USI admits once a year, to a September start — the Management programme is not on the list of USI masters that offer a spring intake — and it reviews applications in three rounds rather than on a rolling basis: deadlines at the end of February, April and June, with the June round open only to Swiss and EU/EFTA candidates. Decisions follow within three weeks of each round, which is fast by European standards and worth planning around if you are holding competing offers. The hard boundary for everyone else is the April deadline: a non-EU/EFTA applicant cannot use the June round at all, and USI's own guidance is that a student visa takes one to four months to process and cannot be started before the admission letter exists. For the 2026/27 cycle the calendar ran 9 December 2025 to 30 April 2026 (non-EU/EFTA) and 30 June 2026 (Swiss and EU/EFTA); the 2027 dates are not yet published, so the dates on this page are our projection of that same pattern and are marked indicative. You may name up to two USI programmes on one application form, as first and second choice. Line the cycle up against the rest of the field on our [deadline tracker](/deadlines).
Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) runs 3 application rounds. Earlier rounds generally carry higher acceptance odds and earlier scholarship visibility.
| Round | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Round 1 (all candidates) | 28 February 2027 |
| Round 2 — final round for non-EU/EFTA candidates | 30 April 2027 |
| Round 3 — Swiss and EU/EFTA candidates only | 30 June 2027 |
Dates are confirmed against the school's official admissions page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does USI's Master in Management cost?
From the 2027/28 academic year USI charges a semester fee of CHF 5,000, which is CHF 20,000 across the four semesters of this two-year degree. The fee is reduced to CHF 2,000 a semester — CHF 8,000 in total — for Swiss nationals, for foreign nationals who were legally resident in Switzerland or Liechtenstein when they obtained the qualification that gave them access to university, for students admitted on their dossier who are resident in Switzerland at the time of the decision, for students who acquire Swiss nationality mid-degree, for students in the asylum sector and for Swiss or EU citizens resident in Campione d'Italia. Students who enrolled before 2027/28 keep the fee that applied when they first enrolled; USI's own pages no longer publish what that older figure was. There is also a CHF 100 application fee, charged only to candidates whose previous degree was completed outside a Lisbon Convention country, deducted from the first semester's tuition if you enrol and non-refundable otherwise. Budget separately for living costs, which USI puts at CHF 1,300–1,900 a month in Lugano.
Does USI's Master in Management require the GMAT or an entrance exam?
No. USI states that 'there are no admission tests; a candidate's application dossier determines admission', and the GMAT/GRE requirement that exists elsewhere in the faculty applies only to the Master in Finance, and only to applicants with a bachelor's from outside the EU/EFTA. What is not optional is English: USI accepts only IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge English or TOEIC certificates at CEFR B2+ — IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 85, Cambridge First grade B, TOEIC 860 listening-and-reading with 170 in speaking and writing — and states that an application arriving without valid English certification 'will be considered incomplete and will not be processed'. A bachelor's degree taught entirely in English replaces the certificate if you can evidence the language of instruction officially. Certificates more than three years old as of 1 September are generally not accepted.
When are USI's Master in Management application deadlines?
USI reviews applications in three rounds, with deadlines at the end of February, April and June, and the June round is open only to Swiss and EU/EFTA candidates. Decisions follow within three weeks of each round. For the 2026/27 intake the window opened on 9 December 2025 and the final deadlines were 30 April 2026 for non-EU/EFTA candidates and 30 June 2026 for Swiss and EU/EFTA candidates who do not need a visa. The 2027 dates have not been published as of 1 September 2026, so the dates shown on this page are our projection of the same pattern and are marked indicative — confirm them on USI's own application page before you plan. Note also that USI's admission and application pages contradict each other on late submissions: one says late applications 'will not be accepted', the other that they 'will be considered only in the case of available places'. Treat the April deadline as final if you need a visa, since USI's own guidance is that the visa procedure takes one to four months and can only start once you hold an admission letter.
Sources
- Università della Svizzera italiana — Master in Management (programme overview): offered by the Faculty of Economics in Lugano; 'full-time study programme comprises 120 ECTS spread over 4 semesters (usual duration 2 years) and is entirely offered in English'; designed 'to provide graduates from various backgrounds with the necessary skills and tools for understanding modern management concepts'; three specialisation tracks — Strategy and Entrepreneurship, Organization and Human Resources Management, Socially Responsible Management — of 18 ECTS each, 'offered in six 3 ECTS courses in the second and third Semesters', optional, recorded as a 'concentration' on the transcript; awarded degree 'Master of Science in Management' ↗ — Università della Svizzera italiana
- USI — Master in Management, Admission: a bachelor's degree from a recognised university confirming 'at least three years of study (at least 180 ECTS credits)', with 80% of credits from a recognised higher education institution and at least 50% from the awarding university; applicants from a University of Applied Sciences 'may be admitted with 30-60 additional ECTS'; 'The number of places is limited to 70 to ensure an optimal learner-to-faculty ratio; therefore, there will be a selection'; selection on academic background including average grade and ranking of the undergraduate institution (economics or management studies 'may represent an advantage'), the motivation letter and CV, and proof of English; 'Any application submitted without valid English certification at the time of review will be considered incomplete and will not be processed'; three review rounds with deadlines at the end of February, April and June (June for Swiss and EU/EFTA candidates only); 'Late applications will not be accepted'; decisions within three weeks of each round ↗ — Università della Svizzera italiana
