Universität Basel
Basel, Switzerland • Founded 1460 • World Rank #339
Updated May 2026
Overview
Founded in 1460, the Universität Basel (University of Basel) is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the small city of Basel (population range of 50,000-249,999 inhabitants), Basel-Stadt.
Officially recognized by the Staatssekretariat für Bildung, Forschung und Innovation, Schweiz (State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation of Switzerland), Universität Basel (UNIBAS) is a medium-sized coeducational Swiss higher education institution. Universität Basel (UNIBAS) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctorate degrees in several areas of study.
International students are welcome to apply for enrollment. UNIBAS also provides several academic and non-academic facilities and services to students including a library, sports facilities, financial aids and/or scholarships, study abroad and exchange programs, as well as administrative services.
Location & Contact
Address book entry for Universität Basel: location, phone, email, web, and social channels. The press or media office handles institutional inquiries; admissions handles student-specific queries.
Academic Details
Universität Basel's institutional metrics — useful for sizing it against other shortlisted universities. The proportion of academic staff with doctorates correlates with research output and graduate-school admissions.
Academic Structures
Below is the academic-unit breakdown for Universität Basel. Inter-faculty credit transfer rules vary; check whether modules outside your home faculty count toward your degree before enrolling.
Unit 7 items
- Faculty of Business and Economics
- Faculty of Humanities
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Psychology
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Theology
Degrees
Each qualification level at Universität Basel appears below with its degrees. Research-by-thesis versus taught master's programmes differ in structure, assessment, and graduate-school positioning.
Bachelor's 37 programs
Bachelor's programmes build foundational expertise, preparing graduates for entry-level professional roles and further postgraduate study.
- Anthropology
- Archaeology
- Arts and Humanities
- Biological and Life Sciences
- Chemistry
- Classical Languages
- Cultural Studies
- Dentistry
- Earth Sciences
- Eastern European Studies
- Economics
- English
- French Studies
- Gender Studies
- Health Sciences
- History
- Information Sciences
- Islamic Studies
- Italian
- Jewish Studies
- Law
- Mathematics and Computer Science
- Medicine
- Middle Eastern Studies
- Modern Languages
- Nanotechnology
- Natural Sciences
- Performing Arts
- Philology
- Philosophy
- Prehistory
- Psychology
- Religious Studies
- Sociology
- Spanish
- Sports
- Theology
Master's 55 programs
Master's programmes develop advanced specialised expertise, suited to senior industry positions and applied research.
- African Studies
- Ancient Civilizations
- Anthropology
- Archaeology
- Art History
- Arts and Humanities
- Biological and Life Sciences
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Commercial Law
- Communication Studies
- Cultural Studies
- Dentistry
- Earth Sciences
- Eastern European Studies
- Ecology
- Economics
- Education
- English
- Environmental Studies
- European Studies
- Finance
- French Studies
- Gender Studies
- Greek
- Health Sciences
- History
- Information Sciences
- Islamic Studies
- Italian
- Jewish Studies
- Law
- Literature
- Mathematics and Computer Science
- Medicine
- Middle Eastern Studies
- Modern Languages
- Musicology
- Nanotechnology
- Natural Sciences
- Nordic Studies
- Nursing
- Pharmacy
- Philology
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Psychology
- Religion
- Religious Studies
- Slavic Languages
- Social Sciences
- Sociology
- Spanish
- Sports
- Theology
Doctoral 53 programs
Doctoral programmes train independent researchers, leading to academic, scientific, and senior advisory careers.
- African Studies
- Ancient Civilizations
- Anthropology
- Art History
- Arts and Humanities
- Astronomy and Space Science
- Biological and Life Sciences
- Biomedical Engineering
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Dentistry
- Earth Sciences
- Eastern European Studies
- Ecology
- Education
- English Studies
- Environmental Studies
- Ethics
- European Studies
- French Studies
- Gender Studies
- Geography
- Greek
- Health Sciences
- History
- Information Sciences
- Islamic Studies
- Italian
- Jewish Studies
- Latin
- Law
- Linguistics
- Literature
- Mathematics and Computer Science
- Medicine
- Meteorology
- Middle Eastern Studies
- Musicology
- Nanotechnology
- Natural Sciences
- Nordic Studies
- Nursing
- Philology
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political Sciences
- Religious Studies
- Slavic Languages
- Social Sciences
- Sociology
- Spanish
- Sports
- Theology
Faculties & Divisions
All faculties operate under Staatssekretariat für Bildung, Forschung und Innovation, Schweiz.
