Psychology Schools and Programs in Switzerland

Psychology Studies in Switzerland

Psychology in Switzerland is a five-year path: a three-year bachelor's degree followed by a two-year master's degree. Only the master's degree gives the right to use the legally protected title of psychologist. Most programmes are taught in German or French, so language is the first thing an international applicant has to plan for.

How the degree is organised

The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), which regulates the psychology professions, explains the route. To be called a psychologist, a student must complete a bachelor's degree (standard duration three years) and then a master's degree (standard duration two years). The bachelor's degree on its own is not covered by the Psychology Professions Act.

University programmes follow this pattern. At the University of Basel, the Bachelor of Science in Psychologie has 180 credit points and a standard duration of three years. The master's degree has 120 credit points, takes two years and offers two majors: Society and Choice, and Health and Interventions. At the University of Bern, the Bachelor of Science in Psychology has 180 ECTS credits over six semesters, and the Master of Science in Psychology has 120 ECTS credits over four semesters. At the University of Fribourg, the bachelor's degree ends with a two-month internship and a written thesis, and the master's degree lasts at least four full-time semesters.

The Hochschule Luzern, a university of applied sciences and arts, teaches an applied branch of the subject. Its Bachelor of Science in Business Psychology has 180 ECTS credits and two majors: Work and Organizational Psychology, and Market and Consumer Psychology.

Languages of instruction

• University of Bern: the bachelor's degree is taught in German; the master's degree is taught mainly in German, and applicants who are not German speakers must prove level C1
• University of Fribourg: the bachelor's degree is offered in German, French or a combination of both; master's teaching units are offered in French, German or English
• Hochschule Luzern: Business Psychology is offered exclusively in German
• University of Basel and University of Zurich (UZH): the psychology study pages are published in German

All Swiss universities require a good knowledge of the language of instruction.

Admission for international students

Switzerland does not have a centralised admission procedure; each university decides on admission itself. For a bachelor's degree, the main requirement is an upper secondary school-leaving certificate considered equivalent to the Swiss Matura. For a master's degree, it is a bachelor's degree in the specific field of study, so a psychology master's normally requires a psychology bachelor's.

Costs, visa and work

Public universities charge between CHF 500 and CHF 2,000 per semester in tuition fees, according to the Study in Switzerland+ portal. Some universities charge slightly more for international students.

Students from outside the EU and EFTA must apply for a visa at the Swiss embassy or consulate in their country of residence; the portal states that issuing it takes at least eight weeks. Foreign students may work at most 15 hours per week during their studies, and students from outside the EU and EFTA only after six months.

Where to study psychology in Switzerland

Our directory lists five institutions for this subject. The universities of Basel, Bern, Fribourg and Zurich offer the academic route with bachelor's, master's and doctoral studies in psychology. The Hochschule Luzern offers the applied bachelor's degree in Business Psychology. Fribourg is the option for students who want to study in French or in two languages.

Recognition and careers

A Swiss master's degree in psychology is a professional qualification. In Basel and Fribourg, the universities state that it gives the right to the protected title of psychologist. Fribourg names clinical and health psychology, personnel psychology, school psychology and ergonomics as professional fields.

Specialist titles need more training. According to the FOPH, a federally recognised title can only be obtained through an accredited postgraduate programme, in five fields: psychotherapy, child and adolescent psychology, clinical psychology, neuropsychology and health psychology. Admission to these programmes requires enough coursework in clinical psychology and psychopathology during the degree.

Holders of a foreign degree in psychology (Master of Science or equivalent) must have it recognised by the Psychology Professions Commission (PsyKo) before they can use the title of psychologist in Switzerland. Applications from countries outside the EU and EFTA follow the same procedure.

Frequently asked questions

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

Five years of study: a three-year bachelor's degree and a two-year master's degree, according to the FOPH. A federally recognised specialist title, for example in psychotherapy, requires an accredited postgraduate programme afterwards.

Can I study psychology in English in Switzerland?

Only partly. The University of Fribourg offers master's teaching units in French, German or English. The bachelor's degrees described here are taught in German or French.

Is a foreign psychology degree valid in Switzerland?

It has to be recognised first. The Psychology Professions Commission (PsyKo) assesses foreign university degrees in psychology at master's level; it does not issue recognitions for bachelor's degrees.

How much are tuition fees?

Between CHF 500 and CHF 2,000 per semester at public universities, according to Study in Switzerland+.