Architecture Schools in Switzerland

Architecture is taught at the two federal institutes of technology (ETH Zurich, EPFL), at the Accademia di architettura of USI in Mendrisio, and at universities of applied sciences (ZHAW, HSLU, BFH, FHNW, OST, FHGR, SUPSI and the HES-SO schools HEPIA and HEIA-FR). The system follows the Bologna structure: a three-year, 180-ECTS bachelor's followed by a 120-ECTS master's (the HES-SO/BFH Joint Master and the ZHAW, HSLU and OST masters are Master of Arts titles; ETH and EPFL award Master of Science titles). ETH and EPFL also award architecture doctorates. Teaching languages follow the region: German (ETH, ZHAW, HSLU, BFH, OST, FHGR), French (EPFL, HES-SO), Italian (SUPSI), with English offered mainly in individual courses or at master's and doctoral level.

Source: arch.ethz.ch/en/studium/studienangebot.html

Bachelor in architecture (BSc ETH / BSc EPFL / BA UAS)

Three years and 180 ECTS at ETH Zurich (with six months of internship additionally required) and at the universities of applied sciences; EPFL requires a one-year professional internship between bachelor's and master's. Universities of applied sciences typically admit holders of a vocational Matura with an apprenticeship as architectural draughtsperson, or other Matura holders after about a year of practice in an architecture office. Source

Master in architecture (MSc ETH/EPFL, MA UAS, Joint Master BFH/HES-SO)

120 ECTS over two years (four semesters full-time). Master's admission at the universities of applied sciences is based on a portfolio and an interview (ZHAW, HSLU) or a file review (Joint Master); ETH and EPFL base admission on the bachelor's degree, EPFL additionally on a portfolio and 12 months of practical experience. Source

Doctorate (Dr. sc. ETH Zurich; EPFL EDAR doctoral programme)

Research doctorates: ETH awards the Dr. sc. ETH Zurich within a maximum of six years; EPFL's EDAR programme typically takes 48 months and accepts applications three times a year. Source

Stiftung REG (Swiss registers of engineers, architects and technicians)

Private foundation that keeps professional registers. For architects it distinguishes REG A (competence level equal to a university master's), REG B (level of a bachelor's at a university of applied sciences) and REG C (building technicians); entry is by a direct procedure or an examination procedure. It is a register, not an accreditation body, and a REG entry is mandatory only where a canton requires it (for example Vaud and Fribourg, with three years of experience).

SIA (Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects)

Professional association whose standards form part of the recognised rules of building practice that architects working in Switzerland must follow; it is not a registration or accreditation authority.

Cantons (e.g. Geneva MPQ list, Neuchâtel register, Ticino OTIA permit)

The practice of the architect profession is not regulated at federal level; each canton decides whether and how it regulates it. Seven cantons have rules, the others leave the profession free.

swissuniversities

Rectors' conference that maintains the list of Swiss higher education institutions accredited under the Higher Education Act (for information only).

Swiss Accreditation Council and AAQ (Swiss Agency of Accreditation and Quality Assurance)

The Council decides on accreditations of institutions and programmes under the Higher Education Act; the AAQ runs the procedures. Accreditation concerns institutional or programme quality and is separate from professional registration.

According to the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SBFI), the practice of the architect profession is not regulated at federal level; each canton decides. Seven cantons regulate it: Geneva requires an entry in the table of qualified professionals (MPQ) with two years of experience; Neuchâtel requires an entry in its cantonal register (bachelor's or master's from a university of applied sciences, university or ETH); Vaud and Fribourg require a REG entry with three years of experience to sign building plans; Ticino requires a permit from OTIA; Lucerne and Valais prescribe training but have no register. In the other cantons the profession is not regulated. Whether a particular degree leads to a REG A or REG B entry is decided by REG; the REG specific guidelines link REG A to a master's-level qualification and REG B to a bachelor's-level qualification at a university of applied sciences, and REG processing of complete dossiers currently takes 8 to 12 weeks. Schools' own statements (for example that the BFH/HES-SO Joint Master gives direct access to register A) are recorded as school-stated, not as REG confirmation. Source

No degree on this site automatically permits anyone to practise as an architect, and nothing here is visa, work-permit or credit-transfer advice.

Teaching languages. Teaching language depends on the institution's region: German at ETH (classes in German or English), ZHAW, HSLU, BFH, OST and FHGR; French at EPFL (some English), HEPIA and HEIA-FR (HEIA-FR also bilingual French/German); Italian at SUPSI. The BFH/HES-SO Joint Master is trilingual (French, German, English). An English-language website is not evidence of an English-taught programme; ETH states explicitly that it does not offer a bachelor's solely in English.

Admissions and portfolios. Bachelor's programmes at the universities of applied sciences usually admit applicants with a vocational Matura and an apprenticeship in architectural drawing, or with another Matura plus about 12 months of practice in an architecture office; master's programmes usually require a bachelor's in architecture plus a portfolio and an interview or file review. Application fees and deadlines vary by school and intake, and several pages still show 2026 dates, so check the school's current admissions page. Source

• swissuniversities: accredited Swiss higher education institutions
• SBFI: practising the architect profession in Switzerland (note of May 2023)