“Career opportunities in nursing are attractive and very diverse. A course of study at ZHAW provides you with the best current knowledge and skills available for a successful start to your nursing career.”
Irène Ris, Head of BSc in Nursing Programme
A practically oriented nursing programme with an internationally recognized university degree and a licence to practice.
A BSc in Nursing that suits my needs
Structure of the course
Professional profile and training objectives
At a glance
Three good reasons for studying nursing at ZHAW
- This is a comprehensive, practical course of study that provides the fundamentals of nursing and prepares students for employment in all health care institutions. As graduates, they can take on demanding nursing positions in many fields and care for people of all ages. Our study programme provides the necessary scientific knowledge to analyse processes, develop evidence-based policies and implement solutions.
- Nursing benefit from a wide range of continuing education programmes. They can also enrol in our Master’s degree programme in Nursing (MScN). With additional professional experience and equipped with the appropriate continuing education qualification, graduates are ready to assume management, teaching or research responsibilities.
- The ZHAW Institute of Nursing is one of the largest and most respected centres of education in Switzerland. Our training, continuing education and research projects aim to continuously advance nursing as a science and a professional field.
A Bachelor in Nursing that suits my needs
Human beings with their individual health, psychological and social needs and demands are the focus of nursing practice. A nurse’s work environment ranges from caring for patients and their next of kin to exchanges with specialists in healthcare institutions and other professional groups, such as social workers, insurance experts and case managers in a complex health care system.
Entry requirements for BSc in Nursing
- Baccalaureate + additional module
- Federal Specialised Baccalaureate + additional module
- Federal Vocational Baccalaureate + additional module
- Degree from a College of Higher Education and Training or another tertiary B qualification + additional module
Additional information on entry requirements
Structure of the course
The full-time undergraduate programme in Nursing takes three years to complete and offers dual benefits:
- a licence to practice as a fully qualified nurse (diplomierte/-r Pflegefachfrau/-mann FH)
- the applied degree Bachelor of Science ZHAWin Nursing
Study achievement is measured in ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) credits, which makes your degree comparable across Europe. The programme takes 180 ECTS credits to complete, with one credit equalling 30 hours of study workload.
Our BSc in Nursing fulfils the required national and international standards and educational requirements. The study programme consists of classroom teaching (40 percent) and self-directed study (60 percent). Classes are taught using a combination of mainly lecture-based teaching methods and independent, action-oriented learning (exercises, case studies, project work, workshop instruction and simulations).
Profession-specific modules
- Fundamentals of professional nursing: fundamentals of science, nursing as a science, the nursing process, caring, symptom management, nursing specific age and patient groups, ethics, and education
- Physical examinations and interventions: nursing techniques, pharmacology, clinical assessment, assessment of families, best practice
Multi- and interprofessional modules
Scientific work, communication and interprofessional collaboration as well as various multi-/interprofessional courses on aspects of society, culture, and health care.
- Study Guide Interprofessional Education BSc(PDF 217,1KB)
Practical experience
Students complete three 12- to 16-week clinical placements in different clinical disciplines during their studies. After their sixth semester of study, they must undertake another clinical placement of at least 10 months (additional module C, depending on previous qualifications).
Clinical placement providers are mostly located in the canton of Zurich and the neighbouring cantons. Placement is arranged by ZHAW.
Bachelor’s thesis
For their Bachelor’s thesis, students work on a topic relevant to their profession and apply the theoretical and scientific methods they have learnt in their studies.
“I like that instruction at ZHAW is a combination of classroom blocks and practical learning in the form of clinical placements in different external institutions. I completed my first clinical placement on a children's ward. I then broadened my skills in long-term nursing and, finally, I was able to care for adult patients at Zurich University Hospital.”
Adina Wehrle, BSc student in Nursing
Professional profile and training objectives
Registered nurses work in a wide variety of health settings such as hospitals, psychiatric care, retirement and nursing homes, home care nursing (Spitex) or outpatient healthcare facilities. They perform nursing duties in different areas of expertise for all age groups – from infants to children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly. With additional professional experience and continuing education qualifications, they can also take over team, run a department, or work as instructors. Other options include academic teaching, research and health promotion and prevention.
Competencies in seven roles
Registered nurses with a degree from a Swiss university of applied sciences have extensive practical, theoretical, and scientific expertise in the areas of health care, illness prevention and nursing.
During your studies, you will acquire competencies in seven different roles:
- As a communicator, you facilitate the building of trusting relationships and selective sharing of information.
- As an expert in your field, you perform specialist nursing tasks and make appropriate decisions.
- As a collaborator, you are proactive and participate in interdisciplinary teamwork.
- As a manager, you assume professional leadership, contribute to the effectiveness of the organisation, and develop your own professional career.
- As a health advocate, you are committed to helping patients responsibly within the health care system.
- As a scholar, you are committed to lifelong learning and the development, transfer, and application of knowledge.
- As a professional, you promote the professionalisation process in nursing through reflective practice.
At a glance
Degree: Bachelor of Science ZHAW in Nursing
Workload:180 ECTS credits
Duration of study: 6 semesters
Course structure: full-time, practice-oriented Bachelor’s degree programme
Start of the course: Calendar week 38
Registration deadline:April 15
Teaching location: Winterthur
Language of instruction: German
Tuition fees: CHF 720 semester fees + additional study and living expenses
Postgraduate courses: Master of Science in Nursing
Additional information
Studying in Switzerland
Switzerland supports students from other European countries studying at the ZHAW.
Studying in Switzerland
International Studies
Spending a semester or a clinical placement abroad is a priceless experience for any student and offers the opportunity to learn how professions are taught and practised in other countries.
International Studies
Brochure International Relations
We offer a wide range of courses for international students. Learn more about our international activities in our brochure.
Studying in Switzerland
International Studies
Brochure International Relations
Switzerland supports students from other European countries studying at the ZHAW.
Spending a semester or a clinical placement abroad is a priceless experience for any student and offers the opportunity to learn how professions are taught and practised in other countries.
We offer a wide range of courses for international students. Learn more about our international activities in our brochure.
