Thanks for visiting TopUniversities.com today! So that we can show you the most relevant information, please select the option that most closely relates to you.
Your input will help us improve your experience.
Your input will help us improve your experience.You can close this popup to continue using the website or choose an option below to register in or login.
Already have an account? Sign in
Sign up free to keep exploring.
Access unlimited articles and study guides
Discover top subjects and destinations
Get the personalised guidance you need to succeed
By signing up I agree to share my data and according to
User agreement, Cookie policy and Privacy policy.
We use Necessary cookies to make our website work. We’d also like to set optional Functional cookies to gather anonymous site visitation data and Advertising cookies to help us understand which content our visitors value the most. By enabling these cookies, you can help us provide a better website for you. These will be set only if you accept.More information about the cookies we use can be found here Cookies Policy
Study in Switzerland
Share via
Share this Page
Save
Table of contents
Universities in Switzerland
Nine universities in Switzerland are featured in the QS World University Rankings 2019, all of which rank in the top 650. ETH Zurich and EPFL, both within the global top 30, are joined by five more Swiss universities ranked among the world’s top 200. This is even more impressive when you consider that the population of the entire country is just 8.5 million (for comparison, that’s about the same as that of the US state of Virginia).
As well as having a strong presence in the international ranking tables, universities in Switzerland are also very international in terms of their student and academic communities. Four of the eight ranked Swiss universities make the world’s top 100 for their percentage of international students, and the country also performs well when comparing the percentage of international academic staff members to universities in other countries.
The following three universities in Switzerland are all ranked in the world’s top 100:
ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)
Switzerland’s highest-ranked university, ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) is currently placed seventh in the world and is the only non-UK European university to rank within the global top 10. The university was founded in 1855, and is well established as a leader in scientific and technical fields, with connections to an impressive 21 Nobel laureates. Today, almost 21,400 students study at ETH Zurich, studying at two campuses – one in the center of Zurich, and one on the outskirts.
In the QS World University Rankings by Subject, ETH Zurich is currently ranked third in the world for both the engineering and technology broad subject area, and natural sciences. Teaching at undergraduate level is mainly in German, while most master’s courses are English-led.
Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
The second of the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology, the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) was established slightly earlier than ETH Zurich, in 1853, and follows close behind in the international rankings tables. It’s placed 22nd in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2019, and in the QS World University Rankings by Subject comes 11th for engineering and technology and 13th for natural sciences.
Since Lausanne is in a French-speaking part of Switzerland, most courses offered are in French, though there are also some programs in English. About half the size of ETH Zurich, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne currently teaches over 11,100 students.
University of Zurich
With around 25,500 students, the University of Zurich is the largest university in Switzerland, and lays claim to the country’s largest selection of study programs. Currently ranked 78th in the world, it conducts teaching and research across a broader subject spectrum than the more specialized ETH Zurich and EPFL, with facilities spread throughout the city of Zurich.
With public outreach at the heart of its mission, the University of Zurich runs an impressive selection of museums, public libraries, collections, events and educational programs, including a “Children’s University” and “Senior Citizens’ University”.
Life in Switzerland
A relatively small and landlocked country in the center of Europe, Switzerland is known for its modern cities, stunningly beautiful mountains and lakes, high quality of living, and delicious milk chocolate. With four official national languages and 25 percent of the Swiss population coming from outside the country, bilingualism and multiculturalism are at the core of daily life here.
Discover Switzerland’s major student cities:
Zurich
Switzerland’s largest city, Zurich is well-known as one of the world’s major financial centers, home to the fourth largest stock exchange and the headquarters of many international companies.
Located at the tip of Lake Zurich, this urban hub offers plenty of opportunities to explore the beautiful Swiss landscape, with its mixture of historic and modern buildings set against a backdrop of hills and mountains.
The cost of living, as in Switzerland in general, is high, but for international students this may be offset by the country’s relatively low tuition fees. The main language in this part of Switzerland is German.
Universities in Zurich include two of Switzerland’s highest-ranked: ETH Zurich (The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) and the University of Zurich, which are ranked seventh and 78th respectively in the QS World University Rankings 2019.
Lausanne
Based in the French-speaking region of Switzerland, Lausanne is a culturally rich city, and, like Zurich, it boasts a stunning lake-side location, on the shores of Lake Geneva. It’s Switzerland’s fifth-largest city, known for its historic medieval center with a grand gothic cathedral at its heart, its close proximity to a number of ski resorts, and its lively arts scene.
Lausanne is also the home of the International Olympic Committee, hosts a museum dedicated to the Olympic Games, and is currently bidding to host the 2020 Youth Winter Olympics. Its popularity among tourists and its significant student population both contribute to its vibrant nightlife.
The main two universities in Lausanne are the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (22nd in the QS World University Rankings 2019) and the University of Lausanne (=149th).
Geneva
Lying between the lake with which it shares its name and the French border, Geneva is the center of Francophone Switzerland. It is known on the international stage as one of the world’s main centers of diplomacy, home to the second-largest base of the United Nations and an impressive number of NGOs.
Like other Swiss cities, Geneva is among the pricier study abroad destinations out there, but in return you’ll get to enjoy a comfortable, safe and cosmopolitan environment, all while studying at one of the world’s top universities. Geneva’s highest-ranked university is the University of Geneva (108th in the world).
Bern
Known for its relatively relaxed pace of life, Bern is the federal capital of Switzerland, and its fourth most-populous city. The city’s pretty Old Town, with charming cobbled streets and 15th century buildings, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
While there’s no neighboring lake, there is the meandering River Aare, and plenty of hiking trails in the surrounding hills and mountains. There’s also a good selection of museums and galleries, including the modern art-dedicated Paul Klee Centre, and enough bars and nightclubs to keep most people busy. Bern’s highest-ranked institution is the University of Bern, at 139th in the QS World University Rankings 2019.
Basel
Situated towards the north of the country near to both the French and German borders, Basel is perhaps the ideal city for those keen to explore several other European nations during their stay.
Switzerland’s third most-populous city, Basel is known as the center of the Swiss chemical and pharmaceutical industries, and also as a significant hub for culture, particularly music. It is home, for instance, to the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, an international center dedicated to the study of music from the medieval period through to the baroque periods.
The highest-ranked university in Basel is the University of Basel, which comes in at joint 160th place in the QS World University Rankings 2019, and which is the country’s oldest university.
Applying to universities in Switzerland
There is no centralized application procedure for international students, so to apply to study in Switzerland you’ll need to make direct contact with each university. You will be able to apply online, and universities’ international and admissions offices should be available to help you if you have any problems. Make sure you check the language requirements of the courses you’re applying to; this is a country with four official languages after all! German, French and English (particularly at graduate level) predominate.
Student visas for Switzerland
If you are from an EU/EFTA country:
If you’re from outside of the EU/EFTA:
Fees and funding
Switzerland is not a cheap place to live. Living expenses for students are estimated between CHF20,000-30,000 per year (~US$19,600-29,400). However, this is counterbalanced by the country’s relatively low tuition fees. In most cases, international students pay no more than local students (some universities operate a slight mark-up).
The exact sum varies, but at most leading Swiss universities, international fees are within the range of CHF1,0002,450 per year (~US$980-2,400). Some scholarships are available, from the Swiss Government and from individual Swiss universities.
Explore other popular study destinations in Europe
Recommended articles