Admission by application

Is my project realistic?
What are the specifics of academic training?
How will I reconcile my study project with my private life?

So many questions to ask yourself before you start the process. Find some advice and food for thought to help you to ask yourself the right questions.

Define the Bachelor's degree you wish to enter and identify the corresponding faculty to refer to its regulations for admission by application.

The following texts are provided for information purposes. Only the Directive "Preliminary entrance examinations and admission on the basis of a portfolio with a view to obtaining a Bachelor's degree" (Directive 3.16) is authoritative, as is the information provided by the Service des immatriculations et inscriptions de l'UNIL.

Age of candidates

• Admission by application is restricted to those aged over 25 at the start of their studies.

Nationalities or permits admitted

The following are eligible to apply:

• Candidates of Swiss nationality and nationals of the Principality of Liechtenstein;
• foreigners, foreigners established in Switzerland (with C permit) and foreigners domiciled in Switzerland with a Swiss work permit for three years at the time of application submission;
• Candidates holding a B permit who have been refugees and foreign nationals who have been admitted on a provisional basis (F permit).

Other conditions to be met by candidates

• Have a certified vocational or upper secondary education.
• Must have subsequent full-time professional practice equivalent to a duration of three years. Please note: only professional activities listed on the AVS account statement and for which copies of work certificates (or, where applicable, work contracts) have been provided can be taken into account, with the exception of training courses, work placements, integration programmes, etc. The AVS account statement must be provided by the employer.It is also recommended that you request the compilation of AVS accounts as soon as possible, as this may take several weeks to be delivered.
• You must not have undergone a definitive test in the preliminary admissions examination organised, where applicable, by the faculty you have chosen.

For applicants to at the School of Medicine 

• Admission to medicine studies for foreign nationals is subject to special conditions (see unil.ch/immat > Future students > Medicine).

The University offers a methodological and scientific education aimed at the acquisition of specialised knowledge. Its curricula are designed on the assumption that students' basic knowledge was acquired at secondary school.

It is not realistic to catch up in certain subjects (basic sciences or linguistics in particular) at the same time as seeking to understand the university teaching of these subjects.

Remember, too, that if getting into university is sometimes difficult, getting through the first year is just as difficult, if not probably more so.

To get an idea of the level required, take a look at the admission exam programmes. You can also take courses as a auditor, which is an excellent way of checking whether you have the required level and preparing to resume your studies.

Tough procedure

1. File your application with the Registrations and Registrations Department.
2. If your application meets the administrative criteria, it will be forwarded to the faculty requested, which will then contact you directly to continue the process.
3. Your application will be examined by the Admissions Committee of the faculty or school you are considering. If your application is successful, you will then be invited to an interview.
4. Even if your application is accepted, the Commission may require additional conditions for admission, such as successful completion of the full or partial pre-academic entrance exam.

Registration deadline

Your application must be submitted by 30 November 2024.

For medical school applicants: it is compulsory to pre-register with swissuniversities (swissuniversities.ch) before 15 February 2025, in addition to submitting your application to UNIL.

Criteria considered

The criteria taken into consideration are the quality of your project (level of information, reactivity, motivation), the knowledge and skills you have acquired (including academic knowledge), and your professional experience (if possible linked to the study project).

Composition of the application

You will find a list of the documents you will need to submit your application, together with the procedure for submitting your application, on the website of the Registrar's Office.

Tips for writing a covering letter

The Faculty Admissions Committee will have to decide whether your project is feasible. Is it concrete and realistic? Does it correspond to what the University has to offer? The Commission will also give its opinion on the quality of your motivation and your chances of success, based on the fact that your academic knowledge is not the same as that of people entering university with a grammar school leaving certificate.

Your covering letter should therefore include the following points:

Project and motivations

• Detailed description of your training and career plans.
• Specify your reasons for opting for university studies.
• Explain the links between your career or life path and your choice of studies.
• Prince how you are learning about the demands of study and the obstacles you would have to overcome to succeed.
• Indicate your solutions for financing your studies.
• Specify how you plan to reconcile your studies, professional life, family responsibilities, social commitments, etc.

Knowledge

• Demonstrate that you have sufficient basic knowledge, working methods and intellectual strengths to succeed at university.
• Give information on what you have undertaken to upgrade your academic knowledge in relation to your intended studies (reviews, training, reading, private lessons, etc.).

Experiences

• Detail any training, courses or further training you've taken.
• Give information about your reading, cultural activities, indicating what you have gained from them.
• If you have produced any personal work (scientific reports, articles, etc.), attach them to your application (if there are many of them, choose the most representative).

Don't hesitate to meet an advisor from the UNIL's Guidance and Careers Service to discuss your plans during a meeting.

If your application is accepted by the university or college you are applying to, you will be invited to an interview.

The members of the admissions committees will choose from four options regarding your application:

• admission without examination
• partial pre-admission examination
• preliminary full admission examination
• refusal of admission

Their intention is not to limit your application, but rather to make you aware of the requirements of a university education and to ensure that your chances of success are maximised.

Depending on the decision of the admissions committee regarding your application, you may be required to sit a partial or full pre-test.

In this case, refer to the examination pages to find out about the exam syllabus.

Once your application has been accepted by UNIL, you must confirm your registration with the Registrar's Office.

Also take the time to prepare for your return and get yourself in shape, as the new university rhythm awaits you as soon as the semester begins.