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University of Lucerne

Switzerland Founded 2000 World Rank #3754

Overview

English Name: University of Lucerne
Acronyms: UNILU
Founded: 2000
Control Type: Public
World Rank: #3754
Rank in Switzerland: #19
Approach to University of Lucerne campus
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Founded in 2000, University of Lucerne is a public university based in Lucerne, Switzerland. The institution operates as a higher-education provider, providing higher-education access in Switzerland.

Academically, University of Lucerne delivers teaching across bachelor's through doctoral programmes. Its institutional structure includes multiple faculties and runs a catalogue of active programmes across multiple disciplines.

Institutional scale at University of Lucerne centres on 3,155 students, organised across faculties and academic units. Its campus environment provides the daily context for academic and student life.

On academic rankings, University of Lucerne is ranked #3754 globally and #19 within Switzerland. The institution participates in Switzerland's academic ecosystem alongside other higher-education providers.

Location & Contact

University of Lucerne's on-the-ground location and digital channels to engage with the institution. Library access for prospective students is often arranged separately through the main library team.

Address: Frohburgstrasse 3 Postfach 4466
Postal Code: 6002
Map:
Phone: 41 41 229 50 00
Social Media:

Academic Details

Institutional vitals for University of Lucerne: how big, how staffed, and how recognised it is. Campus setting (urban, suburban, rural) interacts with these metrics in shaping the daily academic experience.

Academic Year: August-July
Accrediting Agency: Swiss Agency for Accreditation and Quality Assurance - AAQ
Admission Requirements: upper secondary school-leaving certificates or foreign equivalent
Total Students: 3,155
Full-Time Academic Staff: 1,037
Academic Staff with Doctorate: 362

Degrees

The qualifications available at University of Lucerne are grouped to make level comparison easy. Joint and dual degrees combine multiple awards and often span institutions or faculties.

Bachelor's 18 programs

Bachelor's programmes build foundational expertise, preparing graduates for entry-level professional roles and further postgraduate study.

  • Anthropology
  • Communication Studies
  • Cultural Studies
  • Economics
  • Ethics
  • Ethnology
  • Health Sciences
  • History
  • Jewish Studies
  • Law
  • Management
  • Philosophy
  • Political Sciences
  • Religious Education
  • Religious Studies
  • Social Studies
  • Sociology
  • Theology
Master's 18 programs

Master's programmes develop advanced specialised expertise, suited to senior industry positions and applied research.

  • Communication Studies
  • Cultural Studies
  • Economics
  • Ethnology
  • Health Sciences
  • History
  • International Studies
  • Jewish Studies
  • Law
  • Management
  • Philosophy
  • Political Sciences
  • Religious Education
  • Religious Music
  • Religious Studies
  • Social Sciences
  • Sociology
  • Theology
Doctoral 13 programs

Doctoral programmes train independent researchers, leading to academic, scientific, and senior advisory careers.

  • Cultural Studies
  • Economics
  • Ethnology
  • Health Sciences
  • History
  • Jewish Studies
  • Law
  • Philosophy
  • Political Sciences
  • Religious Studies
  • Social Sciences
  • Sociology
  • Theology

Faculties & Divisions

Browse University of Lucerne's departmental structure. Field placement and internship programmes are managed at the faculty level and vary widely in availability and quality.

Health Sciences and Medicine (Department/Division) 2 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Health Sciences
  • Medicine

Common Career Paths

  • Physician
  • Medical Researcher
  • Clinical Specialist

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Economics and Management (Faculty) 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.

Humanities and Social Sciences (Faculty) 14 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Anthropology
  • Arts and Humanities
  • Communication Studies
  • Cultural Studies
  • Ethnology
  • History
  • Jewish Studies
  • Judaic Religious Studies
  • Philosophy
  • Political Sciences
  • Psychology
  • Religious Studies
  • Social Sciences
  • Sociology

Common Career Paths

  • Researcher
  • Policy Analyst
  • Social Worker

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Law (Faculty) 9 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Administrative Law
  • Civil Law
  • Commercial Law
  • Constitutional Law
  • Criminal Law
  • European Union Law
  • International Law
  • Law
  • Private Law

Common Career Paths

  • Lawyer
  • Legal Consultant
  • Compliance Officer

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Theology (Faculty) 5 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Catholic Theology
  • Philosophy
  • Religious Education
  • Religious Music
  • 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

University of Lucerne's programmes, with filter and level-based grouping. The combination of search and tier view makes shortlisting faster across large catalogues.

Bachelor's Degree

20 programmes

Browse 20 programmes at University of Lucerne for undergraduate entry. Each combines core theory with the credits needed to progress toward honours or a master's.

Wirtschafts­wissenschaften Business & Management
Jewish-Christian Relations Jüdisch-Christliche Beziehungen Humanities & Cultural Studies
Religious Education Religionspädagogik Education & Teaching
Ethnology Ethnologie Social & Cultural Studies
History Geschichte History
Gesellschafts- und Kommunikations­wissenschaften Communication Studies
Judaic Studies Judaistik Religious Studies
Kultur­wissenschaften Humanities & Cultural Studies
Philosophy Philosophie Philosophy & Ethics
Philosophy, Politics and Economics Computer Science & IT
Political Science Politikwissenschaft Politics & International Relations
Soziologie Humanities & Cultural Studies
Étudiants francophones Humanities & Cultural Studies
Studenti italofoni Computer Science & IT
Bachelor Rechts­wissenschaft Law
Theology Flex Study Theologie Flex-Studium Religious Studies
Gesundheits­wissenschaften Health Sciences
Psychology Psychologie Psychology
Gesellschafts- und Kommunikations­­wissenschaften Communication Studies
Rechts­wissenschaft Law

Master's Degree

40 programmes

Explore 40 programmes of postgraduate study at University of Lucerne. A master's degree sharpens specialist knowledge and often carries a dissertation or major project.

