Studying in Switzerland: tuition fees, admission, and research explained

Compared to countries like the United States or the United Kingdom, university education in Switzerland is generally affordable. Keystone

Switzerland is one of the top study destinations in the world. Renowned universities, leading technology institutes, and cutting-edge research attract thousands of international students every year. But what types of universities are there, what costs are involved, and what are the admission requirements?

What types of universities are there in Switzerland?

International students who wish to study in Switzerland can choose between traditional universities and practice-oriented universities of applied sciences. Both study paths follow the Bologna system and offer bachelor’s master’s and doctorate degrees.

Switzerland has 12 universitiesExternal link, including the federal technology institutes ETH Zurich and EPFL in Lausanne, located in major cities of the German- and French-speaking regions. The Italian-speaking region of Ticino is home to the Università della Svizzera italiana. Universities are funded by the canton in which they are located.

Recognised higher education institutions include the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva (IHEID) and UniDistance Suisse in Brig. Across Switzerland, there are also nine universities of applied sciences and arts.

These are more practice-oriented and focus on applied research. Students at these institutions often have vocational training experience. Sixteen pedagogical universities complete Switzerland’s higher education offerings.

How much does it cost to study in Switzerland?

Compared to countries like the United States or the United Kingdom, university education in Switzerland is generally affordable, as the system is primarily funded by public resources.

Swiss students can typically study at a university for less than CHF1,000 ($1,150) per semester. The most expensive university is St. Gallen, where studying for a master’s degree costs CHF1,200 per semester. International students pay higher fees at some universities compared to their Swiss counterparts.

For example, at St. Gallen, international students pay more than twice as much as domestic students, with a semester of bachelor’s studies costing CHF2,900  (compared to CHF 1,000 for Swiss students) and a semester of studying for a master’s costing CHF3,100. Here you can find all tuition fees of the Swiss universities.

Discover why Swiss universities are among the best in the world:

What is needed to study in Switzerland?

Admission requirements at Swiss universities vary. Applicants must submit various documents, including certificates and proof of language proficiency.

The university checks if the qualification is equivalent to the Swiss Matura diploma. If it is not, an entrance exam may be sufficient. Some universities also require work experience and/or conduct language tests to ensure that students have sufficient proficiency in the language of instruction.

Studying in Switzerland requires that the applicant be proficient in the respective national language of the university or other higher education institution.

Most degree programmes are taught in French, German, or Italian, depending on the region, while English is increasingly used at the master’s level.

How good is research in Switzerland?

Switzerland is a global leader in research and development (R&D). It is also one of the top countries in terms of the percentage of GDP spent on R&D.

The Swiss government supports academic research through the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).External link The SNSF funds research in all academic disciplines, from philosophy to nanoscience to biology. In 2023, it supported a total of 1,800 research projects.

Another tool available to the government is the Swiss Innovation AgencyExternal link (Innosuisse)External link. It brings together the private and public sectors to support the research and development of new technologies. It also promotes the establishment of start-ups.

Several world-renowned research institutes are based in Switzerland. For example, the Paul Scherrer InstituteExternal link (PSI)External link in the canton of Aargau is one of Europe’s leading research institutions for natural and engineering sciences.

Switzerland is also a leader in space research. Two Swiss researchers discovered the first exoplanet and were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work in 2019.

The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) near Geneva offers scientists from all over the world the opportunity to study the elementary particles that make up the universe. The famous Large Hadron Collider (LHC), built at CERN in 2008, aims to help clarify how particles acquire their mass.