Contents
University of Basel admission at a glance
A Bachelor application to the University of Basel with a foreign certificate for the fall semester 2027 closes 30 Apr 2027 and opens from 1 Feb 2027, and German is the primary language of instruction for bachelor's degree programs, with C1 or higher to be reached before the start. Applying costs CHF 100 and each semester costs CHF 850.
Medicine and dental medicine (15 Feb 2027) and the Bachelor Sport, Exercise and Health (15 Feb 2027) have their own, earlier deadline, according to the page. For every other Bachelor programme the date above is the one the deadlines page lists for applicants with foreign qualifications.
The key facts by topic
Read the country list before anything else: it decides whether your certificate gives access, and which extra steps come with it.
What to read first
- Your country entry in the list of countries (chapter on foreign certificates).
- The Complementary Examination of the Swiss Universities (ECUS) rule if your country entry names it.
- The language page, because German is the primary language of instruction.
- The residence permit steps, which start before you arrive.
| Topic | What Basel states |
|---|---|
| Application window | 30 Apr 2027, opening from 1 Feb 2027; submit by 11:59 pm on the last day |
| Route | Online form on the application portal in six steps |
| Your certificate | A list arranged by country defines which qualifications permit access to all bachelor programmes |
| IB Diploma | 32 out of 42 points |
| Language | German is the primary language of instruction; C1 or higher before the start |
| Entrance examination | Entrance examination in medicine and dental medicine |
| Fees | CHF 100 to apply, CHF 850 each semester |
| Residence permit | A valid residence permit is required |
University of Basel acceptance rate and where places are capped
Basel admits by recognition of your certificate rather than by competition between applicants: a non-Swiss certificate is recognized only if the listed criteria are cumulatively fulfilled, and the capped places are in medicine and dental medicine and in Sport, Exercise and Health (a regulation on admissions restrictions covers the Bachelor Sport, Exercise and Health).
The medicine page says that admission to studies in medicine and dental medicine is limited and that, when capacity is exceeded, candidates must take an entrance examination, which has always been the case in recent years. The regulations add that study programs with admissions restrictions remain subject to special requirements.
Programmes with their own deadline
| Programme | What the page states |
|---|---|
| Humanmedizin and Zahnmedizin | Admission is limited; application by 15 Feb 2027 through swissuniversities |
| Bachelor Sport, Exercise and Health | Deadline 15 Feb 2027, application from 15 Dec 2026 |
| Other Bachelor programmes with foreign qualifications | Deadline 30 Apr 2027 |
The deadlines and admission pages give no share of applicants admitted. They give a gate: your certificate must be recognized, and the next chapters show how that is judged.
How Basel decides: the recognition criteria for foreign certificates
Basel does not rank applicants by points; it tests your certificate against criteria that must all hold together, and the regulations say they are cumulatively fulfilled.
The criteria below come from the admission regulations for the academic year 2026/2027, the latest published; the 2027/28 edition is issued later, so check it before you apply.
The criteria the regulations name
| Criterion | Rule |
|---|---|
| Educational objective | The upper secondary level prepares students for university with a broad, balanced and coherent education |
| General education | At least 90% general education subjects |
| Subjects | At least six separately reported, independent subjects from the general education subject catalogue in the last three years |
| Study time, languages | 27% of teaching |
| Study time, mathematics and sciences | 27% of teaching |
| Study time, humanities and social sciences | 12% of teaching |
| Length of education | At least twelve years in total and at least three years at upper secondary level |
What is not recognized
The regulations list distance education, night school and certificates not attained in a school class and entrance examination certificates from foreign higher education institutions as not recognized. Read the country list next: for many countries it replaces this general test with a fixed entry.
