The ZHAW at a glance
The ZHAW is one of the leading Swiss universities of applied sciences - the most important figures and information on the university management and strategy at a glance.
At a glance (figures from the 2025 annual Report)
- 3 locations: Winterthur, Zurich, Wädenswil
- 8 departments
- 34 Bachelor's degree programmes
- 20 Master's degree programmes
- 14,995 Bachelor's and Master's students
- 70 continuing education Master's programmes (MBA, MAS) and 392 diploma and certificate courses (DAS/CAS).
- Around 11,000 continuing education participants (MAS, DAS, CAS and other programmes)
- 3,729 employees
- 597 million Swiss francs cost volume
- Link to the annual report 2025 (in German)
- Download the “ZHAW at a glance” leaflet (PDF 178 kB)
The ZHAW...
- generates CHF 663 million in value creation in the canton of Zurich (2023)
- creates CHF 3 in added value in the canton of Zurich for every franc contributed by the canton
- supports 1,729 jobs in regional companies through its operations
- is among the largest employers in Winterthur and the largest employer in Wädenswil
ZHAW graduates...
- remain employed in their chosen profession to a very high extent five years after graduation
- are often hired by an employer in one of the three municipalities where the ZHAW is located (46%)
The research and development performed by the ZHAW...
- consists of over 1,600 projects, a third of which are carried out with companies in the canton of Zurich
- has grown by more than 60% over the past five years
The Winterthur region...
- generates CHF 162 million in added value in the Winterthur region
- is responsible for 70% of the revenues generated by the ZHAW relating to companies in the Winterthur area
- is the largest of the three ZHAW locations
Executive Board
The Executive Board is responsible for the operational management of the ZHAW. It consists of the President, the Managing Director and the Deans of the eight Schools. The President heads the University, chairs the Executive Board, and represents the ZHAW externally. To ensure that the University is run on uniform principles and to encourage cooperation, individual members of the Board are also responsible for trans-departmental affairs.
- Rector: Prof. Dr. Regula Jöhl
- School of Applied Linguistics: Dean Prof. Dr. Daniel Perrin
- School of Applied Psychology: Dean Prof. Dr. Daniela Eberhardt
- School of Architecture, Design and Civil Engineering: Dean Prof. Dr. Oya Atalay Franck
- School of Engineering: Dean Prof. Dr. Dirk Wilhelm, Head of International Affairs
- School of Health Sciences: Dean Prof Dr. Andreas Gerber-Grote, Head of Research & Development
- School of Life Sciences and Facility Management: Dean Prof. Dr. Urs Hilber, Head of ZHAW Sustainable Development
- School of Management and Law: Dean Prof. Dr. Reto Steiner, Head of Academic Affairs
- School of Social Work: Dean Prof. Dr. Frank Wittmann
- Managing Directors a.i.: Michael Bischofberger and Dr. Christian Gassner