USI is a young and agile university that offers its students a quality education and an enhancing study experience. International faculty teach students with an interdisciplinary, engaging, and interactive approach, leaving room for practical application.
The quality of the study curricula is complemented by USI's small size, its cosmopolitan environment, and its informal and dynamic culture.
These elements make USI a hub of opportunity open to the world, where students can engage in direct dialogue with their professors and define their educational path, discover unexpected horizons, and embrace international careers.
Who we are
USI. Create freely,
act responsibly.
Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) is one of the 12 certified public universities in Switzerland and member of swissuniversities. It is organised in six faculties and is active in several study and research areas, among which: architecture, communication sciences, computational science, data science, economics, health studies, humanities, informatics, law, medicine and biomedicine.
USI is a young and lively university, a hub of opportunity open to the world where students are offered a quality interdisciplinary education in which they can be fully engaged and take centre stage, and where our researchers can count on having the space to freely pursue their initiative.
3'922 students and 1'008 professors and researchers, hailing from 114 countries, convene every day on the four campuses in Lugano, Mendrisio and Bellinzona. The relatively small size of the campuses encourages the free flow and open exchange of ideas. USI encourages faculty, students and researchers to develop their potential, and appreciates their curiosity and willingness to experiment with new ways of thinking, learning, teaching and working.
Established in 1996, USI is in constant evolution, always taking on new challenges while remaining true to its three guiding principles: quality, openness and responsibility.
Why USI
Seven reasons for choosing USI:
- Quality of the Swiss university system
- International faculty
- Leading interdisciplinary education
- Teacher/student ratio 1 to 7
- Strong ties with the business world
- Flexible structure, open to the exchange of ideas
- International, dynamic and welcoming environment
Mission
Based on the Law that regulates the Università della Svizzera italiana, USI mission consists of:
- providing quality education
- conducting internationally relevant scientific research;
- contributing to the development of the region by enabling the transfer of knowledge, innovation, entrepreneurship and cultural and scientific debate in their areas of competence.
Vision
USI aspires to become the natural choice for those yearning to grow intellectually, humanly, and responsibly.
USI envisions to be a way for the future and strives to be known as:
- An institution that believes in diversity
- A hub for great talent
- A partner of choice for knowledge transfer
- A knowledge lab
- A place where senses and aesthetics, in addition to logic and reason, are fostered
- A model employer
- A region-wide campus
Values
In pursuit of its mission, USI draws inspiration from three main values:
- quality
- openness
- responsibility
Moreover, USI has made some specific commitments: to gender equality in the organisation of public events and to sustainable development.
Dies Academicus
The Dies academicus is the annual celebration of the University, a significant moment to share and learn about USI and its developments.
The Dies includes an official address by the Rector and speeches by guest speakers, both from within and beyond USI. It is also an opportunity to welcome at USI the Rectors from other universities, to award the Honorary Doctorate, to appoint Honorary Members of the University, and to assign the Credit Suisse Award for Best Teaching, which rewards the best teacher of one of the USI Faculties (in turns).
Next Dies academicus (27th): May 6, 2023.
