University Hospital Zurich Careers, Salaries & Jobs

The Universitätsspital Zürich (USZ), founded in 1833, works closely with the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich. It has around 900 beds and more than 40 specialised clinics.

In 2025 it treated 42,317 inpatient cases and recorded 882,000 outpatient visits, and at the end of 2025 it employed 10,857 people.

USZ is international: its 2025 annual report says staff come from 93 nations and 37.7% are foreign nationals, most of them from EU countries. Only 5.2% of staff come from outside the EU, which reflects how hard it is for third-country nationals to get Swiss work permits.

USZ's careers site is direct about what it needs from applicants trained abroad: nurses must have their diploma recognised by the Swiss Red Cross and are advised to complete the SRK PreCheck before applying; doctors need their diplomas and German language entry in the medical professions register (MedReg), and MEBEKO recognition for foreign diplomas. German at B2 or above is required.

Pay follows USZ's own staff rules within the framework of the canton of Zurich. USZ pays 13 monthly salaries and works a 42-hour week, or 50 hours for doctors.

Run by

Public-law institution of the Canton of Zurich (Anstalt des kantonalen öffentlichen Rechts) with its own legal personality

Leadership

• Monika Jänicke, Dr. phil. II, CEO, Vorsitzende der Spitaldirektion
• Malcolm Kohler, Prof. Dr. med., Ärztlicher Direktor, Stv. CEO
• Gabi Brenner-Lüdemann, Direktorin Pflege & MTTB

Switchboard

+41 44 255 11 11

• Transplant centre

  USZ runs a transplant centre that publishes its own annual report.

• More than 40 specialised clinics

  USZ says several of its therapies are offered only at USZ in Switzerland.

• Neurology and stroke care

  Including an intermediate care stroke unit.

• Neurosurgery

  A dedicated department with specialist nursing roles.

• Research and teaching

  Close partnerships with the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich and around 2,500 research staff.

• USZ does not describe an overseas recruitment programme. Its careers FAQ sets out what applicants from abroad need: a copy of the residence permit if they already have one, and if they trained abroad, the diploma recognition alongside the diploma.
• Nurses must have their diploma recognised by the Swiss Red Cross; USZ recommends completing the SRK PreCheck before applying. Doctors must have their medical diploma, specialist diploma and German language skills entered in MedReg, and need MEBEKO recognition for foreign diplomas.
• USZ notes that EU and EFTA nationals benefit from free movement, while non-EU/EFTA nationals are subject to a permit procedure. Its 2025 report shows 32.5% of staff from EU states and 5.2% from outside the EU.
• Applicants can ask questions by email at [email protected]. Applications must be made online; USZ does not accept postal applications.

• German at B2 or above (Goethe-Institut scale), according to USZ.

• Nurses: recognition by the Swiss Red Cross. The compulsory, free PreCheck takes up to four weeks, and the SRK gives a first decision within four months of a complete file, possibly with compensatory measures. The SRK asks for a B2 language certificate.

• Doctors: entry in MedReg with your diplomas and German language skills, and MEBEKO recognition for foreign diplomas. A diploma from outside the EU and EFTA cannot be recognised directly; MEBEKO can register it so that the canton may allow supervised work, and fees are CHF 800 to 1,200.

• Non-EU and non-EFTA nationals can only be admitted as highly qualified workers, within annual quotas set by the Federal Council. The employer must show that no suitable person could be recruited from Switzerland or the EU and EFTA, register the vacancy with the regional employment centre, and offer pay and conditions customary for the region, profession and sector, according to the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM).

• EU and EFTA citizens benefit from the free movement of persons. This is not legal advice: the employer files the permit application with the canton, and SEM makes the final decision.

1. 1

   Complete recognition steps

   Nurses complete the SRK PreCheck, and ideally recognition. Doctors apply to MEBEKO for recognition or registration and a German language entry in MedReg.
2. 2

   Reach B2 German or higher

   USZ asks for very good German, at least B2.
3. 3

   Apply online

   Apply through usz.ch/jobs with your CV and diplomas, plus your diploma recognition if you trained abroad and your residence permit if you have one. Some nursing and allied roles accept a quick application form.
4. 4

   Ask questions

   Email [email protected] if you need help with the process.
5. 5

   Permit

   For non-EU/EFTA nationals, USZ applies to the canton of Zurich; SEM decides within the federal quotas.
6. 6

   Register on arrival

   Register with your commune within 14 days of arrival before starting work.

• Salaries per year

  13

  As stated in USZ's benefits.

• Working week

  42 hours (doctors 50)

  As stated in USZ's benefits.

• Annual leave

  25 days

  More for apprentices and staff over 50.

• Permit pay condition: Customary local payRequired by SEM for third-country nationals.