Bachelor in Economics (English track)
University of St.Gallen (HSG) · St.Gallen, Switzerland
Taught in EnglishNo CAO points neededOnline aptitude testLimited places for internationalsAssessment Year first
⚠ Language warning: The first year (Assessment Year) can be taken fully in English. In the Economics major that follows, you must take at least 8 ECTS in the other language, so English-track students need some courses in German. No HSG bachelor’s can be completed entirely in English.
Duration3 years (180 ECTS incl. Assessment Year)
StartsSept 2027
EntryHSG selection procedure (online test)
Deadline30 Apr 2027 (10 Jan for Feb test)
Fee 2026/27CHF 3,343.50 / semester (≈€3,570)
About the course
HSG bachelor’s degrees start with a common Assessment Year, which can be taken fully in English in the economics or international affairs track. After that you choose your major; the Economics major lasts two years (120 ECTS) and combines a compulsory core in economics, quantitative methods, data analytics and programming with electives, contextual studies (HSG’s broader courses outside your field) and a bachelor’s thesis. Several compulsory courses are only taught in English, but you must also complete at least 8 ECTS in German. Graduates receive a Bachelor of Arts HSG and often go on to a Master’s in economics, finance or policy.
Entry requirements for Irish students
- Your Leaving Certificate must be essentially equivalent to the Swiss Matura; HSG checks subjects, hours and years of schooling. It does not name the Irish Leaving Cert, so check the swissuniversities country list and contact admissions@unisg.ch.
- A Leaving Cert does not give direct admission. Places for foreign students are limited by law, so applicants with recognised foreign certificates must pass the HSG selection procedure. Only the test result counts, not your school grades.
- The selection procedure is a 70-minute online aptitude test taken at home (quantitative problem-solving, and diagrams and tables), in the language of your Assessment Year. 2027 dates: 16 February or 8 June 2027.
- No language certificate is needed to apply, but HSG recommends C1 level in your study language. A free English test is available for the English track.
How to apply
- Apply earlyApplications are open from 1 October 2026. Submit a complete application by 10 January 2027 to be able to sit the February test (register by 31 January).
- Sit the aptitude testTake the online test on 16 February 2027 or 8 June 2027. You can only sit it once per academic year.
- Get your resultResults appear in your online account by the Thursday after the test, as conditionally accepted or declined.
- Final deadlineThe last date to apply is 30 April 2027; send your final Leaving Cert results by the start of the course.
Although the deadline is 30 April 2027, only applicants who complete their file by 10 January 2027 can take the February test; everyone else gets one chance in June.
Costs
- Tuition for foreign nationals: CHF 3,343.50 per semester from autumn 2026 (about €3,570; roughly €7,150 a year). 2027/28 fees are not yet published separately.
- Application fee: CHF 268 (non-refundable).
- Living costs are high: HSG estimates about CHF 2,500 a month for foreign students, including tuition.
Limited places: foreign students are capped by law and admitted through the selection test, so meeting the requirements does not guarantee a place.
Checked against the official HSG website on 24 October 2026. Fees shown apply from autumn 2026; the exact number of places for foreign students is not published. Euro figures are approximate. Always confirm details with the university before applying.
