Overview
The Programme Passerelle, run by the University of Lausanne's Faculty of Biology and Medicine (FBM), is a bridging route that lets holders of a bachelor's degree in a related life-science field move into the Master's in Medicine, without having gone through the standard medicine bachelor's.
Who can apply
Candidates need a bachelor's degree (at least 120 ECTS) in biology, biomedical sciences, biochemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, dentistry, or veterinary medicine from a Swiss university, must meet UNIL's general admission requirements for medicine, and must pass the Passerelle admission exam. Swiss nationality or specific criteria for foreign candidates, set out in cantonal regulations, also apply.
Structure or exam pattern
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| Written exam | One day in May; tests knowledge equivalent to years 1–2 of the Bachelor's in Medicine (morphology, physiology, pharmacology, metabolism, microbiology, immunology) |
| Oral exam | June, for candidates who pass the written exam |
| Scoring | 1 (lowest) to 6 (highest); a minimum score of 4 is required to pass |
| Bridging year | One academic year, up to 32 weeks, starting mid-August (about four weeks before the normal semester start) |
What it covers
The bridging year has successful candidates follow third-year Bachelor of Medicine coursework alongside regular students, plus extra modules designed to fill the gap between their original degree and the medicine curriculum.
Dates and fees
Registration for the Passerelle programme runs from 1 August to 30 November each year, with exam authorisation notified around mid-March. The source reviewed does not state a fee for the exam or the bridging year.
How to register
Applications are submitted to UNIL's Service des immatriculations et inscriptions (SII) during the 1 August–30 November registration window; candidates then confirm participation once notified of their exam authorisation.
FAQs
Who is the Passerelle programme for?
Holders of a bachelor's degree (120+ ECTS) in biology, biomedical sciences, biochemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, dentistry, or veterinary medicine who want to move into the Master's in Medicine at UNIL.
What does the Passerelle exam test?
Knowledge equivalent to years 1 and 2 of UNIL's Bachelor's in Medicine, across morphology, physiology, pharmacology, metabolism, microbiology and immunology.
Does the exam have a written and an oral part?
Yes — a written exam in May, and an oral exam in June for those who pass the written part; both must be passed.
When do I register for the Passerelle programme?
Registration runs from 1 August to 30 November each year through UNIL's Service des immatriculations et inscriptions.