Language skills

Depending on the university and degree programme, you may need to demonstrate sufficient language skills even for admission to a Bachelor’s degree programme. The specific requirements vary. A language level between B2 and C1 is often required. 

Teacher education programmes have specific language requirements depending on the degree programme and institution. For programmes leading to a teaching qualification, very good language skills of up to C2 may be required. 

You should therefore check with your chosen university well in advance to find out which language level is required for your chosen degree programme. 

In addition to a good command of the language of instruction – for example, German or French – a basic knowledge of English is often expected. In many subjects, academic texts must be read and understood in English. 

Depending on the university and degree programme, no language certificate may be required for admission to a Master’s programme. Even if no formal proof of language proficiency is required, a good command of the language of instruction is important to participate actively in your studies. Knowledge at B2 to C1 level is often expected. 

At Master’s level, an increasing number of programmes are offered entirely or partly in English. However, a good command of at least one of Switzerland’s national languages can be important for finding a job in Switzerland after graduation. 

Further information on the meaning of the various language levels can be found in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. 

If you have not completed your previous education in the language of instruction, you will usually need to provide proof of your language skills in the form of a recognised language certificate. The exact requirements depend on the university and degree programme. Language proficiency is generally assessed in the four areas of reading, writing, listening and speaking. 

Not all language certificates are recognised by higher education institutions. Certificates from language courses or language schools, such as Migros Klubschule and similar institutions, are often not sufficient for admission. You should therefore check with the relevant admissions office which certificates are recognised and what language level or exam result is required. 

Some universities also offer their own language tests. These can be an alternative to external language examinations and are often more affordable. 

The following language certificates are frequently recognised by Swiss universities: 

• German: Goethe-Zertifikat, telc, TestDaF (Test of German as a Foreign Language), DSH, ÖSD  

• French: DELF, DALF, TCF  

• Italian: CELI 3, CILS 2, PLIDA 

• English: IELTS Academic, TOEFL, Cambridge C1 Advanced, Cambridge C2 Proficiency 

 

Important: Which language certificates are accepted and what scores are required varies depending on the university and degree programme. Different rules may also apply to the validity period of language certificates. Some universities, for example, only accept certificates that are no more than two years old. You should therefore check the current requirements with the university before taking the exam. 

As a rule, refugees are entitled to language support. The language support available to you and which courses are funded depend, among other things, on your residence status, canton of residence and personal circumstances. You should therefore first ask the case worker responsible for your case which language courses are available to you and which courses are funded. 

If a language course is funded by social assistance or another relevant authority, you should discuss any change of course or withdrawal with the relevant authority beforehand. If social assistance does not cover any further language courses, you can also look for suitable options yourself. There are two main options: 

• Courses run by private providers: There are numerous language courses available, offering a variety of formats, levels and prices. Intensive courses often enable rapid progress but are usually more expensive. Some courses offer discounts with the KulturLegi. It is worth comparing different options and finding out about the price, course duration, level and teaching format. 

 

• Free or low-cost language courses: In many places, free or low-cost language courses are offered by local authorities, associations or other organisations. These courses are a good way to practise and improve your language skills regularly. However, they do not always systematically prepare you for a specific language level. Class sizes may be large, and the instructors are often volunteers rather than qualified language teachers. A suitable preparation course may therefore be useful when preparing for a recognised language certificate. 

 

Self-study and language practice 

In addition to language courses, independent study is important. Regular practice helps you to learn new words and grammatical structures and to consolidate what you have learnt. 

There are various apps and websites available for this purpose: 

• Duolingo 
• LearningApps 
• Talkpal 
• VoCHabular – particularly for learning Swiss German  

 

It is also important to practise the language as often as possible in everyday life and to speak to other people. Language meet-ups and language tandems offer good opportunities to do this.  

A language tandem is a learning partnership between two people with different first languages. Both people can share their own language while learning the other person’s language at the same time. 

You can find a language partner in various ways, for example: 

• At university: Ask at the Language Centre or look out for notices and information for students. 

• In libraries: Many libraries organise language cafés or other opportunities to practise languages together. 

• Via online resources: For example, through language tandems or Tandems.