Equivalence Diploma/Master-Degree

As of 1 February 2006, the Swiss University Conference (SUC) supplemented its Bologna Directives with a transitional regulation on the equivalence of licentiate/diploma and Master degrees. So as not to discriminate against graduates from the “old” diploma and licentiate programmes as a result of the Bologna Reform, the equivalence of these degrees was officially recorded with the “new” title of Master.

• Holders of an ETH diploma are therefore entitled to use the title of Master, without the need for any special confirmation, i.e. Master of Science ETH/MSc ETH.
• Holders of a Swiss federal pharmacist’s diploma use the title of Master of Science/MSc.
• Holders of a Swiss federal gymnastics and sports teacher diploma should contact the Swiss Federal Sports Commission, Federal Office for Sport (BASPO), Hauptstrasse 247-253, CH-2532 Magglingen.

However, we have to draw your attention to the following restrictions (cf. comment on the new Article 6a of the Bologna Directives):

• The title from the old system and the title of Master can only be used as alternatives, not both together.
This means that the titles may not be included on the same document.
• A precise definition of the title (in English), however, should not be used because, although former courses of study were of the same level, they were often not entirely comparable in content with the new ones.

This means that only the two titles listed above are allowed, but not for instance “Master of Science ETH in XXX Engineering”.

No new “diplomas” are being issued. Nevertheless, equivalence certificates in English or German are available on request from the Registrar’s Office of ETH Zurich on advance payment of CHF 30.00 per copy.

Please use the relevant order form (in German only), and enclose the corresponding proof of payment.

Pharmacists are kindly requested to enclose a copy of the degree certificate issued by the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH).

Bulk orders of certificates are unnecessary. If a certificate is requested from a foreign authority or university, it can be issued within a short space of time. As part of the validation process for a profession or continuing education abroad, additional documents are often requested (certified copies of the original academic records + their translation, sometimes a detailed list of all the lectures attended and even course content).