University entrance exam: overview of preparatory courses, offers and schools

In order to start studying at a Swiss university, special requirements must be met, first and foremost the Swiss Matura, the Passerelle or a corresponding university entrance exam. As very few people with a foreign school-leaving qualification meet the requirements for admission to university in Switzerland, many prospective students take an entrance exam in order to gain admission.

The best way to prepare for the university entrance exam is to attend a preparatory course offered by various educational institutions, which provides the necessary qualifications to successfully pass the exam. There are various course options to choose from, ranging from a short period of 11 school weeks to a long period of around two years. There is also the option of a distance learning or self-study course as an online course or, at some schools, as accompanied self-study with a duration of one month to four years, depending on the intensity of learning.

However, not every type of preparatory course for the university entrance exam is equally suitable for all applicants. For example, a short intensive course is particularly suitable for people with a very good previous education, especially in mathematics and physics, and a school-leaving qualification comparable to the Swiss Matura, such as the German Abitur. However, an advanced course lasting around 25 school weeks is usually more suitable for people with a good educational background and prepares them either for the direct entrance examination of a specific university or the Swiss Matura. Both courses together make up a one-year course, which can also be used for the central supplementary examination of the Swiss universities ECUS - Examen Complémentaire des Hautes Écoles Suisses.

A good knowledge of German is essential for the ECUS and the direct university entrance examination, but this can be acquired directly at the relevant schools in special courses. Level B2 or higher is essential for understanding, especially in the subjects of history and literature. English language skills should also be at the same level at the start of the course; knowledge of another language is not required everywhere.

Here at Ausbildung-Weiterbildung.ch, you can find comprehensive information about the entrance exam options for universities in Switzerland, as well as entrance exams for ETH or ECUS. The schools and educational institutions also provide you with helpful information about the preparatory courses, examinations and requirements. For example, you can find out directly from the schools how to register for the entrance exam, which universities you can take the entrance exams for and in which subjects you also need to be tested, whether you are eligible for a reduced university entrance exam or whether a comprehensive exam is required. Simply use the form to contact the relevant schools now, without obligation, and receive comprehensive and individual advice.