Rechtswissenschaft Übersicht Law
Soziologie Humanities & Cultural Studies
Master in Global Studies Humanities & Cultural Studies
Rechts­wissenschaft Law
Master mit Auflage (FH/Ausland) Computer Science & IT
Zweisprachiger Master (MLaw Luzern/Neuenburg) Law
Double Degree (MLaw/LLM) Law
Master Plus Economics & Management Management & Leadership
Master Plus Health Policy Health Sciences
Master Plus International Relations Humanities & Cultural Studies
Global Studies Humanities & Cultural Studies
Philosophy, Politics and Economics Computer Science & IT
Political Science Dual Degree Computer Science & IT
Philosophy, Theology and Religions (PhilTeR) Religious Studies
Gesellschafts- und Kommunikations­­wissenschaften Communication Studies
Computational Social Sciences (LUMACSS) Humanities & Cultural Studies
Psychology Psychologie Psychology
Medicine Medizin Medicine
Health Sciences Health Sciences
Climate Politics, Economics and Law (CPEL) Law
Wirtschafts­wissenschaften Business & Management
Geschichte bilingue History
Political Science Politikwissenschaft Politics & International Relations
Dual Degree in Political Science Computer Science & IT
Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) Computer Science & IT
Philosophy Philosophie Philosophy & Ethics
Kultur­wissenschaften Humanities & Cultural Studies
Judaic Studies Judaistik Religious Studies
Gesellschafts- und Kommunikations-Wissenschaften Communication Studies
Geschichtsdidaktik und Public History History
Theology Theologie Religious Studies
Religious Pedagogy Religionslehre Religious Studies
Jewish-Christian Relations Jüdisch-Christliche Beziehungen Humanities & Cultural Studies
Religion - Economy - Politics Religion – Wirtschaft – Politik Business & Management
Online Master in Philosophy, Theology and Religions (PhilTeR) Online Master's in Philosophy, Theology and Religions (PhilTeR) Religious Studies
Ethics Ethik Philosophy & Ethics
Climate Politics, Economics, and Law (CPEL) Law
Lucerne Master in Computational Social Sciences (LUMACSS) Humanities & Cultural Studies
Ethnology Ethnologie Social & Cultural Studies
History Geschichte History

How to apply to University of Lucerne

Application guidance for University of Lucerne, structured as five practical steps with attention to documents and admissions communication.

  1. 1
    Identify the right programme

    Begin by reviewing the programmes section above. University of Lucerne offers 60 programmes grouped by qualification level. Decide on a target tier (bachelor's, master's, or doctoral) before narrowing by subject.

  2. 2
    Check entry requirements

    Each programme at University of Lucerne has its own entry requirements — academic minimums, language proficiency, supporting documents, and sometimes interviews or portfolios. Check the programme-specific page or contact admissions to confirm eligibility.

  3. 3
    Prepare your application documents

    Most applications require certified academic records, identification documents, language test certificates (IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent for English-medium programmes), CV/résumé, and a statement of purpose. Allow extra time for document authentication.

  4. 4
    Submit via the institution

    Apply directly via University of Lucerne's online portal at www.unilu.ch. Complete the application form, upload supporting documents, and pay any application fee. Confirmation emails typically arrive within a few business days.

  5. 5
    Get in touch with admissions

    After submitting, confirm receipt with the admissions office and track your application status through the portal. Reach the institution by phone at 41 41 229 50 00. Set reminders for any interview requests, additional document submissions, or admission decision deadlines.

Frequently Asked Questions about University of Lucerne

Frequently asked questions about University of Lucerne, covering the institutional basics most prospective applicants want to confirm first.

In what year was University of Lucerne established?

University of Lucerne was founded in 2000 (approximately 26 years ago).

In which city is University of Lucerne?

University of Lucerne is based in Lucerne, Switzerland.

What is University of Lucerne's control type?

University of Lucerne operates as a public institution.

How many students study at University of Lucerne?

University of Lucerne has approximately 3,155 students.

Where does University of Lucerne stand in university rankings?

It ranks #3754 globally and #19 in Switzerland.

What programmes are available at University of Lucerne?

Programmes at University of Lucerne cover bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.

Is University of Lucerne accredited?

The institution holds recognition from Swiss Agency for Accreditation and Quality Assurance - AAQ.

What is University of Lucerne's official website?

You can find University of Lucerne online at www.unilu.ch.

Top-Ranked Universities in Switzerland

The leading universities in Switzerland are listed below — useful for sizing University of Lucerne against the country's top tier. Top-tier institutions in Switzerland typically set admissions standards that downstream universities track.

Where Else to Study Humanities & Cultural Studies

Universities in Switzerland with strong Humanities & Cultural Studies provision give natural alternatives to University of Lucerne. Specialism strengths vary by institution and often correlate with faculty research interests and industry partnerships.

Universities Often Compared with University of Lucerne

Looking at University of Lucerne through a comparison lens? These universities share similar academic positioning and are commonly considered against University of Lucerne during the application process. Cross-comparison helps clarify the institutional fit beyond ranking signals.

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