In 1870, the Académie de Lausanne (which would become the University of Lausanne 20 years later) began to offer economic science. The program was taught by Léon Walras, a pioneer of the first economic equilibrium theories and the Chair of Political Economics, at that time attached to the Faculty of Law. It was his disciple, Vilfredo Pareto, who succeeded him in 1893.
Would you like to study a Bachelor or Master programme at UNIL? This section is for you. UNIL has more than 4,000 international students in its seven faculties. Once you are admitted by the Registration Department (SII), it will be time to prepare your arrival and stay in Lausanne. The following sections provide information on visa, residence permit, insurance and other practical aspects of your studies in Lausanne.
The University of Lausanne comprises more than 190 research units working in fields as diverse as genomics, aesthetics of cinema, environmental law and criminalistics.
In institutes, laboratories and libraries, about 3,000 researchers, including 580 professors, work every day on projects of national and international significance, thereby increasing the institution’s research capital. The UNIL seeks in particular to encourage a cross-disciplinary approach to research.
The University of Lausanne runs a jobs database reserved exclusively for its current students. If you are looking for a work placement at the end of your course.
French classes
If, when you arrive at UNIL, your level of French is likely to hinder your ability to pursue your studies, you have the option of taking French classes alongside your course. The School of French as a Foreign Language (EFLE), which is part of the Faculty of Arts at UNIL, offers back-up courses to UNIL students who want to learn or improve their French. The EFLE also offers full courses that prepare students to teach French as a foreign language.
The University of Lausanne does not currently have a hall of residence on campus. However, it works closely with the Fondation Maisons pour Etudiants Lausanne (FMEL), which welcomes over 2,500 students at 14 locations, mainly within the Lausanne urban area.
The University and Cantonal Library - Lausanne (BCUL), with its two million documents, modern research tools and an ideal working environment overlooking Lake Geneva.
Ideally located on the shores of Lake Geneva, near the city of Lausanne, the Dorigny campus acts as a real green lung of Western Lausanne more and more densified.
The SUL welcomes members of the University and Federal Polytechnic University of Lausanne community in the fantastic setting of the Dorigny University Sports Center.
HEC Lausanne belongs to a select list of 168 schools in nearly 70 countries which are accredited by AMBA.
Studyportals ranking look at the scores of the most used ranking systems and present you with one number of how well this University performs.
By Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Dropped 50 places compared to 2025
ARWU World University rankings is the first world university ranking. It ranks the world's top 1000 colleges and universities based on objective indicator. They look at the number of award-winning (Fields Medals and Nobel Prize) scientists who are located there, how much of their research is cited and referenced around the world, and how much they've contributed to different academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, ARWU ranks the universities accordingly.
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 101 | 101 | 151 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
By U.S. News & World Report
Dropped 26 places compared to 2026
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 175 | 153 | 179 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
By TopUniversities
Dropped 21 places compared to 2026
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 224 | 212 | 233 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
By Times Higher Education
This university doesn’t have a ranking for 2027 yet. Rankings are updated yearly, so check back later for the latest info.
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 134 | 125 | - |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Based on 11 reviews
My university offers a solid academic environment with knowledgeable lecturers who are approachable and supportive. Courses are well structured and practical, helping students build real-world skills. The facilities are modern, and campus life encourages collaboration, confidence, and personal growth, making the overall experience worthwhile.
Very good university, big space and very green. Overall nice landscape and good professors. We have a lot of clubs, lot of sports and lots of events. The only thing I would say is that the administration is not that good at responding specific questions.
It was interesting, challenging but interesting.
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