FAQ Master's Admission

On this page you will find frequently asked questions about master's admission.

The Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics offers the following two-year consecutive mas-ter's programs in Business and Economics and informatics: 

Economics 
Business Administration 
Management and Economics 
Banking and Finance 
Information Systems 
Data Science 
People-Oriented Computing 
Software Systems 
Artificial Intelligence

Yes, at master's level it is possible to start in both the autumn and spring semesters. On the UZH website you will find all the information about the semester dates.

Our master's programs are basically full-time studies, with lectures usually taking place during the day in the week. You can study part-time, but please note any deadlines for fulfilling additional re-quirements and that master's modules lose their validity after five years. This means that they can no longer be credited towards the degree. 

Our master's programs do not have fixed timetables. In our program regulations you will find the compulsory and core elective modules of a specific study program. According to these guidelines, you design your timetable individually. You can see when the modules are offered in the course catalogue.

You apply online via the UZH application portal.

There are two steps to the application process:

1. The Admissions Office formally checks the application. This means that it collects and verifies your documents. Please note the application deadlines.
2. As soon as your dossier is complete and has been formally checked, it will be forwarded to the Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics for a subject-related review. There, the catogorization to a level of studies takes place.

Further information on the application process can be found on the UZH website.

In the following table you will find the application deadlines. Please note the shortened deadlines when applying with a visa.

No, we do not have a numerus clausus. It makes no difference to the catogorization into a level of studies when you apply within the application deadline. However, the earlier you apply, the faster we can process your application. Please note that a large number of students do not apply until the last week of the application period.

Each study program has one main language of instruction. German is the main language of instruction for the Master in Business Administration, in the other master programs of our Faculty English is the main language of instruction. You have to prove that you have sufficient knowledge of the respective main language of instruction. If you apply with a Swiss Matura or with the Passerelle, or if you have completed your bachelor's degree at the University of Zurich, you do not need any further proof of language proficiency.

You can find the language certificates accepted by the Admissions Office on the following website. 

Yes, you can still apply. Since many applicants would like to seamlessly follow their bachelor's degree with a master's degree, many do not yet have a bachelor's degree. However, in addition to your current transcript of records, please also submit a summary of the courses you have yet to complete so that these can be used for categorization purposes.

The transcript of records should show the exact title, the number of ECTS credits as well as the grades of the fulfilled courses and the booked courses of the last semester. For the application to the Master in Economics, the weighted overall grade must also be evident (overall GPA). Please also include an explanation of your home university’s grade system if your university does not use ECTS credits. In addition, please complete the document filed on our website for the calculation of the weighted overall grade.

See the tables below for an overview of submitting GMAT or GRE scores for our two study programs.

Masters in Business and Economics

Master in Informatics

For more information on GMAT and GRE scores, please visit the following websites:

Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)

Graduate Record Exam (GRE)

GMAT and GRE scores must not be older than five years. Older scores cannot be verified by the Admissions Office. If you are taking a test for the application at UZH, please indicate the corresponding institution code:

In addition to the older versions, you can also submit the new GRE or the new GMAT Focus. Please note, however, that the GRE at home or the GMAT online will not be accepted.

You must have achieved a minimum final grade of 5 in your bachelor's degree in order to be able to formally apply. If you have both a bachelor's degree from a university of applied sciences and a master's degree from a university of applied sciences, the minimum final grade is not mandatory.

On the UZH website you will find a detailed guide on how to proceed. Under no circumstances should you enter Switzerland on a tourist visa, as this cannot be subsequently converted into a residence permit.

Guidelines for Students with Visa Requirements

If you are unable to upload a document, please note the maximum size of 20 MB. In addition, only PDF files are accepted, except for the passport photo. Please also note the tips on the following website.

The application fee for the master is 100 Swiss francs. These are not refundable, not even if the application is rejected.

In the best case scenario, you will be approved with no additional requirements or conditions.

If you have gaps in your transcript of records, you can be admitted with up to 60 ECTS requirements to close them. You must fulfil these requirements in the first four semesters.

If we have to give you more than 60 ECTS in total to close your gaps, you cannot be admitted to the master.

Admission with conditions is only possible for the minor in business and economics. Conditions must be met before you start your master's degree.

If you are missing more than 60 ECTS credits, you will receive a rejection.

An admission to a major study program at our Faculty allows you to choose all our minor study programs in business and economics and informatics - without a further review of your transcript. However, since our minor study programs are also consecutive in the master's degree, we strongly recommend that you acquire the relevant knowledge individually.

