Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 30 October 2026
ZHAW English requirements by programme
From the School of Engineering's master's admission requirements and the School of Management and Law's MSc Banking and Finance page.
| Programme | IELTS | Other tests |
|---|---|---|
| MSc in Engineering (MSE) | 7.0 (C1) | TOEFL 95, Cambridge Advanced (CAE), BEC Higher |
| MSc Banking and Finance, International Track | IELTS Academic 7.0 (C1) | TOEFL 95 (incl. Home Edition), TOEIC Listening and Reading 945, Cambridge Advanced or Proficiency |
Exemptions
For the MSc in Engineering, you do not need an English certificate if you are a native speaker or completed a bachelor's degree in an English-speaking undergraduate programme. The certificate must be submitted at the start of the admission process, not later.
The Engineering profile in Civil Engineering also needs German at C1 (Goethe-Zertifikat). PTE and Duolingo are not listed on either page.
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How to check your programme
ZHAW runs many master's across its schools, and each programme page lists its own English proof. The Engineering MSE also asks for a statement of purpose and two letters of recommendation.
Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your ZHAW programme page and in your offer, so check it there before you book a test.
Minimum vs competitive score
Where ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences publishes an IELTS score, it is the minimum: the floor an application has to meet to be considered, not a score that guarantees an offer.
Competitive programmes, and courses with far more applicants than places, may expect more than the minimum, and some departments set their own overall or per-skill scores, often for writing or speaking. The course page has the final word, so check it before you book a test.
If you are close to the line, aim for a margin above it: one weak skill can miss the requirement even when the overall band clears it. Not sure where you stand? Take a free IELTS mock test and get a band for each skill.
Frequently asked questions
What IELTS does ZHAW need for a master's?+
IELTS 7.0 (C1) for the MSc in Engineering and the MSc Banking and Finance international track.
Does ZHAW accept an English-taught bachelor's instead of IELTS?+
For the MSc in Engineering, yes: graduates of an English-speaking undergraduate programme need no certificate.
Does ZHAW accept PTE or Duolingo?+
Neither is listed on the Engineering or Banking and Finance pages.
When must I send my English certificate to ZHAW?+
For the MSc in Engineering, at the start of the admission process.
Keep reading
Related
- Universities in Switzerland accepting IELTS 7.0
- IELTS for Switzerland
- ETH Zurich IELTS requirement
- HSLU IELTS requirement
- IELTS band score calculator
- All 3112 guides
Guide updated on 30 October 2026. Individual prices and policies may have earlier observation dates. Confirm current details on the linked official pages before you book or apply.
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