Business studies are among the most popular subjects at Swiss universities and colleges. Latest figures show a continuing increase in the overall number of students. But women account for fewer than half.

Nearly 122,000 students enrolled at Swiss universities and colleges during the winter term, a slight increase on the previous year, according to new figures released by the Federal Statistics Office on Tuesday.

The biggest increase was recorded in business studies as well as arts courses, with medical and social studies faculties also reporting a marked increase in enrolments.

However, the number of students taking courses in pharmaceutical studies and forestry dropped considerably.

The number of women students at universities rose by one per cent to 46 per cent over the year. At colleges of further education, women made up 26 per cent of students.

Foreigners accounted for 20 per cent of the students at universities, and 15 per cent at colleges. This is a rise of three and one per cent respectively over the previous year.

The university in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland reported the biggest increase in the number of students, ahead of Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, and the university of St Gallen.

Switzerland has 13 universities, including two Federal Institutes of Technology, and seven colleges of higher education.

swissinfo with agencies

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