Frequently Asked Questions
When is the application due?
The application deadline is January 15th for courses beginning in August of the same year.
Where do I send the application?
You have to apply by using the online application tool. Application documents submitted by regular mail will not be considered!
To prepare your application, please create an online account and follow the instructions listed on your application dashboard:
Should I contact a potential supervisor before I apply?
No, we have a centralized application process. For this reason, it is not possible to find a supervisor in advance; you have to go through the regular admission procedure. All students select a primary supervisor in their second year of study.
Do I have to pay an application fee when applying for admission to the program?
There is no general application fee to pay when applying for admission. When admitted to the program, the Dean's office of the Faculty of Business, Economics, and Informatics will have to verify all of the student's official documents, for which the student will be charged an administration fee of 100 Swiss francs. For more information about the matriculation process at UZH, please click on this link: Doctoral studies
Do I receive a scholarship / salary during my doctoral studies?
The primary financial support we provide to students is in the form of assistants’ salaries. These are called Departmental Scholarships (full funding). When you apply to our program, you automatically apply for a Departmental Scholarship. In the first year there are no obligations; from the 2nd year on we expect support in the teaching mission of the department in the form of teaching assistantships.
What is the address for the GRE test result submission at UZH?
For the application to the Zurich Graduate School of Economics a copy of your GRE score uploaded in the portal will be sufficient. If admission is granted, you will have to provide original documents and further details will be provided about how to do so.
Do I need to learn German?
No, all courses are taught in English.
Is it possible to apply for the program without having passed a TOEFL test?
We strongly recommend submitting a recognized English language test (TOEFL, Cambridge certificates C1 & C2, or IELTS Academic) if you are not an English native speaker. As the selection is pretty competitive, the more documents and results you submit with your application, the better your chances.
However, we will review every submission.
Can I apply for track B even if I will receive my master's diploma after the submission deadline (but before the courses start)?
Yes, you can apply for track B if you know you will graduate between the submission date and actual PhD starting date.
In the application portal, instead of the diploma, you can upload a PDF with one sentence explaining by when you expect to receive your master’s diploma.
What is the payment fee for a semester?
Between CHF 200 and 300.
For details:Semester fees and contributions
When does the fall term begin?
Please see the following link for the dates the University of Zurich is in session:Semester dates.
Note, however, that for new PhD students, there is a compulsory pre-sessional Introductory Maths course which begins in mid-August.
What is the expected time to complete the program?
We expect students to complete the program in 5 years.