探花社区

Higher education institutions in Switzerland

Swiss universities have an enviable reputation around the world. Indeed, no less than six are featured in the top 200 of . It is a country with a long tradition of higher education. Its first university was founded in 1460 at Basel. As a result of sustained academic progress over the centuries, Switzerland is now home to some of Europe鈥檚 most renowned higher educational systems.

There are twelve state-run universities in Switzerland:

• Eidgen枚ssische Technische Hochschule Z眉rich (ETH Z眉rich; Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich)
• 脡cole Polytechnique F茅d茅rale de Lausanne (EPFL)
• Universit盲t Z眉rich (University of Zurich)
• Universit盲t Basel (University of Basel)
• Universit盲t Bern (University of Bern)
• Universit盲t Genf (University of Geneva)
• Universit盲t Lausanne (University of Lausanne)
• Universit盲t Freiburg / Universit茅 de Fribourg (University of Fribourg)
• Universit盲t Luzern (University of Lucerne)
• Universit茅 de Neuch芒tel (University of Neuch芒tel)
• Universit盲t St. Gallen (HSG; University of St. Gallen)
• Universit脿 della Svizzera italiana (USI)

Of those, the ten 鈥渦niversities鈥� are cantonal, while the ETH and the EPFL are federal institutes of technology. The differences between them are slight. Cantonal universities are operated and managed by individual cantons, and federal institutes of technology are run directly by the government of Switzerland. Canton is the traditional Swiss form of an administrative area. There are twenty-six such areas within Switzerland.

The differences, whilst small, do impact the structure of the institutions. The federal institutions are aligned in structure to American universities, thus making it easier for foreign students to transfer there.

As well as these twelve institutions, there are two other types of university:

• 10 Universities of Applied Sciences and the Arts (UASAs), which provide scientific and professional education (one of them a private UAS)
• 19 Universities of Teacher Education (UTEs), which offer practice-oriented teaching education.

Doctorates can only be obtained at universities and federal institutes of technology.

Prerequisites for studying in Switzerland

Those who wish to enrol at a Swiss university must earn a state-recognised Swiss matriculation certificate (Matura), or a qualification of equal value for a foreign student.

Language fluency is required and is determined by the language taught in the class 鈥� remember Switzerland has four official languages, including

• French,
• German,
• Italian and
• Romansh.

Higher education expenses in Switzerland

Public expenditure for research is mainly the result of personal initiatives on the part of the researchers. The Swiss Confederation is responsible for providing research funding through two federal agencies 鈥� the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and the Innosuisse (formerly the Commission for Innovation and Technology). The cantons are responsible for managing and co-funding cantonal universities and Universities of Applied Sciences.

In 2023, CHF 25.9 billion was spent on research and development (R&D) in Switzerland. This corresponds to an average annual increase of 3% compared to the last survey in 2021. Switzerland thus invested 3.22% of its gross domestic product in research and development, putting it in 9th place worldwide.

Switzerland tuition fees

Unlike other countries in Europe, there is not a standard tuition fee scheme in Switzerland. According to , the annual fee at general universities for international students are between CHF435 und CHF 3,100. For example, the University of Italian Switzerland (Universit脿 della Svizzera italiana, USI) and the University of St. Gallen (Master) charge EUR 3,100. International students are encouraged to check with the institution they wish to study at. Generally, Switzerland is considered on the lower-scale of fee-paying university countries. However, the cost of living is above average at 1,500 to 1,900 Swiss francs per month.