UZH MasterDays 2026: Master Programmes in Business, Economics and Informatics

UZH MasterDays 2026: What You Need to Know

The University of Zurich MasterDays 2026 showcases one of Europe’s most comprehensive graduate offerings in business, economics, and informatics. Held on March 9, 2026, this annual event presented by the Dean’s Office admissions team provides prospective students with a detailed overview of the faculty’s 10 master’s programmes, 18 available minors, and the admission pathways that vary significantly depending on applicants’ academic backgrounds and country of origin.

The Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics occupies a unique position in the European higher education landscape. It is one of the few faculties worldwide to hold dual accreditation from both AACSB and EQUIS, the two most prestigious international quality marks for business education. This dual accreditation signals to employers and academic institutions that UZH graduates have received an education that meets the highest global standards for curriculum quality, faculty research, and student outcomes.

What makes the UZH MasterDays presentation particularly valuable is its transparency about admission requirements, which vary substantially depending on whether applicants come from Swiss universities, Swiss universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulen), or international institutions. Understanding these distinctions early in the application process can save months of preparation and prevent costly surprises. This guide synthesizes the complete MasterDays 2026 presentation into an actionable resource for prospective students worldwide.

Faculty Overview and Dual AACSB-EQUIS Accreditation

The Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics at UZH brings together three traditionally separate disciplines under one institutional roof, creating natural interdisciplinary pathways that reflect the reality of modern business and technology. The faculty’s international teaching staff delivers instruction informed by active research, ensuring that curriculum content stays current with the latest developments in each field. This integration is not merely organizational—it manifests in concrete ways through cross-disciplinary minors, shared elective catalogues, and collaborative research initiatives.

The dual AACSB and EQUIS accreditation deserves special emphasis because fewer than 1% of the world’s business schools hold both certifications simultaneously. AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) evaluates schools against 15 standards covering strategic management, learner success, thought leadership, and societal impact. EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System) assesses internationalization, corporate connections, ethics, and the quality of the student experience. Together, these accreditations provide independent verification that UZH’s business and economics programmes meet the most demanding quality benchmarks available.

For students evaluating multiple programmes, the accreditation status has practical implications beyond prestige. Many multinational employers use AACSB or EQUIS accreditation as a filtering criterion when recruiting from graduate programmes. Scholarship programmes and exchange partnerships frequently require accredited institution status. And for students who may pursue further academic qualifications—such as a PhD or professional certifications—degrees from dual-accredited faculties carry additional weight in admissions and credentialing processes.

Programme Structure: 120 ECTS Major-Minor Format

All master’s programmes within the faculty follow a standardized 120 ECTS structure completed over four semesters, providing a clear and predictable framework for academic planning. The standard format pairs a 90-ECTS major with a 30-ECTS minor chosen from the faculty’s extensive catalogue of 18 options. This major-minor architecture is one of the programme’s most attractive features, allowing students to build genuinely interdisciplinary profiles that combine technical depth in their chosen field with complementary expertise in a related area.

The single exception to this format is the MSc UZH ETH in Quantitative Finance, a joint programme with ETH Zurich that follows a 90-ECTS mono format without a separate minor component. This structure reflects the highly specialized and mathematically intensive nature of quantitative finance, where the curriculum already integrates elements from finance, mathematics, and computer science that would typically be covered through a minor in other programmes.

A particularly attractive feature is the ability to start in either the fall or spring semester. This flexibility is unusual among European master’s programmes, many of which only admit students for the autumn intake. For applicants who complete their bachelor’s degree mid-year, need additional time for application preparation, or are transitioning from professional work, the spring start option eliminates the need to wait up to a full year for the next intake cycle. If you are comparing programme structures across different Swiss universities, our university guides provide detailed structural comparisons.

Master’s in Business and Economics: Four Programmes

The faculty offers four distinct Master of Arts programmes in business and economics, each targeting different career trajectories and intellectual interests. The newly revised Betriebswirtschaftslehre (Business Administration) 2026 programme represents the faculty’s most recent curriculum update, incorporating contemporary topics in digital transformation, sustainability, and data-driven decision-making alongside traditional business administration foundations. This programme appeals to students seeking broad business management expertise with the flexibility to specialize through their minor choice.

The MSc in Economics provides rigorous training in economic theory, econometrics, and applied policy analysis. Students develop the quantitative and analytical skills needed to understand complex economic systems, evaluate policy interventions, and contribute to academic or policy-oriented research. The programme is particularly strong in areas where UZH’s economics faculty leads international research, including labour economics, development economics, and behavioural economics.

The MSc in Finance focuses on financial markets, corporate finance, asset pricing, and risk management. Located in one of the world’s premier financial centres, the programme benefits from close ties to Zurich’s banking and financial services industry, including opportunities for guest lectures, case studies, and internships with major institutions. Students who pair this major with the Investment Management or Sustainable Finance minor create an especially powerful professional profile for the Swiss financial sector.

Management and Economics bridges the gap between business strategy and economic analysis, preparing graduates who can navigate the intersection of corporate decision-making and macroeconomic forces. This programme is particularly suited to students interested in consulting, corporate strategy, or policy roles that require both managerial acumen and economic literacy. The combination of management frameworks with rigorous economic methodology produces graduates who can think both strategically and analytically about complex organizational challenges.

