Université de Genève
Geneva, Switzerland • Founded 1559 • World Rank #317
Updated May 2026
Overview
Established in 1835, the Université de Genève (University of Geneva) is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the large city of Geneva (population range of 500,000-1,000,000 inhabitants).
Officially recognized by the Staatssekretariat für Bildung, Forschung und Innovation, Schweiz (State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation of Switzerland), Université de Genève (UNIGE) is a large-sized coeducational Swiss higher education institution. Université de Genève (UNIGE) 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.
This 189-year-old Swiss higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on students' past academic records and grades. International applicants are eligible to apply for enrollment.
UNIGE also provides several academic and non-academic facilities and services to students including a library, housing, sports facilities, financial aids and/or scholarships, study abroad and exchange programs, online courses and distance learning opportunities, as well as administrative services.
Location & Contact
For visits or applications to Université de Genève, location and primary contact details are below. Open days are typically announced via social channels — follow them to receive event notifications.
Academic Details
Université de Genève at the institutional level: enrolment, staffing, and accreditation summary. Accreditation has expiry and renewal cycles worth checking on the awarding body site for currency.
Academic Structures
The schools and colleges that constitute Université de Genève's academic body are organised below. Each often controls its own admissions criteria, scholarships, and programme entry standards.
Unit 9 items
- Faculty of Humanities
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Protestant Theology
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences
- Faculty of Sciences
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Faculty of Translation and Interpretation
- Geneva School of Economy and Management
Degrees
Also Federal Diploma in Dental Medicine, 10-12 sem.
Bachelor's 12 programs
Bachelor's programmes build foundational expertise, preparing graduates for entry-level professional roles and further postgraduate study.
- Arts and Humanities
- Computer Science
- Economics
- Educational Sciences
- Law
- Management
- Medicine
- Natural Sciences
- Psychology
- Social Sciences
- Theology
- Translation and Interpretation
Master's 86 programs
Master's programmes develop advanced specialised expertise, suited to senior industry positions and applied research.
- Adult Education
- African Studies
- Ancient Civilizations
- Anthropology
- Arabic
- Archaeology
- Art History
- Arts and Humanities
- Asian Studies
- Astrophysics
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Business Administration
- Central European Studies
- Chemistry
- Chinese
- Civil Law
- Classical Languages
- Commercial Law
- Communication Studies
- Comparative Literature
- Computer Science
- Criminal Law
- Dentistry
- Development Studies
- Earth Sciences
- Eastern European Studies
- Economic History
- Economics
- Education
- Educational Psychology
- English
- Environmental Studies
- Ethnology
- European Studies
- European Union Law
- French
- Gender Studies
- Geography (Human)
- German
- Germanic Studies
- Greek (Classical)
- Health Sciences
- Hispanic American Studies
- History
- Human Rights
- International Law
- International Studies
- Italian
- Japanese
- Journalism
- Latin
- Law
- Linguistics
- Literature
- Management
- Mass Communication
- Mathematics
- Mathematics and Computer Science
- Media Studies
- Medicine
- Medieval Studies
- Middle Eastern Studies
- Musicology
- Natural Sciences
- Neurosciences
- Pharmacy
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political Sciences
- Preschool Education
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Regional Planning
- Russian
- Social Sciences
- Spanish
- Special Education
- Speech Therapy and Audiology
- Statistics
- Teacher Training
- Technology
- Technology Education
- Theology
- Town Planning
- Translation and Interpretation
Doctoral 45 programs
Doctoral programmes train independent researchers, leading to academic, scientific, and senior advisory careers.
- Anthropology
- Archaeology
- Arts and Humanities
- Astronomy and Space Science
- Astrophysics
- Atomic and Molecular Physics
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Demography and Population
- Dentistry
- Earth Sciences
- Econometrics
- Economic History
- Economics
- Educational Sciences
- Environmental Studies
- European Union Law
- Finance
- Fiscal Law
- Gender Studies
- Geography
- Health Sciences
- Home Economics
- Human Rights
- Journalism
- Law
- Management
- Mass Communication
- Mathematics
- Medicine
- Neurosciences
- Physics
- Political Sciences
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Science Education
- Social Sciences
- Sociology
- Speech Therapy and Audiology
- Statistics
- Theology
- Translation and Interpretation
Faculties & Divisions
All faculties operate under Staatssekretariat für Bildung, Forschung und Innovation, Schweiz.