Business and Economics (Faculty) 6 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Business Administration
- Economics
- Finance
- International Economics
- Marketing
- Statistics
Common Career Paths
- Business Analyst
- Operations Manager
- Strategy Consultant
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Law (Faculty) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Law
Common Career Paths
- Lawyer
- Legal Consultant
- Compliance Officer
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Medicine (Faculty) 8 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Dentistry
- Health Sciences
- Immunology
- Medicine
- Neurosciences
- Nursing
- Oncology
- Sports Medicine
Common Career Paths
- Physician
- Medical Researcher
- Clinical Specialist
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Philosophy/History (Faculty) 40 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- African Studies
- Ancient Civilizations
- Anthropology
- Archaeology
- Art History
- Classical Languages
- Communication Studies
- Cultural Studies
- Eastern European Studies
- Education
- English
- French
- French Studies
- Gender Studies
- German
- Greek
- History
- Islamic Studies
- Italian
- Jewish Studies
- Latin
- Linguistics
- Literature
- Media Studies
- Modern Languages
- Musicology
- Native Language
- Pedagogy
- Philology
- Philosophy
- Political Sciences
- Prehistory
- Religious Studies
- Romance Languages
- Russian
- Scandinavian Languages
- Slavic Languages
- Social Sciences
- Sociology
- Spanish
Psychology (Faculty) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Psychology
Common Career Paths
- Psychologist
- Counsellor
- Clinical Researcher
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Science (Faculty) 27 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Actuarial Science
- Astronomy and Space Science
- Biology
- Biophysics
- Biotechnology
- Botany
- Cell Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Earth Sciences
- Ecology
- Environmental Studies
- Epidemiology
- Genetics
- Geography
- Mathematics
- Meteorology
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Nanotechnology
- Natural Sciences
- Pharmacology
- Pharmacy
- Physics
- Science Education
- Toxicology
- Zoology
Common Career Paths
- Research Scientist
- Lab Technician
- Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Theology (Faculty) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Religion
- Theology
Common Career Paths
- Religious Educator
- Pastoral Counsellor
- Faith Community Leader
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Programs Offered
Universität Basel's catalogue, searchable by name and grouped by level. Joint programmes with partner institutions appear here but carry dual-credentialing rules worth checking with both bodies.
63 programmes on record. Each level below shows a sample. Compare these on the programs page All programs in Switzerland
Bachelor's Degree 33 programmes
Showing 10 of 33.
Master's Degree 23 programmes
Showing 10 of 23.
Doctorate 7 programmes
How to apply to Universität Basel
Below is a five-step path through the application process at Universität Basel, useful for first-time applicants and international students.
-
1
Browse the programme catalogue
Start by exploring the programmes section on this page. Universität Basel runs 63 active programmes across multiple degree levels. Narrow by qualification tier and read each programme description before shortlisting.
-
2
Check eligibility for your chosen programme
Before applying to Universität Basel, confirm you meet the academic, language, and document requirements for your chosen programme. International applicants should also check visa eligibility for Switzerland.
-
3
Get your documents ready
Standard documents: official transcripts, identity proof, language test results, personal statement, and references. Confirm exact requirements with Universität Basel's admissions office before assembling, as expectations vary by programme.
-
4
Apply through the official channel
Lodge your application through the official website (www.unibas.ch). Online forms are the standard route. Save your draft frequently and submit before the programme deadline.
-
5
Reach out and track your application
Verify your application has been received by the admissions team. Reach the institution by phone at +41 (61) 267 3111. Monitor the portal for status updates, interview invitations, or document requests, and respond within the stated deadlines.
Frequently Asked Questions about Universität Basel
A short Q&A covering Universität Basel's essentials — founding, location, scale, ranking, and academic structure.
How old is Universität Basel?
The institution opened in 1460 (approximately 566 years ago).
Where can I find Universität Basel?
The institution is located in Basel, Switzerland.
What is Universität Basel's control type?
Universität Basel is a public institution.
How many students does Universität Basel have?
The institution has a student body of 8,000-8,999.
Where does Universität Basel stand in university rankings?
It ranks #339 globally and #7 in Switzerland.
What programmes are available at Universität Basel?
Universität Basel delivers bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes across its academic units.
What is Universität Basel's academic structure?
Universität Basel has 7 academic units.
Who recognises Universität Basel?
Universität Basel is accredited by Staatssekretariat für Bildung, Forschung und Innovation, Schweiz.
Where can I learn more about Universität Basel?
You can find Universität Basel online at www.unibas.ch.
Top-Ranked Universities in Switzerland
Alumni network strength of Switzerland's national leaders compounds over time. The peer-graduate networks at top institutions often outweigh academic differences in long-run career outcomes.
Members of European University Association (EUA)
Network-level rankings exist for some European University Association (EUA) groupings (e.g., U21, Universitas 21). These differ from country rankings and reflect coordinated members' shared performance.
Where Else to Study Literature
Cohort intake size shapes class culture meaningfully in Literature. Some Switzerland institutions accept a few dozen, others hundreds — the difference affects peer-learning depth and faculty access.
Universities Compared with Universität Basel
Mid-career outcome data (5–10 year post-graduation) is harder to source but more revealing than starting-salary data. Where available for peer institutions, it is worth comparing.
Studying in Switzerland: guides and resources
Spotted something outdated or missing?
Help us keep this page accurate — it takes about 30 seconds.