Application routes: certificate, university degree or partial recognition
There are three ways in for a Bachelor: a recognized school certificate, a university degree from abroad, or a partly recognized certificate topped up with university study; the base rule is that admission requires proof of a recognized secondary school leaving certificate or an equivalent degree.
| Route | What the page states |
|---|---|
| Swiss Maturität | Holders of a Swiss federal Maturität are admitted to all bachelor programmes |
| Foreign school certificate | A country list defines which qualifications give access to all bachelor programmes |
| Foreign university degree | Admission to specific programmes, independent of proof of a school certificate |
| Partly recognized certificate (Lisbon Convention country) | Documentation of at least two successfully completed years of study (120 ECTS credit points) |
| Country outside the Lisbon Convention | A minimum overall grade from the list of countries and the ECUS must be passed |
Documents not in German, French, Italian or English need a translation: a certified translation into German or English must be uploaded with the original.
The list is valid for one year
The list of countries applies only for the relevant year of study and no transitional provisions are defined. The university states that the admission regulations for the upcoming academic year are issued in December, so an application for the fall of 2027 is judged on the next edition.
Basel requirements for foreign school certificates, IB, A Levels and AP
For most countries Basel lists one named certificate plus, in many entries, a confirmation of a university place at home; the entries for Algeria, Brazil, Egypt and Vietnam add the ECUS, and the IB Diploma needs 32 out of 42 points.
The table covers the countries many readers apply from, taken from the country list for the academic year 2026/2027, the latest published. An entry marked ECUS means the Complementary Examination of the Swiss Universities.
Entries by country
Some countries in the list name no school certificate but a university degree, which means a Bachelor-level degree is the way in.
IB Diploma and Baccalauréat Européen
The IB Diploma needs at least 32 out of 42 points (without bonus points) in six subjects and one subject in group 4 or 5 at Higher Level. Math Studies are not accepted, and Economics and Business and Management in group 3 count as one subject. The Baccalauréat Européen grants access to all bachelor programmes if the subject catalogue is fulfilled.
A Levels and AP
A Level applicants show 3 A Levels and 3 further GCSE or AS Levels, with two A Levels at grade B and another at grade C and Mathematics or another natural science at A Level with minimum grade C; all levels must be completed within the UK education system. US applicants show a High School Diploma plus AP exams with a score of 3 in each of 6 subjects, and some AP subjects, such as Psychology and Statistics, are not accepted. The US row of the list does not mention an SAT or ACT score.
The ECUS and the proof of a place in your home country
Two extra steps decide many applications from abroad: the Complementary Examination of the Swiss Universities (ECUS), held once a year in August, and evidence of admission to an equivalent degree programme at a state-recognized university in your certificate country.
How the ECUS fits into the application
- Apply for the Bachelor first: application is only possible for the fall semester, so the deadline is 30 Apr 2027.
- After the admission decision, register by the deadline and pay the registration fee to the examination provider.
- The exam itself is held once per year in August.
In the country list the ECUS appears for many countries, among them Algeria, Brazil, Egypt and Vietnam, and the regulations add that it must be passed for certificates from countries that have not ratified the Lisbon Convention.
Proof of a place at home
Where a certificate does not by itself give entry to every programme at home, Basel asks for evidence of admission to an equivalent degree programme at a state-recognized university. The evidence must be up to date and must not relate to a distance learning programme or evening course. For France and Germany a good enough mark can replace the proof, as the table in the previous chapter shows.
German language at Basel: the C1 level and the programmes taught in German
Basel sets German as the working language of the Bachelor, and the university advises students to reach Level C1 before the start; the language page asks for a level, not for a named certificate.
The application page states German is the primary language of instruction for bachelor's degree programs and all language skills should be at C1 or higher before the degree begins. German is also the principal examination language, in written and oral examinations.
Who carries the risk
The university puts the responsibility on you: examination failures cannot be excused by insufficient language skills. It points to the Language Center for help with the level. The language and application pages list no accepted German test, so ask the Student Administration Office whether a certificate is expected for your programme.
Programmes taught in German
- Rechtswissenschaft: German.
- Humanmedizin: German.
- Wirtschaftswissenschaften and Computer Science list German & English and German and English.
English at Basel: the English-taught Bachelor and English as a second language
English plays a smaller role than German at Basel: the two principal languages of instruction are German and English, the Bachelor subject English is taught in English, and Economics and Computer Science list both languages.
