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Switzerland · Basel · Switzerland's Oldest University & Life Sciences Epicenter · Reviewed 14 October 2026

University of Basel (Universität Basel)

Founded in 1460, the University of Basel (Universität Basel) is the oldest university in Switzerland. Associated with 10 Nobel laureates and 2 Fields Medalists (including Erasmus of Rotterdam, Daniel Bernoulli, and 2016 Chemistry Nobelist Jacques Dubochet), Basel is the academic anchor of Europe's premier life sciences pharmaceutical hub (partnered with Novartis and Roche). Through the world-famous Biozentrum and the Swiss Nanoscience Institute (SNI), Basel leads globally in molecular structural biology, spin-qubit quantum science, and distributed information systems. Explore verified Master's curricula, doctoral assistant salaries, and world-renowned faculty profiles.

Official university portal ↗Graduate Funding & FacultyResearch checked, not sponsored

Verified degree programs and opportunities

Review checked academic pathways and funding options below:

Basel Teaching Assistantships (Hilfsassistierende)

Departmental academic employment (Hilfsassistent) for enrolled undergraduate and graduate students at Basel, providing hourly compensation for conducting weekly tutorial exercise sessions and supervising lab sections.

Admissions, language requirements & application process

Master's admission eligibility
Accredited Bachelor of Science degree (minimum 180 ECTS credits) in relevant subject area from an internationally recognized university with above-average grades.
Doctoral admission eligibility
Recognized Master of Science degree (minimum 120 ECTS) with high academic distinction, proven research thesis capability, and agreement from a Basel professor to serve as thesis advisor.
Language proficiency
Demonstrated English proficiency equivalent to CEFR C1: Academic IELTS 7.0 overall or TOEFL iBT 100 for English-taught graduate curricula.
Research statement / Proposal
Comprehensive 2-page statement of purpose detailing academic milestones, research interests, and preferred Basel laboratories.
Application fee
CHF 100 application fee for holders of foreign degrees (CHF 50 for holders of Swiss degrees).
Required documentation
Complete official university transcripts, certified copy of degree diploma, curriculum vitae in English, motivation essay, and two academic referee letters.

Tuition fees and verified scholarship systems

Tuition at the University of Basel is heavily subsidized by the cantons of Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft. Tuition is standard across all faculties at CHF 720 per semester (CHF 1,440 per year) for Swiss and international students alike. Selected international graduate scholars receive Biozentrum fellowships (CHF 24,000 per year) or Swiss Nanoscience Institute awards. Doctoral candidates are salaried university employees receiving CHF 47,000 to CHF 52,000 per year.

Verified faculty profiles and research leaders

Distinguished researchers and laboratory heads at University of Basel:

Prof. Dr. Daniel Loss

Professor of Theoretical Physics & Director, Center for Quantum Sciences; specializing in Quantum Computing, Spin Qubits, Loss-DiVincenzo Proposal.

Prof. Dr. Michael N. Hall

Professor of Biochemistry / Biozentrum, University of Basel; specializing in Target of Rapamycin (TOR), Cell Growth Control, Signaling Networks.

Prof. Dr. Heiko Schuldt

Full Professor of Computer Science / Head of DBIS Group; specializing in Distributed Information Systems, Stream Processing, Multimedia Information Retrieval.

Important verification note

Facts reflect official University of Basel documentation reviewed 2026-10-14. Degree admissions, scholarship awards, and employment positions are subject to formal university review. OpenField does not charge students application fees.

Reviewed 2026-10-14 · Editorial standards · Report an issue