Switzerland — Study (Bachelor's (with ECUS or ETH/EPFL entrance exam))

Main requirements

Per swissuniversities' table for 2026/27, an Iranian high-school diploma (Mathematics-Physics or Experimental Sciences) alone is not enough. Most cantonal universities (Basel, Bern, Fribourg, Lausanne, Lucerne, Neuchâtel, St. Gallen, Zurich) require a general average of at least 12/20, a certificate of university admission (Konkur) in the chosen subject from a recognised Iranian university, and the ECUS complementary exam; Geneva drops the Konkur certificate but requires ECUS. EPFL requires the diploma, the Pre-University Certificate and its own entrance exam. ETH requires the diploma, a Konkur admission certificate in the subject and the reduced ETH entrance exam, otherwise the comprehensive exam; diplomas issued before 2019 also need the Pre-University Certificate. USI has its own special conditions.

Documents

Diploma and Pre-University Certificate (if needed) with official translation, transcripts, Konkur admission certificate, language certificate, and for the visa the Tehran embassy student checklist (forms, photos, admission, MFA-legalised shenasnameh and diploma translations, CV, motivation letter, funds for the whole programme, declaration to leave).

Language

ECUS has two tracks: German (KME: mathematics, English, German) and French (GypAd: French, mathematics, English). Per ECUS, for the German track you can take the Goethe C1 certificate in your home country beforehand, and for the French track a course at DALF C1 level is recommended; so in practice you need German or French at C1. swissuniversities notes that language skills and exams may also be required separately.

Costs and proof of funds

Bachelor tuition for foreigners at the University of Zurich is CHF 720 plus a CHF 500 surcharge per semester; at ETH and EPFL foreign students pay CHF 2,190 per semester. Living costs and proof of funds match the master's route: CHF 21,000 per year in Zurich, CHF 2,000 per month at EPFL. Values as per official sources, checked October 2026.

Steps and timeline

You register for ECUS by applying to a Swiss university, which refers you to the exam. The exam is in person in Zurich and Crissier; in 2026 the German track ran on 13–14 August (written) and 24–25 August (oral) and the French track on 6–8 August (written) and 10–13 August (oral). After passing, you apply for the D visa in Tehran, which the checklist says takes 12–16 weeks.

Tips for Iranian applicants

Because the exam is in person in Switzerland, you need a separate visa to sit it; per ECUS a 30-day short-stay visa is enough. The Tehran embassy currently books Schengen (C) visa appointments, except tourist visas, via VFS Global, but says it does not grant tourist/visitor visas while a residence application is pending; so sit the exam first, then apply for the D visa, and coordinate the order with the university. The embassy reopened in May 2026 but its 3 August 2026 notice says consular services are limited. Opening a Swiss bank account while living in Iran is very hard because of sanctions. For most Iranians this route is harder and longer than the master's.

After arrival (work while studying, post-study stay, path to permanent residence)

Register within 14 days to get a B student permit. Per ETH, bachelor students may work up to 15 hours a week during term six months after entry (with an employer permit). After graduation you have six months to find a job. A C permit for non-EU nationals normally comes after 10 years of residence and, per SEM directives, needs the local language at oral A2 and written A1; with good integration and oral B1 / written A1 you can apply after 5 uninterrupted years on a B permit. Study years only count under a condition: per SEM, if after finishing your studies you hold a residence permit for a lasting purpose (e.g. work) for two uninterrupted years.