Master’s in Informatics: Five Programmes

The five MSc in Informatics programmes represent UZH’s Department of Informatics at its most innovative, each targeting a distinct dimension of modern computer science. The MSc in Artificial Intelligence programme has emerged as one of the faculty’s most popular offerings, reflecting the explosive global demand for AI expertise. Students explore machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and robotics through a curriculum that emphasizes UZH’s distinctive human-centered approach to AI development. For a deeper look at this specific programme, see our detailed UZH MSc AI guide.

The MSc in Data Science addresses the growing need for professionals who can extract actionable insights from large, complex datasets. The programme combines statistical methods, machine learning, database technologies, and domain-specific applications to produce graduates capable of working across industries from healthcare to finance. The Software Systems programme provides deep expertise in software architecture, distributed systems, and software engineering, preparing students for technical leadership roles in software development organizations.

Human-Centered Computing focuses on the design and evaluation of interactive systems that serve human needs effectively. This programme integrates insights from psychology, design, and social science with core computer science skills, producing graduates who can bridge the gap between technical implementation and user experience. The Information Systems programme examines how organizations design, implement, and manage technology-enabled business processes, combining technical skills with organizational understanding.

All five informatics programmes share the same structural framework—compulsory module, master’s project, core electives, faculty electives, and master’s thesis—but differ in their specific compulsory modules and core elective catalogues. This shared structure means students who discover new interests during their studies can sometimes adjust their trajectory more easily than in programmes with completely distinct curricula. The informatics programmes also benefit from the ability to take courses at ETH Zurich, effectively expanding the available course catalogue beyond what any single institution could offer.

Joint MSc Quantitative Finance with ETH Zurich

The MSc UZH ETH in Quantitative Finance stands as one of Europe’s most prestigious programmes at the intersection of finance and mathematics. This joint degree leverages the complementary strengths of both institutions: UZH’s expertise in finance, banking, and economics combined with ETH Zurich’s world-leading capabilities in mathematics, statistics, and computational methods. Graduates receive a degree jointly awarded by both universities, carrying the reputational weight of two institutions that consistently rank among the world’s top 20.

The programme follows a 90-ECTS mono format, reflecting its highly specialized nature. Unlike the other faculty programmes, there is no separate minor component—the curriculum itself integrates the interdisciplinary elements that would typically be addressed through a minor. Courses span mathematical finance, stochastic processes, risk management, financial econometrics, and computational finance, creating a cohesive programme that prepares students for the most quantitatively demanding roles in the financial industry.

Career outcomes for Quantitative Finance graduates are exceptionally strong. The programme feeds directly into Zurich’s concentration of global financial institutions, hedge funds, asset managers, and fintech companies. Roles in quantitative analysis, risk modelling, algorithmic trading, and financial engineering are natural destinations, with starting salaries that reflect both the programme’s difficulty and the scarcity of professionals with genuine quantitative finance expertise. The programme’s alumni network spans major financial centres worldwide.

18 Minors: Customizing Your Master’s Degree

The faculty’s 18 available minors represent one of the most extensive customization options in European graduate education. Each minor requires 30 ECTS credits and allows students to develop meaningful competence in a complementary discipline, creating degree profiles that are genuinely interdisciplinary rather than merely multidisciplinary. The availability of specific minors varies depending on whether students are enrolled in business/economics majors, informatics majors, or majors from other UZH faculties.

For business and economics students, the minor catalogue includes Economics, Behavioral Economics, Development and Economic Policy, Personnel Leadership, Accounting and Corporate Finance, Marketing, Finance, Strategy, Investment Management, Sustainable Finance, Information Systems, Informatics, Data Science, Digital Transformation and Entrepreneurship, Organization and Innovation, Business Analytics and Operations, and Artificial Intelligence. This extraordinary breadth means a Finance major could specialize in Sustainable Finance or AI, while an Economics major could add Marketing or Data Science expertise.

Informatics students have access to Economics, Finance, Betriebswirtschaftslehre, Information Systems, Informatics (for those wanting additional breadth within the field), Data Science, and Artificial Intelligence. While the selection is narrower than for business students, these minors cover the most strategically important complementary disciplines for technology professionals. An AI major with a Finance minor, for instance, is exceptionally well-positioned for the fintech sector, while a Software Systems major with a Data Science minor can bridge development and analytics roles.

Students from other UZH faculties can access Economics, Betriebswirtschaftslehre, Finance, Informatics, Data Science, and Artificial Intelligence as minors. This cross-faculty availability reflects UZH’s commitment to interdisciplinary education, allowing a law student to add data science expertise or a natural sciences student to develop business administration skills. The strategic value of these combinations in the job market cannot be overstated, as employers increasingly seek professionals who can operate across traditional disciplinary boundaries.

