Switzerland’s university system is based on three pillars: fundamental research, applied sciences and arts, and teacher education. Each university type serves a specific purpose in Swiss education, research, and innovation. Switzerland also boasts several private universities, primarily focused in the hospitality industry. The main organization of Swiss universities—swissuniversities— promotes cooperation and coordination among the institutions.
Research Universities: The oldest university in Switzerland—the University of Basel, founded in 1460—is one of 12 publicly funded research universities. Two of these institutions are federal research universities—ETH in Zurich and EPFL in Lausanne—that have consistently ranked among the top universities worldwide. The other 10 universities are cantonal public universities divided by linguistic region:
German-Speaking: University of Basel, University of Bern, University of Lucerne, University of St. Gallen, University of Zurich
French-Speaking: University of Geneva, University of Lausanne, University of Neuchâtel
Bilingual German and French-Speaking: University of Fribourg
Italian-Speaking: University of Lugano
For the 2020-21 academic year, research universities enrolled approximately 164,575 students—80,250 of whom were studying at the bachelor’s level. Of those students, 16,650 were non-Swiss nationals.
Universities of Applied Sciences and Arts: The country also offers nine universities of applied sciences and arts—one private and eight public—with about 95,000 students enrolled. These schools are closely linked to the economy, culture, and society. They promote close partnerships with companies, institutions, and other organizations in the educational sector. The Swiss universities of applied sciences and arts prioritize practice-relevant degrees and continuing education.
Teacher Education, Conservatories, and Theology Schools: The universities of teacher training, of which there are 20, have nearly 21,000 students enrolled. The country also has two conservatories in Lugano and Geneva and three theology schools in Lugano, Basel, and Chur.
Private Universities: Switzerland is also very well-known for hospitality management, with schools such as Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL), which was founded back in 1893 and is considered the oldest hospitality school in the world. Other institutions include Glion and Les Roches, as well as the Swiss Education Group, which includes the Cezar Ritz Colleges, SHMS Swiss Hotel Management School, HIM Hotel Institute Montreux, and the Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland. Additionally, Switzerland has two accredited American universities: Franklin University Switzerland, located in Lugano, was established in 1969; Webster University Geneva, established in 1978, is an international campus of Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri.
Switzerland is part of the European Higher Education Area and follows a system similar to other European countries. Bachelor’s degree programs usually require three years of study, achieving 180 credits within the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). For some Swiss universities, the curriculum is divided into a first exploratory year sometimes called propaedeutic cycle—followed by two years with a higher percentage of courses in the chosen field of study. Students apply to specific programs/majors. Some universities give students the option to change programs after admission, but before enrolling. Others will require you to reapply all together.
The academic year in Switzerland is split into two semesters or terms: autumn and spring. Fall term starts around the second or third week of September and runs through the third week of December. Spring term starts around the third week of February and runs through the end of May or early June. With a few exceptions, courses at Swiss universities start with the autumn semester in September.
Prospective students can search for university options through Study in Switzerland+. Students can search based on the type of university, location, or the course of study. A summary of the university’s programs, number of international students, and ranking are provided, along with a link to each university’s website.
Swiss university costs are relatively low due to federal funding that helps support the universities. The range is between 500 Swiss francs to 4,000 Swiss francs per semester for international students, with the majority of institutions charging less than 1,000 Swiss francs. The universities of applied sciences have very similar costs, generally ranging from about 800 to 5,000 Swiss francs. Tuition at private institutions can reach up to 10,000 Swiss francs.
Some universities provide small scholarships and stipends, but due to the low costs, universities typically do not offer financial support. In partnership with several countries, the Swiss government offers scholarships for international students. Most scholarships are available for postgraduate or doctorate degrees; however, it is important to contact the university to determine its undergraduate scholarship and grant availability.
One thing to keep in mind is that even though tuition costs are low, especially when compared to costs at many US colleges and universities, Switzerland is an expensive country in which to live. Zurich and Geneva tend to appear on top 10 lists of the most expensive cities worldwide.