Affective Sciences (Centre) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Psychology
Common Career Paths
- Research Scientist
- Lab Technician
- Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine (Centre) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Arts and Humanities
- Ethics
Common Career Paths
- Physician
- Medical Researcher
- Clinical Specialist
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Bioinformatics (Centre) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Biological and Life Sciences
- Computer Science
Computer Science (Centre) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Computer Science
- Information Technology
Common Career Paths
- Software Engineer
- Data Scientist
- Systems Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Gerontology and Vulnerability (Centre) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Gerontology
History (Centre) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- History
Neurosciences (Centre) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Neurosciences
Common Career Paths
- Research Scientist
- Lab Technician
- Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Humanities (Faculty) 37 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Ancient Civilizations
- Anthropology
- Arabic
- Archaeology
- Art History
- Arts and Humanities
- Chinese
- Classical Languages
- Comparative Literature
- Computer Science
- Contemporary History
- Cultural Studies
- East Asian Studies
- English
- French
- German
- Greek
- Greek (Classical)
- History
- International Relations and Diplomacy
- Italian
- Japanese
- Korean
- Latin
- Linguistics
- Literature
- Medieval Studies
- Modern History
- Music
- Musicology
- Oriental Studies
- Philosophy
- Portuguese
- Prehistory
- Russian
- Slavic Languages
- Spanish
Common Career Paths
- Researcher
- Editor
- Cultural Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Law (Faculty) 9 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Civil Law
- Commercial Law
- Criminal Law
- History of Law
- International Law
- Labour Law
- Law
- Private Law
- Public 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) 22 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Anaesthesiology
- Biology
- Cell Biology
- Community Health
- Dentistry
- Dermatology
- Genetics
- Gerontology
- Immunology
- Medical Technology
- Medicine
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Neurosciences
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Paediatrics
- Pathology
- Pharmacology
- Physiology
- Psychiatry and Mental Health
- Radiology
- Surgery
Common Career Paths
- Physician
- Medical Researcher
- Clinical Specialist
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Psychology and Educational Sciences (Faculty) 10 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Adult Education
- Behavioural Sciences
- Clinical Psychology
- Cognitive Sciences
- Development Studies
- Education
- Educational Sciences
- Educational Technology
- Psychology
- Special Education
Common Career Paths
- Teacher
- Educational Administrator
- Curriculum Specialist
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Sciences (Faculty) 10 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Astronomy and Space Science
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Earth Sciences
- Environmental Studies
- Mathematics
- Pharmacy
- Physics
Common Career Paths
- Research Scientist
- Lab Technician
- Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Social Science and Economics (Faculty) 9 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Business and Commerce
- Economic History
- Economics
- Environmental Studies
- Geography (Human)
- International Relations and Diplomacy
- Political Sciences
- Social Sciences
- Sociology
Common Career Paths
- Economist
- Policy Analyst
- Financial Consultant
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Theology (Faculty) 3 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Protestant Theology
- Religious Studies
- 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.
Translation and Interpretation (Faculty) 8 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Arabic
- English
- French
- German
- Italian
- Russian
- Spanish
- Translation and Interpretation
International and Development Studies (Graduate School) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Development Studies
- International Studies
Ecumenical Studies (Institute) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Bible
- Theology
Environmental Sciences (Institute) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Environmental Studies
Common Career Paths
- Environmental Consultant
- Sustainability Officer
- Climate Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Genetics and Genomics (Institute) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Genetics
Global Studies (Institute) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- European Studies
- International Relations and Diplomacy
History of the Reformation (Institute) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- History
Movement Sciences and Sports Medicine (Institute) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Sports Medicine
Common Career Paths
- Physician
- Medical Researcher
- Clinical Specialist
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
University Teacher Training (Institute) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Teacher Training
Geneva Finance (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Finance
Common Career Paths
- Financial Analyst
- Investment Banker
- Risk Manager
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Economics and Management (School) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Economics
- Management
Common Career Paths
- Operations Manager
- Project Manager
- HR Manager
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
French language and Civilization (School) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- French
- French Studies
Social Sciences (School) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Social Sciences
Common Career Paths
- Researcher
- Policy Analyst
- Social Worker
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Programs Offered
The programmes you can apply for at Université de Genève are grouped by degree level. Programme-level accreditation (separate from institutional) matters for regulated professions like law, medicine, and engineering.
151 programmes on record. Each level below shows a sample. Compare these on the programs page All programs in Switzerland
Bachelor's Degree 58 programmes
Showing 10 of 58.
Master's Degree 93 programmes
Showing 10 of 93.
How to apply to Université de Genève
Application guidance for Université de Genève, structured as five practical steps with attention to documents and admissions communication.
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1
Browse the programme catalogue
Use the programme finder to browse Université de Genève's 151 active programmes. Filter by keyword or scan by degree level. Read curriculum details on each programme's dedicated page if available.
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2
Check eligibility for your chosen programme
Programme-level requirements at Université de Genève typically include academic transcripts, language proficiency proof, identity documents, and a personal statement or interview. Confirm specific requirements with the admissions office.
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3
Get your documents ready
Prepare academic transcripts, ID/passport copies, language proficiency proof, a personal statement, and reference letters. International candidates may need apostilled or notarised translations — start early to avoid deadline pressure.
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4
Apply through the official channel
Université de Genève processes applications through www.unige.ch. Create an account, fill out the application form, and submit your documents. Note application deadlines, which vary by intake and programme.
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5
Reach out and track your application
Confirm receipt of your application with the admissions office and keep an eye on your portal for status changes. Reach the institution by phone at +41 (22) 379 7111. Quick responses to any follow-up requests keep your application moving smoothly through the review process.
Frequently Asked Questions about Université de Genève
Quick answers to the most common questions about Université de Genève — covering location, founding, ranking, programmes, and admissions context.
When did Université de Genève open?
Université de Genève traces its founding to 1559 (approximately 467 years ago).
In which city is Université de Genève?
Université de Genève is based in Geneva, Switzerland.
Is Université de Genève a public or private institution?
It is a public higher-education institution.
How many students study at Université de Genève?
Université de Genève has approximately 15,000-19,999 students.
What is Université de Genève's ranking?
Université de Genève holds rank #317 globally and #5 in Switzerland.
What qualification levels does Université de Genève offer?
Université de Genève delivers bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes across its academic units.
What is Université de Genève's academic structure?
Université de Genève has 9 academic units.
Is Université de Genève officially recognised?
Université de Genève is accredited by Staatssekretariat für Bildung, Forschung und Innovation, Schweiz.
What is Université de Genève's official website?
Université de Genève's official website is www.unige.ch.
Members of European University Association (EUA)
Below: European University Association (EUA) member institutions alongside Université de Genève, useful for shortlists weighted toward partnerships. Partnership-driven shortlisting works well when post-graduate mobility is part of your plan.
Faculties at nearby universities
Looking at higher education options close to Université de Genève? These nearby campuses share similar academic structures and may suit students prioritising proximity to home or family. Regional ties also affect access to internships and local employer networks.
Where Else to Study Humanities & Cultural Studies
Humanities & Cultural Studies is taught at multiple universities across Switzerland — these alternatives to Université de Genève are worth weighing. Each programme reflects different academic traditions, industry connections, and research priorities.
Universities Compared with Université de Genève
Peer universities to Université de Genève by academic scale and prestige are listed below. These often share comparable faculty depth, research output, and graduate outcomes, making the comparison more meaningful than ranking alone.
Studying in Switzerland: guides and resources
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