For the Bachelor in English (degree subject) the faculty page gives English as the language of instruction and says that almost all courses at the English Department are taught in English. English is one of two degree subjects, each worth 75 CP, so the language of your second subject applies to the other half of the degree.
| Programme | Language stated |
|---|---|
| Wirtschaftswissenschaften | German & English |
| Computer Science | German and English |
| Englisch (degree subject) | English |
| Rechtswissenschaft | German |
| Humanmedizin | German |
English tests
The language and application pages name no English test score for a Bachelor. The English level advice on the language page is aimed at Master programmes: the level advice for English applies to Master programmes taught primarily in English. If you apply to a programme that lists both languages, ask the faculty which language your courses will use.
Admissions tests at Basel: the medicine entrance examination and the rest
Medicine and dental medicine are the programmes with an entrance examination: candidates must take an entrance examination, which has always been the case in recent years.
The process is run by swissuniversities, and applications must be submitted by the February 15 deadline; late applications are not accepted. For fall 2027 the deadlines page lists 15 Feb 2027.
Other programmes
The programme pages for Wirtschaftswissenschaften and Rechtswissenschaft send you to the general admission page for requirements (Informationen zur Zulassung: unibas.ch/zulassung). They do not name an SAT, ACT or other admissions test.
Basel application step by step for the fall semester 2027
You apply online, in six steps on the application portal, and the application counts only when it has been sent and the application fee (CHF 100) has been paid.
- Create an account: you need a user account before you can submit an application.
- Fill in the online form and upload the documents; submit even if final exams or some documents are still missing, since transcripts can be submitted later.
- Pay the fee by card: Visa, Mastercard, DinersClub/Discover, UnionPay, JCB and, in Switzerland, Postfinance and TWINT. The fee is not refunded or credited.
- Submit by 11:59 pm on the last day. No changes can be made once the application is submitted.
If something is missing, you receive a written request on the portal to submit further material, with deadlines. After acceptance you receive an acceptance letter and a deposit slip for the tuition fees, and you may matriculate once the fees are paid. Some applicants must matriculate in person; the admission letter says so.
Late applications
The regulations for 2026/2027, the latest published, allowed late applications to programmes without admission restrictions until 31 July 2026 for the fall semester, and an additional fee of CHF 150 is charged, if granted. The 2027 rule will come with the next edition of the regulations.
Basel timeline for fall 2027: from the first date to the permit
The dates that matter most are 1 Feb 2027, when the portal opens, and 30 Apr 2027, when the application closes for Bachelor programmes with foreign qualifications.
Computer Science repeats the same date: deadline for registration 30 April, with the programme starting every fall semester.
What to study at Basel: Bachelor programmes in this guide
Basel lists 50 degree programs in its overview, and this chapter covers five of them: Wirtschaftswissenschaften, Computer Science, English, Rechtswissenschaft and Humanmedizin.
The five programmes side by side
| Programme | Start | Length and credits | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wirtschaftswissenschaften | Fall and spring semester | 6 semesters, 180 credits | German & English |
| Computer Science | Every fall semester | 6 semesters full-time | German and English |
| Englisch (degree subject) | September, BA in Englisch, 180 credit points | Two degree subjects of 75 CP, with 30 CP free electives | English |
| Rechtswissenschaft | Fall semester | 6 semesters, 180 credits | German |
| Humanmedizin | Fall semester | 6 semesters, 180 credits | German |
Wirtschaftswissenschaften
The Bachelor leads to a major in Business, a major in Economics or Studium Generalis without a major, and it combines at least 25% Betriebswirtschaftslehre, at least 25% Volkswirtschaftslehre and at least 15% methods. Basel describes itself as a full university with seven faculties, which is why the Bachelor lets you add courses from other fields.
Computer Science
The degree is Bachelor of Science in Computer Science; it comprises 180 credit points (ECTS) and usually takes three years.
