National curriculum, 85% average
Start by checking the subject record and target university. The percentage alone does not complete the admission conditions or replace ECUS where it is required.
UNDERSTANDING UNIVERSITY ENTRY
Swiss university admission with a UAE national diploma
For a UAE national certificate, subjects and final grades matter, and some Swiss university routes require an exam. We assess your child’s record to identify suitable universities and explain any preparation needed before applying.
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. The six subject categories must also be covered.
University of Bern
80% + ECUS + university offerAlso requires admission to the intended subject at a recognised university in the UAE.
ETH Zurich
Reduced or full entrance examThe reduced exam requires the national certificate and admission to the same subject at a recognised university in the UAE. 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 a natural science are part of the required subject record. An 80% average alone does not complete the Geneva or Bern admission requirements.
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
The UAE national Shahadat Al-Thanawiya-Al-Amma has its own Swiss admission conditions. An excellent overall result matters, but the subjects studied and the chosen university also determine the route. For 2026/27, families need to distinguish ECUS requirements from the separate examinations at ETH Zurich and EPFL.
| University | What to check |
|---|---|
| University of Geneva | A recognised general-education certificate with an average of at least 80%, plus ECUS. The 2026/27 country entry does not add a local university admission certificate; the required subject coverage still applies. Official requirements |
| ETH Zurich | Certificate plus admission to the intended subject at a recognised university in the United Arab Emirates, 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 |
| University of Bern | National certificate with at least 80%, admission to the intended subject at a recognised Emirati university, and ECUS. 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?
A required subject is missing
Ask the receiving university to assess the transcripts before enrolling in preparation. An ECUS course should not be assumed to repair every missing school-subject requirement.
Engineering at an EPF
Compare ETH and EPFL separately, including examination content, language and scheduling. Obtain the institution’s assessment before committing to a particular preparation course.
Documents and common questions
Have these documents ready
- National certificate, with its exact title and awarding authority.
- Final three years of transcripts and the grading scale.
- Subject-specific UAE university admission evidence, where required.
- Language evidence and translations in the format the institution accepts.
Questions parents ask
Does UAE equivalency mean Swiss maturité equivalence?
No. UAE equivalency addresses local recognition of a curriculum. Swiss universities make their own admission decisions; there is no central Swiss authority issuing general recognition of foreign school certificates.
Can a preparation year guarantee admission?
No. Preparation can support examination readiness, but it cannot replace the certificate, grades, subjects or other conditions specified by the university.
Sources and scope
This guide covers the UAE national Shahadat Al-Thanawiya-Al-Amma, the general secondary school-leaving certificate. Examples use published 2026/27 requirements.
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.
- swissuniversities: country requirements, 2026/27
- University of Geneva: admission conditions, 2026/27
- ETH Zurich: admission prerequisites
- EPFL: entrance examination eligibility
- recognition.swiss: foreign school qualifications
- UAE Ministry of Education: curriculum and equivalency distinction, 2024–2025 guide
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.