Students are typically not required to pay the tuition prior to enrollment. Billing is generally sent at the start of the semester once the student has officially checked into the university.
For Swiss citizens living abroad, the costs of the programs will be slightly cheaper and assistance from the Swiss government is available if they cannot fully fund their studies.
Swiss universities look strictly at the student’s secondary school qualifications across specific subjects and are very transparent about curriculum requirements for foreign, non-Swiss degree applicants. They offer specific guidelines for various types of curriculum, by country and by system, such as International Baccalaureate (IB), etc.
The swissuniversities website provides an overview of requirements based on the student’s country. Institutions’ websites will give more specific guidelines for each education system worldwide and note the standards each candidate must achieve to be considered for admission.
For students doing the US curriculum, the general list includes classes in English, a second language, mathematics, natural sciences (biology, chemistry, and physics), humanities and social sciences (geography, history, economics/law), and electives taken during the last three years of secondary school. Most universities will require five Advanced Placement (AP) subject tests in particular areas with scores of 3 or higher (several AP subjects are not recognized, such as art history and psychology), or two years of university-level work on top of the applicant’s high school diploma.
If students are enrolled in the IB program, they will also have specific subject requirements, including a strong preference that higher level (HL) subjects include a math and/or science. The 10 cantonal universities ask for a minimum IB score of 32/42, while the research institutes—ETH and EPFL—ask for a minimum score of 38/42.
Some Swiss universities allow students who do not qualify based on their secondary school performance to take an entrance examination. Based on the student’s background there are partial- and full-examination options. A university official can recommend which option is right for you. Registration tends to happen in the fall (September-December) and the examinations take place in May.
Because most programs in Switzerland are taught in German, French, and Italian, language proficiency is key. The majority of programs ask for a C1 level based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Most universities recommend sending language proficiency certification along with the application, however it can also be submitted later. Some universities will waive the language requirement if the completion of the last three years at an upper secondary school was in the language of instruction relevant for the studies and in a region where the official language is the same as the language of instruction.
Swiss citizens living abroad will follow a similar application process, as their university entrance will still be determined by their secondary school academic curriculum.
If you are considering taking the combination of AP and IB courses in grades 11-12, then check university requirements carefully. University admission for students taking the combination of AP and IB courses can be more challenging than for those students taking only IB Diploma or students taking only AP courses in grades 11-12.
There is no common application in Switzerland. Students must apply to each individual university. Most universities follow a two-part application process. Part one generally requires an application, photo, passport copy, and the intermediary grades from the last two years of secondary school, as well as language certification. The second part includes final grades, transcript, and diplomas.
Most universities of applied sciences and arts will not admit students with only a high school diploma and will ask for at least one year of practical, internship, or work experience relevant to the degree.
Deadlines: Many Swiss universities will accept first/preliminary applications from January to the end of April. The second part of the application (final results/grades) are submitted by mid-July. Students who require a visa to study in Switzerland are encouraged to submit the first part of the application by the end of February.
Application Fees: For Swiss citizens most application fees are 50 Swiss francs, while non-Swiss students pay 150 Swiss francs per application.
Upon Acceptance: For most Swiss universities, students apply with preliminary results and will be asked to submit their final grades, scores, and diplomas in order to finalize their acceptance at a later date. This usually occurs in mid-July unless students are part of a system where final grades are released at a later time. Conditional acceptance is offered pending results of language proficiency exams, final grades, or AP/IB results. Deadlines related to acceptance need to be adhered to without exception. Students cannot defer and will need to reapply to change the program of acceptance or the term.
swissuniversities - website of main organization of Swiss universities
Study in Switzerland+ - This website is run by swissuniversities. You can find detailed information on universities, visa, accommodation, etc.
studyprogrammes.ch - search for university programs
Studying in Switzerland - a comprehensive resource for international students offering insight into studying and living in Switzerland, including university / program search, scholarship details, information on applying for a visa, fun facts about Switzerland, etc.
Also use the sites listed on the Other European countries page to search for programs in Switzerland