Guidance · Studies and careers
After the collège: studies and careers with Italian
Where to continue with Italian after the maturité, and the careers where it counts in Switzerland, especially if you speak several languages.
Why Italian counts in Switzerland
German, French and Italian are the three official languages of the Swiss Confederation: the federal administration publishes in all three. The canton of Geneva also presents the Italian specific option as a major asset in Switzerland.
In Geneva itself, the Italian community numbered 20,890 people at the end of 2024, making it the third-largest foreign community in the canton.
Where to study after the collège
University of Geneva, Faculty of Arts
Italian language and literature.
See the programme ↗University of Geneva, translation and interpreting
Bachelor’s in multilingual communication, with Italian among the possible languages. A B2 level is recommended.
See the programme ↗Università della Svizzera italiana, Lugano
Bachelor’s in Italian language, literature and civilisation. A B2 certificate is required from non-Italian speakers.
See the programme ↗Italian universities
A route mentioned by the canton of Geneva for students taking the Italian specific option.
See the canton’s document ↗Careers where Italian counts
Translation and interpreting
Translators work in particular in public administrations, diplomatic services, the media and publishing.
Federal administration
It publishes in German, French and Italian, and employs its own language services to do so.
Diplomacy
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs asks for C1 level in two official languages, and in English.
Careers where several languages make the difference
Tourism
A tourism manager needs at least two national languages and English.
Hospitality
A hotel and housekeeping manager welcomes guests in English or in a second national language.
International Geneva
The canton has 38 international organisations, with 29,011 jobs in March 2025: a workplace where people move from one language to another.
These reference points come from the sources listed below. They guarantee neither admission nor a job: conditions should be checked with each school or employer. Professor+ has no formal link with these institutions.
Sources and reference points
Sources and access dates below.
- République et canton de Genève — Options spécifiques du Collège de GenèveAccessed on 5 November 2026.
- Chancellerie fédérale — Traduire pour les services de la ConfédérationAccessed on 5 November 2026.
- Office cantonal de la statistique — Mémento statistique du canton de Genève 2025Accessed on 5 November 2026.
- Université de Genève, Faculté des lettres — Langue et littérature italiennesAccessed on 5 November 2026.
- Université de Genève, Faculté de traduction et d’interprétation — Bachelor en communication multilingueAccessed on 5 November 2026.
- Università della Svizzera italiana — Bachelor in Italian language, literature and civilisationAccessed on 5 November 2026.
- orientation.ch — Traducteur, traductriceAccessed on 5 November 2026.
- Département fédéral des affaires étrangères — La carrière diplomatiqueAccessed on 5 November 2026.
- orientation.ch — Gestionnaire en tourisme ESAccessed on 5 November 2026.
- orientation.ch — Gestionnaire en hôtellerie-intendance CFCAccessed on 5 November 2026.
- Office cantonal de la statistique — Organisations internationales à Genève, 2025Accessed on 5 November 2026.