- USI — Master in Management, Application Procedure: applications for Academic Year 2026/27 opened 9 December 2025; 'The ultimate deadlines for submitting an application for the Autumn intake are: 30 April 2026 for international (non-EU/EFTA) candidates. 30 June 2026 for Swiss and European (EU/EFTA) candidates who do not require a visa'; 'Late applications will be considered only in the case of available places'; required documents include diplomas, transcripts, CV, a one-page motivation letter, official English certification and ID; 'a registration fee of CHF 100.- is required' from candidates not exempted, exemption applying to those whose previous degree studies were completed in a country that has signed the Lisbon Convention (list of 57 signatory countries reproduced on the page); the fee is non-refundable and deducted from the first semester's tuition on enrolment ↗ — Università della Svizzera italiana
- USI — Master in Management, Tuition and scholarships: 'For students enrolling from the 2027/28 academic year onwards, a semester fee of CHF 5,000 will apply to Bachelor (undergraduate) and Master (graduate) programmes'; reduced to CHF 2,000 for Swiss nationals, foreign nationals legally resident in Switzerland or Liechtenstein at the time of obtaining their university-entrance qualification, students admitted on their dossier who are resident in Switzerland at the admission decision, students who acquire Swiss nationality during enrolment, students in the asylum sector, and Swiss or EU citizens resident in Campione d'Italia; students enrolled before 2027/28 'retain the semester fee in effect at the time of their initial enrolment'. The page states no figure for the pre-2027/28 regime. Scholarships are described only as offered by 'various public and private institutions', with no named scheme, amount or deadline ↗ — Università della Svizzera italiana
- USI — Master in Management, Employability: 'The following data are based on the last USI Alumni Survey, carried out by the USI Career&Alumni Service and the USI Alumni DB.' One year after graduation — employed 97.2%, time to job -0.3 months (81.3% before or immediately after graduation, 15.6% within 3 months), salary CHF 62,900. Five years after graduation — employed 100%, salary CHF 84,600. Place of work: Switzerland 55.9% (Ticino 35.3%, other Swiss cantons 20.6%), Italy 32.4%, other countries 11.7%. Industries: Industry 27.2%, Consulting 24.2%, Banking/Finance/Insurance/Accounting 18.2%, Informatics-Technology-Web 12.1%, Educational and research institutions 6.1%, Tourism and transportation 6.1%, Trade 6.1%. 'Source: 2024 USI Master Survey (alumni 2023 and alumni 2019) and USI Alumni DB.' No response rate or cohort size is published ↗ — Università della Svizzera italiana
- USI — Master in Management, Study plan: 'In the third semester, students have the possibility to specialize in their studies. They can choose one of four different specialization tracks: Strategy and Entrepreneurship, Organization and Human Resources Management, Socially Responsible Management, Startup and Venture Creation' — four tracks and a third-semester choice, against the three tracks and 'second and third Semesters' stated on the programme overview page. Each track is 18 ECTS in six 3-ECTS courses; specialising is optional. First and second semesters are a common core; 'In the last semester, students learn to apply the knowledge and tools acquired in the first three semesters in a consulting project for a company, an internship and by writing a master's thesis' ↗ — Università della Svizzera italiana
- USI — Master in Management, Language Requirements: an internationally recognised certificate at CEFR B2+ is required unless the previous degree was taught entirely in English; accepted scores are IELTS 6.5, TOEFL internet-based 85, Cambridge English First at grade B, or TOEIC listening and reading 860 with speaking 170 and writing 170; 'We only accept the above English qualifications (IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge English, TOEIC)'; 'We generally cannot accept language test results older than three years as of September 1st'; IELTS Academic Online and TOEFL iBT Home Edition are accepted ↗ — Università della Svizzera italiana
- USI — Master in Management, FAQ: 'All our Master's programmes are full time' and taught on campus, with no distance learning; the masters offering a spring-semester intake are listed and the Master in Management is not among them; 'You can apply to up to two programmes in one application form'; 'Will there be an admission test? No, there are no admission tests; a candidate's application dossier determines admission'; 'The GRE/GMAT test is compulsory for applicants to the Master in Finance with a Bachelor obtained in a non-EU/non-EFTA country. The test is not mandatory for all other candidates'; applications may be submitted before graduating, subject to passing all exams by September; non-EU/EFTA students must obtain a student visa before entering Switzerland and 'The visa procedure may take one to four months' ↗ — Università della Svizzera italiana
- USI — Organising your studies (Master in Management): 'Living costs in Lugano or Mendrisio are, on average, between CHF 1,300 - 1,900 per month', itemised as CHF 450-800 for a shared single room or one-bedroom apartment, CHF 450 for food and household expenses, CHF 50-100 for public transport, CHF 50 for books, CHF 200 for other expenses and CHF 160-280 for health insurance where required; 'USI unfortunately does not have sufficient on-campus housing to accommodate all students'; international students must apply for a residence permit within 14 days of arrival ↗ — Università della Svizzera italiana
- USI Faculty of Economics — quick facts: '1027 students from 49 countries'; the faculty dates itself to 1996 ('Earnest and rigorous, since 1996'); institutes include the Institute of Management and Organisation, the Institute of Economics, the Institute of Finance and the Institute for Economic Research ↗ — Università della Svizzera italiana
- USI — Master in Management, Employers: 'The following are some of the 200+ employers where USI Master in Management Graduates work', followed by a named list including Accenture, Amazon.com, Avaloq, AXA Winterthur, Bally, Clarins Group, Cornèr Bank, Credit Suisse, Deloitte, Dolce&Gabbana, Ebay, EY, FCA Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Ferrero, Google, Gucci, Guess, Helsinn Healthcare, Hugo Boss, Johnson & Johnson, KPMG, Lidl Schweiz, Luxottica, LVMH, Michael Kors, Migros, OSCE, Philipp Plein, Pirelli, PwC, Richemont, Roche, SBB CFF FFS, Schindler Group, Tetra Pak, UBS, UNDP and VF International. This is a named employer list, not a placement statistic, and no share or year is attached to it ↗ — Università della Svizzera italiana