With a bachelor's degree in the same field from a Swiss university, you will probably be admitted to the same master's program without any requirements or conditions, provided you meet the requirements of the Admissions Office. Please note, however, that in any case a sur dossier review of each application will take place.

In the case of foreign bachelor's degrees or bachelor's degrees from other fields, we are generally unable to carry out a pre-evaluation of your bachelor's degree. In any case, a sur dossier review of the application is carried out. Please note our information on completeness and the recommendations for the submission of GMAT or GRE.

If you choose a major and minor study program of our Faculty, admission is based on the chosen major. Admission to the minor of our Faculty (minor study programs from informatics or business and economics) takes place without a further review of your transcript. Since our minor study programs are also consecutive in the master's degree, you must bring along or individually acquire the corresponding knowledge.

During the grading process, your complete dossier is looked at. The emphasis is on your academic background.

You have been admitted to the master's program, but must fulfil the requirements imposed on you within four semesters. The deadline for completions starts with the first module you take at our Faculty – no matter if a master's or requirement module. Although you are allowed to take master's modules, we recommend that you concentrate on the requirement modules first.

Please note that you will be excluded from studying the corresponding degree (Informatics resp. Business and Economics) at our Faculty if you do not fulfil the requirements within the four semesters.

You will find relevant information about the study program in your decision on admission and the accompanying appendix; read both carefully and keep the letter and appendix in your files. 

You have been placed preparatory phase for a master's study program. Before you can start the master, you must fulfil the conditions imposed on you within four semesters. Only then can you take master's modules.

You will find relevant information about the study program in your decision on admission and the accompanying appendix; read both carefully and keep the letter and appendix in your files. 

Each assignment is made carefully sur dossier. Your application dossier has been thoroughly and comprehensively reviewed, also taking into account academic achievements that were still outstanding at the time you submitted your application. Unfortunately, we do not have the time to answer questions about individual rejections by e-mail or telephone. If you do not agree with the negative admission decision and wish to challenge it, you have the option to submit an appeal. In the decision you will find an appeal instruction, which informs about the legal procedure including deadlines. You will find further information on this website.

If you do not agree with the admission decision and wish to challenge it, you have the option to submit an appeal. In the admission decision you will find an appeal instruction, which informs about the legal procedure including deadlines. You will find further information on this website.

For registration, you must be able to show proof of residence in Switzerland. Only then will you receive the invoice for the semester fees, the registration and the login data for the UZH. You may have to submit any outstanding documents - bachelor's degree certificate, language certificates, etc. - as well. You will find all formal steps on the website of the Admissions Office and its FAQ.

The semester fee consists of the tuition and fees, the compulsory and the voluntary semester fees. Please note that foreign students are charged a surcharge of CHF 100 for the master and CHF 500 for the bachelor. You can find a detailed breakdown of the fees on the following website.

You will find detailed instructions for module booking on our website.

Please note that if you decide not to take a module, you must cancel it within the module booking deadline, otherwise the module will be regarded as a failed attempt.

Before you apply for the master's degree, no binding statements can be made regarding the recognition of credits you have already completed. Please note that compulsory modules must in any case be completed with us and that you must acquire two thirds of the ECTS credits at UZH for a degree at the Faculty. Requests for credit transfer from other universities can in any case only be made after successful admission.

If you have a completed master's degree in a field that can be chosen as a minor in combination with your major, you have the option of submitting request for transfer of credits to provide flat credit for the master's minor.

You can apply for credit for individual level-appropriate master's modules that have not yet been used for a degree and are no more than five years old.

Please follow the instructions on our website for the formal submission of an application.

Many questions can be answered with the program regulations, you can find them as PDF on our website.

You will receive an e-mail from us approximately three times per semester with information about your studies. Please note that this e-mail is always sent to your university e-mail address. Therefore, please check your UZH mailbox regularly.

If you have fulfilled the requirements on time, you do not have to do anything else. You will not receive an official notification that you have fulfilled the requirements, but you may now start your master's thesis.

Please report in time to the student advisory services or for a possible change to the responsible contact for the master's admission. If the deadline has already expired, you will be excluded from studying the corresponding degree (Informatics resp. Business and Economics) at our Faculty.

The Virtual Welcome Center supports students from abroad during their stay at the University of Zurich and is the first point of contact for general questions about studying at UZH.

According to the provisions of the Office for Economy and Labour (Amt für Wirtschaft und Arbeit, AWA) students from third countries may pursue a part-time job or an internship for a maximum of 15 hours per week. Please inform yourself in time about the restrictions on the work permit.

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