Bachelor degrees (BA/BS) – 18 majors

About the course

A small private American-style liberal arts university in Lugano (about 400 students) offering 18 majors such as International Management, Finance, Economics, International Relations, Political Science, Psychology, Communication and Media Studies, Environmental Sciences, Fashion Studies and Visual Communication Arts. Teaching is in English, and the degree includes required Academic Travel courses (10-14 day study trips) and language classes in French, German or Italian.

Entry requirements for Irish students

• Franklin does not publish a specific rule for the Irish Leaving Certificate. It asks for official school transcripts and a final school-leaving diploma or recognised equivalent, and admits on your school record, a personal and academic evaluation letter and a personal statement. Contact admissions to confirm how your Leaving Cert (Higher Level subjects and H grades) will be assessed.
• Franklin recommends four years of English, three of a foreign language, three of history, three of mathematics and two of science at school. SAT/ACT are not required for non-US applicants. The 3-year degree option (120 US credits with 30 credits of advanced standing) is listed for IB, A-Levels, Swiss Matura, AP and similar; the Leaving Cert is not named, so ask whether it qualifies.
• English: test scores (TOEFL 90, IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 110) are required only from applicants whose primary language is not English. Native English speakers from Irish schools should confirm with admissions that no test is needed.

How to apply

1. Choose a major and entry termPick from the 18 majors (you can decide later) and aim for autumn 2027 entry.
2. Apply by 1 December 2026 for prioritySubmit Franklin’s online application or the Common App with personal statement, school transcripts and one teacher/counsellor evaluation letter; the CHF 50 fee is waived if complete by 1 December.
3. Send final resultsSend your Leaving Cert results and diploma after August 2027; the regular EU deadline is 15 July 2027 with rolling admission to mid-August.
4. Pay deposit and arrange housingPay the CHF 500 enrolment deposit by 15 May 2027, apply for scholarships and book student housing; EU citizens do not need a student visa.

Costs

• Swiss/EU/EEA undergraduate tuition for 2026-27 is CHF 27,200 a year (includes academic travel), about €29,000 at recent exchange rates – the university charges in Swiss francs, so the euro figure moves with the exchange rate. On top of that: annual institutional fees CHF 2,100, a one-off orientation fee CHF 550, average residence hall CHF 11,700 and a required first-year meal plan CHF 4,300 (total direct first-year cost about CHF 46,000). Application fee CHF 50 (waived if you submit a complete application by the priority deadline). Non-refundable enrolment deposit CHF 500. Scholarships are available.

At a glance