Law and English
Rechtswissenschaft is taught in German and starts in the fall semester. English is studied as a degree subject and alongside a second degree subject; see the chapter on admission tests for what Humanmedizin adds.
Medicine at Basel for non-Swiss applicants
A place in the Bachelor Humanmedizin is capped, needs the entrance process, and for non-Swiss applicants is tied to status in Switzerland: special provisions apply in addition to the general requirements.
The page opens access to defined groups, among them citizens of Liechtenstein, holders of a Swiss or Liechtenstein settlement permit, recognized refugees, EU, Iceland or Norway citizens with a Swiss permit who worked at least a year in a closely related profession and residents with an uninterrupted period of at least five years on a gainful-employment permit. Check the full list on the page before you plan a medicine application from abroad.
Eligibility is judged at one date: the closing date set by swissuniversities for medical applications. The deadline for fall 2027 is 15 Feb 2027.
Before the second year
The programme page asks for a nursing internship of at least four weeks before registering for the second-year exams, ideally before the studies begin.
Tuition and fees at Basel: the semester fee and the application fee
Enrolled students pay CHF 850 each semester, and applying costs CHF 100; the tuition page names one fee for enrolled students and no separate rate by nationality.
The university states that it charges fees in accordance with the official university regulation regarding fees. The application fee is not refunded or credited.
Money you must show for the permit
For the residence permit the visa page asks for proof of means, personal assets of generally at least CHF 24,000. Blocked accounts and funds held in the names of parents or third parties are not accepted. The tuition and visa pages give no monthly living-cost figure.
Scholarships and funding at Basel
Basel puts the main funding duty on families and cantons, and points international students to home-country schemes: international students should find out what scholarships they are eligible for in their home country.
| Source | What the page says |
|---|---|
| Family and canton | The parents and the scholarship office in the parents’ canton of residence are responsible for funding studies |
| Home country | International students look for scholarships in their home country |
| University of Basel | The Senate scholarship committee grants supplementary scholarships to students enrolled at Basel |
| Exchange students | The university awards specific scholarships to students in exchange programmes |
A scholarship letter and your permit
A scholarship also helps with the residence permit: the visa page accepts an official scholarship award letter from a reputable institution or foundation as proof of means.
Housing in Basel
The university describes a wide range of housing options, from affordable shared rooms to centrally located halls of residence, and also warns that finding somewhere to live can prove pretty challenging.
Where students look
The page recommends Kleinbasel, where rents are lower than in Grossbasel and nightlife is lively.
Services and residences
- WoVe, a charitable organization that finds and rents good-value accommodation for young people in education.
- Unimarkt, where flats and rooms are advertised and small ads are free.
- Basel Student Residence Cooperative: 100 furnished rooms and the Katholische Studentenhaus: 70 students.
Working while studying and careers after Basel
Students from abroad may work only with a permit: a maximum of 15 hours a week, and the permit can be requested six months after the start of the studies at the earliest.
The employer files the request (work permit applications should be submitted by the employer), and the visa page adds that gainful employment should not delay the degree. The jobs page says it plainly: combining work and study is always a challenge, but your studies should always come first.
Careers
The Career Service Center offers counseling and support to students and careers advice to graduates. Programme pages show where each Bachelor leads: an MSc in Wirtschaftswissenschaften, a master in English with a second major, and in Computer Science a degree after which you can analyse problems systematically and work out solutions independently.
Visa and residence permit for Basel
Every international student needs a permit: you must hold a valid residence permit, and the visa page puts the application deadline at the end of July for the fall semester.
| Situation | What the page states |
|---|---|
| Country requires a visa | Formal visa application at the nearest Swiss consulate or embassy |
| Country exempt from visa | Obtain formal confirmation of the residence permit before entering |
| EU or EFTA citizen | No application in advance |
| Documents | Letter of admission from the Student Administration Office and a written declaration to leave Switzerland after the studies |
| After matriculation | Register in person at the immigration office |
| Length | Issued for a maximum of one year |
Changing course and leaving
Think before you change course: extension applications by non-EU/EFTA citizens who changed their degree programme or field are as a rule not approved. The permit expires on exmatriculation.