Admission Requirements by Applicant Origin

Understanding UZH’s admission requirements is critical because they vary significantly based on three factors: the type of programme (business/economics vs. informatics), the applicant’s academic background, and whether the bachelor’s degree comes from a Swiss university, a Swiss university of applied sciences, or an international institution. The faculty operates a two-body admission system where the university’s Admissions Office handles formal requirements while the faculty’s own admission committee evaluates academic fit through a “sur dossier” review process.

For Swiss university graduates applying to business and economics programmes, the pathway is most straightforward when the bachelor’s degree is in the same field—admission comes without additional requirements and with free choice of major and minor. Graduates with a 60-ECTS bachelor’s minor in the relevant field can also gain admission with very good grades, without needing GMAT or GRE scores. Those from other fields face a GMAT or GRE requirement, with only test centre scores accepted (no online or at-home versions). For informatics programmes, Swiss graduates with matching bachelor’s degrees are admitted directly, while others may face up to 60 ECTS in supplementary requirements.

Applicants from Swiss universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulen) face more complex evaluation. For business and economics, admission depends on a case-by-case “sur dossier” review examining final grades and academic fit, with GMAT or GRE required. Importantly, applicants from different fields at applied sciences universities are generally not admitted to business and economics programmes. The informatics pathway is more flexible, with same-field applicants typically admitted with some supplementary ECTS requirements and different-field applicants potentially admitted with up to 60 ECTS of additional coursework.

International applicants should note several important details. Business and economics applicants universally need GMAT or GRE scores regardless of their bachelor’s field. For informatics, graduates from outside the EU, EFTA, and UK specifically require GRE scores. Swiss Matura holders are exempt from language proficiency proof requirements. All applicants should check exact deadlines carefully, as UZH students apply during online semester enrollment (from May 15 for fall, November 15 for spring), while external applicants follow different timelines published on the faculty website.

Career Outcomes and Professional Opportunities

The faculty’s graduates enter a job market that is particularly favourable in the Zurich economic region, one of the world’s most concentrated hubs for finance, technology, and professional services. The dual AACSB-EQUIS accreditation opens doors at multinational corporations and global consulting firms that use accreditation status as a recruitment filter. The faculty’s alumni network, mentoring programmes, and career services create a support ecosystem that extends well beyond graduation, helping graduates navigate career transitions throughout their professional lives.

Business and economics graduates find opportunities across banking and financial services (particularly relevant for Finance, Investment Management, and Sustainable Finance concentrations), management consulting (Management and Economics, Strategy), corporate strategy and operations (Business Administration, Business Analytics and Operations), and marketing and digital transformation. Zurich’s position as Switzerland’s commercial capital means that major employers including UBS, Zurich Insurance, Swiss Re, Nestlé, and numerous multinational headquarters are within commuting distance of campus. Explore how graduates from other top European programmes compare in our university programme guides.

Informatics graduates benefit from Zurich’s extraordinary concentration of technology employers. Google’s largest European engineering centre, significant operations from Microsoft, Meta, Apple, and Amazon, and a thriving startup ecosystem create demand for AI specialists, data scientists, software engineers, and information systems professionals that consistently exceeds supply. The combination of a UZH informatics major with a business or finance minor produces graduates who can bridge technical and commercial roles—a profile that commands premium compensation in the current market.

The Teaching Diploma for Upper Secondary Education option adds a distinctive career pathway for students interested in education. Available alongside the master’s programme, this qualification allows graduates to teach at Swiss gymnasium level, combining their subject matter expertise with pedagogical training. This option reflects UZH’s broader mission as a public research university committed to education at all levels.

Application Timeline and Practical Advice

Successful application to UZH’s master’s programmes requires careful attention to timing, documentation, and the specific requirements that apply to each applicant category. Current UZH students apply through online semester enrollment beginning May 15 for fall semester admission and November 15 for spring semester admission. External applicants should consult the Dean’s Office website for exact deadlines, which are published well in advance and are strictly enforced.

Documentation requirements demand early attention. Transcripts must be complete and verified, and applicants should allow ample time for official document processing, especially when requesting records from international institutions. Language proof requirements vary by programme—Swiss Matura holders are exempt, but other applicants should verify whether English proficiency documentation is needed for their specific major and minor combination. For GMAT or GRE scores, remember that only test centre results are accepted, so plan testing appointments well before application deadlines to account for score processing and potential retakes.

Prospective applicants who are unsure about their eligibility should contact the appropriate admission body early. The Admissions Office of the University of Zurich handles formal requirements and technical aspects of applications, while the faculty’s own admission committee manages the academic evaluation. For informatics-specific questions about the master’s project, thesis, or general study matters, Daniela Bärtschi at the IfI Study Coordinator office (studies@ifi.uzh.ch) is the designated contact. Course-specific questions should be directed to the respective instructor, and peer support is available through the ICU student association at icuzh.ch.

A practical recommendation for applicants evaluating multiple programmes: take advantage of the minor system to future-proof your degree. The job market in 2026 increasingly rewards professionals who combine deep expertise in one area with meaningful competence in another. Choosing a minor strategically—such as pairing a Finance major with Data Science, or an AI major with Economics—creates a degree profile that opens more career doors than either discipline alone. The UZH faculty’s 18-minor catalogue makes this kind of strategic combination exceptionally easy to achieve.