Welcome to the USI Università della Svizzera italiana. USI is located in the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland south of the Alps and it is known as the most international university in the country.

USI is internationally recognized as a center of excellence in education, research, and innovation. It is distinctive in the Swiss university landscape because of the originality of its degree curricula and areas of research. USI's focal point is to assure direct interaction and idea exchanges among members of the academic community. The result is a collegiate, dynamic, and multicultural atmosphere -- all characteristics that encourage research and innovation.

USI is part of the Swiss federal university system, which consists of ten cantonal Universities and two Federal Institutes of Technology. Founded in 1996, it is comprised of four faculties: Communication Sciences, Economics, and Informatics in Lugano, and the school of Architecture located in nearby Mendrisio. Since its establishment, USI has become a crucial hub in the Swiss university landscape, shaping it into the most international Swiss University. Its courses cover the whole gamut, from Bachelor’s to PhD and Executive Master programs, which are taught  in both Italian and English.

Today, USI is comprised of a student population of 3000, 60 percent  of which is made up of international students from more than 100 different countries. Additionally, USI hosts 800 academic staff members, eight doctoral schools, eight Executive Masters, and 30 research institutes.