Who the University of Basel is for: summary
Basel suits applicants who can study in German, hold a certificate the country list recognizes, and can meet 30 Apr 2027.
- Your certificate: check the country list and, for the IB, 32 out of 42 points.
- Language: C1 or higher before the start, because German is the primary language of instruction.
- Money: CHF 850 each semester and CHF 24,000 as proof of means.
- Medicine: an entrance examination and a status test for non-Swiss applicants.
Next step
Pick your programme, read your country entry, and put the deadline in your calendar. Basel decides alone, and no admission is guaranteed.
Basel: frequently asked questions
Can I study at the University of Basel in English?
Mostly not at Bachelor level. German is the primary language of instruction for bachelor's degree programs. The Bachelor degree subject English is taught in English (almost all courses are taught in English) but is one of two degree subjects, so your second subject sets the other language; and Wirtschaftswissenschaften and Computer Science list German & English and German and English.
What is the Basel application deadline for fall 2027?
For Bachelor programmes with foreign qualifications the deadline is 30 Apr 2027, and the application is open from 1 Feb 2027. Medicine and dental medicine close 15 Feb 2027, and Sport, Exercise and Health closes 15 Feb 2027. For the spring semester 2027 the date is 30 Nov 2026.
Does Basel require an entrance exam?
For medicine and dental medicine yes: candidates must take an entrance examination, which has always been the case in recent years. The pages for Wirtschaftswissenschaften and Rechtswissenschaft send you to the general admission page, and the Complementary Examination (ECUS) applies only if your country entry names it.
Does Basel accept my school certificate or IB Diploma?
A list arranged by country defines which qualifications permit access to all bachelor programmes. The IB Diploma needs 32 out of 42 points with one subject in group 4 or 5 at Higher Level. A Level applicants need two A Levels at grade B and another at grade C, and US applicants AP exams with a score of 3 in each of 6 subjects.
Which German certificate does Basel accept?
The language and application pages name no list of accepted German tests. They state that students are advised to reach Level C1 before the start and that examination failures cannot be excused by insufficient language skills. Ask the Student Administration Office whether your programme expects a certificate.
What does it cost to apply and to study at Basel?
Applying costs CHF 100, which is not refunded or credited. Enrolled students pay CHF 850 each semester, and a late application adds CHF 150, if granted.
What is the ECUS and do I need it?
It is the Complementary Examination of the Swiss Universities, held once a year in August and open only to fall-semester applicants. The country list carries it for many countries, among them (Algeria, Brazil, Egypt, Vietnam), and it must be passed for certificates from countries outside the Lisbon Convention.
Can an international applicant study medicine at Basel?
Only within the special provisions: special provisions govern the access of non-Swiss applicants, in addition to the general requirements. The listed groups include holders of a Swiss or Liechtenstein settlement permit and recognized refugees. The deadline for fall 2027 is 15 Feb 2027.
Can I work while studying at Basel?
With a permit: a maximum of 15 hours a week, requested six months after the studies begin at the earliest. The employer submits the request (the application goes through the employer).
Do I need a visa for Basel?
If your country requires one, submit a formal visa application at the nearest Swiss consulate or embassy; the deadline is the end of July for the fall semester. EU and EFTA citizens do not apply in advance, and you need proof of personal assets of generally at least CHF 24,000.
Does Basel offer scholarships to international students?
The page points international students to home schemes: international students should find out what scholarships they are eligible for in their home country. The Senate committee grants supplementary scholarships to enrolled students.
Where these numbers come from
Official pages of University of Basel, UCAS, gov.uk and the ranking publishers. Applicant reports, where shown, are self-reported and labelled.
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Photos: Bernoullianum, a University of Basel building: photo Basmus, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons · Faculty of Law of the University of Basel: photo Grubyak, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons · Musicology seminar building of the University of Basel: photo Mws.unibas, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons