Geneva | A university degree from a programme of at least three years is required; the school certificate alone is insufficient. University and programme recognition, language and faculty conditions also apply. Official requirements |
| ETH Zurich | Certificate plus admission to the intended subject at a recognised university in Kuwait, 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?
One year at university completed
Obtain transcripts, but do not assume that this meets a completed-degree condition. The university must assess the proposed basis for entry and any request for recognition of prior study.
Aiming for ETH or EPFL
Treat the two examination systems separately. Confirm eligibility, required academic evidence, language and preparation needs with the institution before choosing a course.
Documents and common questions
Have these documents ready
- Kuwaiti national certificate with track and awarding details.
- Final three school years of transcripts and the grading scale.
- Kuwaiti university admission evidence or completed degree documentation, depending on the route.
- Language certificates and any translations required by the receiving institution.
Questions parents ask
Is a very high school average sufficient for Geneva?
The 2026/27 Kuwait entry specifies a university degree of at least three years. A higher school average does not by itself replace that requirement.
Does the same rule apply to hospitality schools?
Not automatically. Hospitality schools and HES/FH programmes have their own admission frameworks. Check the specific institution, programme and qualification awarded rather than applying this public-university table to them.
Sources and scope
Only Kuwait’s national Shadat Al-Thanawiya-Al-A’ama is covered here. The examples use published conditions for the 2026/27 academic year and require institution-specific assessment.
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.