With the inauguration of USI, in 1996, the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland chose to play an active role towards the intellectual and socio-economic growth of the country, and not only – by leveraging at best its convenient cultural position between northern Europe and the Mediterranean.
International faculty, small size, dynamic attitude and informal atmosphere, good infrastructures, connections to the labour market, and a favourable context within the Swiss university system – these are all elements that are much appreciated by students and that make for a rewarding study experience at USI.
USI offers quality and interdisciplinary study curricula where theory and practice go hand in hand and where students play an important role: small-sized classes are the ideal venue for exercising in groups and for each individual student to express him/herself and thus develop their personalities and their uniqueness.
Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) engages in many national and international research programmes, in a network with partners in several countries.
Research at USI is marked by ambitious projects seeking new developments and new solutions through interdisciplinary perspectives in several areas, namely:
The Career Service supports USI students and graduates entering the job market, in particular it:
The University Council – also known as the USI Council – is one of USI’s central bodies together with the Rectorate and the Academic Senate. According to the Law that regulates the Università della Svizzera italiana, the University Council represents USI’s highest authority and closely monitors its activities.
The USIHOME student dorm is reserved mainly for exchange students and is located in Via Lambertenghi 1, 6900 Lugano - 5 minutes walking distance from USI.
The 3-storey building has 24 double and 12 single rooms for 60 beds; each floor is equipped with 2 kitchens and two laundry rooms. The double room is a room shared by two same-gender students.
Common areas can be shared by a maximum of 10 people.
The kitchens and the laundry rooms are fully equipped for the respective purposes. The laundry room has a washing machine and a dryer.
Founded in 1996, the University Library Lugano is the body responsible for organizing documents (books, periodicals, electronic media etc..) within the Lugano faculties of the Università della Svizzera italiana. The Library responds to aims of study, research and Information.
The Lugano Campus offers members of the USI community:
The campus is home to the Lugano university library, as well as lecture rooms, event theaters (Auditorium, Aula magna) and offices for the academic staff of the Faculties of Biomedical Sciences, Communication Sciences, Economics and Informatics. It is surrounded by public gardens, a cafeteria and a number of study areas equipped with computers and Internet access.
A Service for Sport and Leisure has been set up to promote joint sporting activities between the Università della Svizzera italiana and the University of Applied Sciences of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI) and to coordinate local members’ participation in national and international university sports events.
The Service organises regular sports activities, free or at convenient prices. As member of the Swiss Confederation of University Sports, it collaborates with the sports services of other universities and promotes national and international student sporting events.
Several student associations have been created within the University. The main objectives are to improve relations between students and the institution and to enrich the range of educational and recreational offer during school. The associations are concerned mainly with the collection of didactic material, organisation of parties and meetings, cultural and sporting events, and networking among University students and the business world.
The acknowledged student associations active at USI are listed below:
