Medicine Schools and Programs in Switzerland

Medicine Studies in Switzerland

Medicine is the most restricted degree in Switzerland. Places are limited, the teaching languages are German and French, and applicants from abroad are, as a rule, not admitted. Anyone considering Switzerland for a medical degree should read the admission rules first.

Our directory lists three Swiss universities for this subject: the University of Basel, the University of Bern and the University of Zurich (UZH).

Who can be admitted

The umbrella organisation swissuniversities coordinates applications to medical school. Its information for foreign applicants is clear: a person who holds neither a Swiss passport nor a residence permit in Switzerland cannot be admitted to medical studies, because of the limited number of study places. Such applicants are advised to choose another subject if they want to study in Switzerland.

Foreign nationals who have lived in Switzerland for several years, for example with a C permit or a B permit for family reunification, are treated like Swiss applicants under certain conditions. They must meet these conditions by the pre-registration deadline of 15 February. The other requirements are the same as for any university degree: a Swiss Matura or a foreign school-leaving certificate that the university accepts.

swissuniversities also states that there is no medical programme taught in English in Switzerland.

How the degree is organised

Human medicine is regulated by federal law and takes six years: a three-year Bachelor of Medicine and a three-year Master of Medicine. At the University of Bern, each stage has 180 ECTS credits and lasts six semesters, and the language is German. At the University of Basel, students of human medicine and dental medicine share the first two bachelor's years. At UZH, the three master's years include an internship year and a thesis.

The master's degree alone does not allow a graduate to practise. Graduates must pass the Swiss federal examination in human medicine and then complete postgraduate training in hospitals and practices, which ends with a specialist examination. Only then may doctors treat patients independently, as the University of Bern explains. A student who completes the bachelor's degree is certain to get a master's place, but not necessarily at the same university.

Numerus clausus and the aptitude test

The universities of Basel, Bern, Fribourg and Zurich, the Università della Svizzera italiana and ETH Zurich restrict access to medicine (numerus clausus). Places are allocated on the basis of the aptitude test for medical studies (EMS). The universities of Geneva, Lausanne and Neuchâtel do not use the numerus clausus for entry.

For a start in autumn 2027, the dates published by swissuniversities are:

• 15 February 2027: pre-registration with swissuniversities
• 25 May 2027: registration for the aptitude test, with a fee of CHF 300
• 9 July 2027: aptitude test
• end of July 2027: allocation of places

The bachelor's capacity in human medicine is 195 places in Basel, 320 in Bern and 280 in Zurich, not counting the Zurich tracks with Lucerne and St. Gallen.

Options for international students

Students from abroad who are interested in medical science, but cannot enter the medical degree, can look at related programmes that are open to international applicants. One example is the Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Bern: 90 ECTS credits, three semesters, taught in English. It is aimed at students who are interested in human diseases but do not want to work with patients as doctors, and it prepares for research.

Tuition fees at Swiss public universities are between CHF 500 and CHF 2,000 per semester, according to the Study in Switzerland+ portal; some universities charge slightly more for international students.

Working in Switzerland with a foreign medical degree

Doctors who trained abroad follow a different route. The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) evaluates applications for the recognition of foreign diplomas in the medical professions, through its commission MEBEKO. Applications must be submitted in German, French or Italian. Anyone who exercises a university-level medical profession in Switzerland must be recorded in the register of medical professions (MedReg).

Frequently asked questions

Can international students study medicine in Switzerland?

In general, no. According to swissuniversities, applicants without a Swiss passport or a residence permit in Switzerland cannot be admitted to medical studies because places are limited.

Is medicine taught in English in Switzerland?

No. The teaching languages of medical studies are German and French, and swissuniversities states that there is no medical programme in English.

How long does it take to become a doctor in Switzerland?

The degree takes six years: three for the Bachelor of Medicine and three for the Master of Medicine. After that come the federal examination and several years of postgraduate specialist training.

When is the aptitude test for medicine?

The next aptitude test (EMS) for a start in autumn 2027 is on 9 July 2027. Pre-registration closes on 15 February 2027.