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Great Britain - United Kingdom (L)

General Provisions

Recognition of foreign upper secondary school-leaving certificates: general provisions for all countries

Recognised upper secondary school-leaving certificate

  • Cambridge AICE Diploma Advanced Level (AL) + Advanced Subsidiary Level (AS)
  • Pre-U Principal Subject + Pre-U Short Course
  • International Advanced Level (IAL) + International GCSE (IGCSE) or International Advanced Subsidiary Level (IAS)
  • England, Wales, Nordirland / Angleterre, Pays de Galles, Irlande du Nord :
    General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) or General Certificate of Education - Advanced Subsidiary Level (GCE AS) + General Certificate of Education - Advanced Level (GCE AL)
  • Schottland / Ecosse:
    Scottish Qualifications Certificate (SQC) - Standard Grade + Scottish Qualifications Certificate (SQC) - Higher + Scottish Qualifications Certificate (SQC) - Advanced Higher

with the following general education subjects

  1. First language (native language)
  2. Second language
  3. Mathematics 
  4. Natural sciences (biology, chemistry or physics)
  5. Humanities and social sciences (geography, history or economics/law)
  6. Elective (one subject from category 2, 4 or 5 or computer science or philosophy. Computer science and philosophy can only be chosen as a sixth subject)

Language skills and/or exams under reserve

Admission requirements of each university

valid for the academic Year 2024/25

EPFLGeneral Certificate of Education and Scottish Qualifications Certificate: Advanced Levels or Advanced Highers in the subjects 1) mathematics, 2) physics, and 3) chemistry, biology, or computer science. the following subjects were studied at the level of the GCSE or Standard Grades or at a higher level (Advanced Subsidiary Levels, Advanced Levels, Highers, or Advanced Highers): 1) English, 2) second modern language, and 3) history or geography. The grades in mathematics and physics, as well as in chemistry, biology, or computer science, are at least A or 1. Otherwise: Entrance Examination EPFL
International General Certificate of Education: Upper secondary school-leaving certificate + Entrance Examination EPFL
ETHZEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland: : (I)GCE with three Advanced Levels or Cambridge Pre-U Certificate (three Principal Subjects) in: 1. mathematics; 2. physics or chemistry or biology, 3. language of instruction or foreign language with minimum grade A  in each A-Level, respectively  D 3 in each Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subject and at least four additional subjects (I)GCE AS, (I)GCSE or Cambridge Pre-U Short Courses out of the following: physics, chemistry, biology, computer science, another language, geography, history,  economics. Otherwise: Reduced Entrance Examination ETH Zurich.
GCE A–Levels or Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects taken after or in conjunction with other than the above mentioned secondary school credentials (e.g. ten years German Gymnasium + A-Levels): Comprehensive Entrance Examination ETH Zurich.
Scotland: Scottish Qualifications Certificate with three Advanced Higher in: 1. mathematics, 2. physics or chemistry or biology, 3. language of instruction or foreign language, with a grade A in each of these three subjects and at least four additional subjects (Higher or Standard) in the last three years of Scottish secondary education of the following: physics, chemistry, biology, computer science, another language, geography, history,  economics. Otherwise: Reduced Entrance Examination ETH Zurich.
Advanced Higher taken in conjunction with other than the above mentioned secondary school credentials (e.g. ten years German Gymnasium + Advanced Higher): Comprehensive Entrance Examination ETH Zurich.
BaselEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland: Upper secondary school-leaving certificate including 6 independent general education subjects, with at least 3 GCE AL / AICE AL / Pre-U Principal Subject / IAL (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject). Grade B for 2 subjects (M2 for Pre-U Principal Subject), grade C for 1 subject (M3 for Pre-U Principal Subject). Grade 5 for 3 additional subjects at level GCE AS / AICE AS / Pre-U Short Course / IAS or GCSE / IGCSE (B for Wales and Northern Ireland, at least grade C for GCE AS / AICE AS / IAS, at least grade M3 for Pre-U Shor Course)
Scotland: Upper secondary school-leaving certificate including 6 independent general education subjects, each one with at least grade 3 resp. C. At least 3 subjects must be at Advanced Higher Level (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject), 1 Higher and 2 Standard grade
BernEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland: Upper secondary school-leaving certificate including 6 independent general education subjects, with at least 3 GCE AL / AICE AL / Pre-U Principal Subject / IAL (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject). Grade B for 2 subjects (M2 for Pre-U Principal Subject), grade C for 1 subject (M3 for Pre-U Principal Subject). Grade 5 for 3 additional subjects at level GCE AS / AICE AS / Pre-U Short Course / IAS or GCSE / IGCSE (B for Wales and Northern Ireland, at least grade C for GCE AS / AICE AS / IAS, at least grade M3 for Pre-U Shor Course)
Scotland: Upper secondary school-leaving certificate including 6 independent general education subjects, each one with at least grade 3 resp. C. At least 3 subjects must be at Advanced Higher Level (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject), 1 Higher and 2 Standard grade
FribourgEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland: Upper secondary school-leaving certificate including 6 independent general education subjects, with at least 3 GCE AL / AICE AL / Pre-U Principal Subject / IAL (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject). Grade B for 2 subjects (M2 for Pre-U Principal Subject), grade C for 1 subject (M3 for Pre-U Principal Subject). Grade 5 for 3 additional subjects at level GCE AS / AICE AS / Pre-U Short Course / IAS or GCSE / IGCSE (B for Wales and Northern Ireland, at least grade C for GCE AS / AICE AS / IAS, at least grade M3 for Pre-U Shor Course)
Scotland: Upper secondary school-leaving certificate including 6 independent general education subjects, each one with at least grade 3 resp. C. At least 3 subjects must be at Advanced Higher Level (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject), 1 Higher and 2 Standard grade
GenèveEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland: Upper secondary school-leaving certificate including 6 independent general education subjects, with at least 3 GCE AL / AICE AL / Pre-U Principal Subject / IAL (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject). Grade B for 2 subjects (M2 for Pre-U Principal Subject), grade C for 1 subject (M3 for Pre-U Principal Subject). Grade 5 for 3 additional subjects at level GCE AS / AICE AS / Pre-U Short Course / IAS or GCSE / IGCSE (B for Wales and Northern Ireland, at least grade C for GCE AS / AICE AS / IAS, at least grade M3 for Pre-U Shor Course)
Scotland: Upper secondary school-leaving certificate including 6 independent general education subjects, each one with at least grade 3 resp. C. At least 3 subjects must be at Advanced Higher Level (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject), 1 Higher and 2 Standard grade
LausanneEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland: Upper secondary school-leaving certificate including 6 independent general education subjects, with at least 3 GCE AL / AICE AL / Pre-U Principal Subject / IAL (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject). Grade B for 2 subjects (M2 for Pre-U Principal Subject), grade C for 1 subject (M3 for Pre-U Principal Subject). Grade 5 for 3 additional subjects at level GCE AS / AICE AS / Pre-U Short Course / IAS or GCSE / IGCSE (B for Wales and Northern Ireland, at least grade C for GCE AS / AICE AS / IAS, at least grade M3 for Pre-U Shor Course)
Scotland: Upper secondary school-leaving certificate including 6 independent general education subjects, each one with at least grade 3 resp. C. At least 3 subjects must be at Advanced Higher Level (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject), 1 Higher and 2 Standard grade
LuzernEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland: Upper secondary school-leaving certificate including 6 independent general education subjects, with at least 3 GCE AL / AICE AL / Pre-U Principal Subject / IAL (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject). Grade B for 2 subjects (M2 for Pre-U Principal Subject), grade C for 1 subject (M3 for Pre-U Principal Subject). Grade 5 for 3 additional subjects at level GCE AS / AICE AS / Pre-U Short Course / IAS or GCSE / IGCSE (B for Wales and Northern Ireland, at least grade C for GCE AS / AICE AS / IAS, at least grade M3 for Pre-U Shor Course)
Scotland: Upper secondary school-leaving certificate including 6 independent general education subjects, each one with at least grade 3 resp. C. At least 3 subjects must be at Advanced Higher Level (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject), 1 Higher and 2 Standard grade
NeuchâtelEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland: Upper secondary school-leaving certificate including 6 independent general education subjects, with at least 3 GCE AL / AICE AL / Pre-U Principal Subject / IAL (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject). Grade B for 2 subjects (M2 for Pre-U Principal Subject), grade C for 1 subject (M3 for Pre-U Principal Subject). Grade 5 for 3 additional subjects at level GCE AS / AICE AS / Pre-U Short Course / IAS or GCSE / IGCSE (B for Wales and Northern Ireland, at least grade C for GCE AS / AICE AS / IAS, at least grade M3 for Pre-U Shor Course)
Scotland: Upper secondary school-leaving certificate including 6 independent general education subjects, each one with at least grade 3 resp. C. At least 3 subjects must be at Advanced Higher Level (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject), 1 Higher and 2 Standard grade
St. GallenEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland: Upper secondary school-leaving certificate including 6 independent general education subjects, with at least 3 GCE AL / AICE AL / Pre-U Principal Subject / IAL (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject). Grade B for 2 subjects (M2 for Pre-U Principal Subject), grade C for 1 subject (M3 for Pre-U Principal Subject). Grade 5 for 3 additional subjects at level GCE AS / AICE AS / Pre-U Short Course / IAS or GCSE / IGCSE (B for Wales and Northern Ireland, at least grade C for GCE AS / AICE AS / IAS, at least grade M3 for Pre-U Shor Course) + HSG selection procedure
Scotland: Upper secondary school-leaving certificate including 6 independent general education subjects, each one with at least grade 3 resp. C. At least 3 subjects must be at Advanced Higher Level (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject), 1 Higher and 2 Standard grade + HSG selection procedure
ZürichEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland: Upper secondary school-leaving certificate including 6 independent general education subjects, with at least 3 GCE AL / AICE AL / Pre-U Principal Subject / IAL (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject). Grade B for 2 subjects (M2 for Pre-U Principal Subject), grade C for 1 subject (M3 for Pre-U Principal Subject). Grade 5 for 3 additional subjects at level GCE AS / AICE AS / Pre-U Short Course / IAS or GCSE / IGCSE (B for Wales and Northern Ireland, at least grade C for GCE AS / AICE AS / IAS, at least grade M3 for Pre-U Shor Course)
Scotland: Upper secondary school-leaving certificate including 6 independent general education subjects, each one with at least grade 3 resp. C. At least 3 subjects must be at Advanced Higher Level (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject), 1 Higher and 2 Standard grade
USIEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland: Upper secondary school-leaving certificate including 6 independent general education subjects, with at least 3 GCE AL / AICE AL / Pre-U Principal Subject / IAL (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject). Grade B for 2 subjects (M2 for Pre-U Principal Subject), grade C for 1 subject (M3 for Pre-U Principal Subject). Grade 5 for 3 additional subjects at level GCE AS / AICE AS / Pre-U Short Course / IAS or GCSE / IGCSE (B for Wales and Northern Ireland, at least grade C for GCE AS / AICE AS / IAS, at least grade M3 for Pre-U Shor Course)
Scotland: Upper secondary school-leaving certificate including 6 independent general education subjects, each one with at least grade 3 resp. C. At least 3 subjects must be at Advanced Higher Level (one of which must be mathematics or another natural sciences subject), 1 Higher and 2 Standard grade