USI Bachelor's at a glance
USI Bachelors's degrees are 3-year (6 semesters) full-time study programmes that comply with the principles set out by the Bologna Declaration. The first year of the curricula consists of foundation courses, providing students with solid bases applied through exercises, seminars, ateliers and workshops. During the second and third years, students can choose a more specific field of study, which is defined through several elective courses. The USI Bachelor's diploma enables students to continue at the graduate level (Master's degree).
Our programmes
Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) offers 9 Bachelor's programmes:
- Architecture
- Italian Language, Literature and Culture
- Theology (at the Faculty of Theology, affiliated to USI)
- Philosophy (at the Faculty of Theology, affiliated to USI)
- Communication
- Economics
- Informatics
- Data Science
- Medicine
The Bachelor of Medicine is held at the University of Basel or the University of Bern, partner institutions of the USI Faculty of Biomedical Sciences.
The Bachelor in Architecture is held at the Academy of Architecture on the Mendrisio campus.
All other Bachelor programmes are held on the Lugano campus. USI Bachelor curricula provide levels of specialisation and, simultaneously, a multidisciplinary approach, combining quality education with a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, offering many opportunities for informal dialogue between faculty and students.
The Bachelor of Theology and the Bachelor in Philosophy are organised by the Faculty of Theology, affiliated to USI.
Credits
All courses are awarded ECTS points. The European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) guarantees that credits are compatible and transferable within all European universities. A full-time academic year comprises 60 ECTS (30 credits each semester). Complete Bachelor studies correspond to 180 ECTS. The second level of university studies (graduate or Master's degree), which completes the "3 + 2" system (Bologna system), consists of three or four semesters, equivalent to 90 or 120 ECTS.
Educational model
International faculty teach students using an interdisciplinary, engaging, and interactive approach. The USI educational model is enhanced by a system closely accompanying students in their learning path. Small classes enable group exercises and direct dialogue with professors.
Teaching language
Italian is the official teaching language of the Bachelor's degrees in Architecture, Economics, Communication, Italian Language, Literature and Culture, Theology, and Philosophy. Interested students can take intensive Italian courses before the Autumn and Spring semesters and extensive courses throughout the academic year.
The Bachelor of Science in Informatics and the Bachelor in Data Science are taught entirely in English.
From A.Y. 2024/25, the Bachelor in Economics also offers an English-language track (in parallel with the Italian-language track).
The Bachelor of Medicine is taught in German at the University of Basel or at the University of Bern, partner institutions of the USI Faculty of Biomedical Sciences.