With a population of over 8 million people who speak several languages, Switzerland is a small nation in the centre of Europe. Even though the cost of living is relatively high, the country attracts an increasing number of international students each year, thanks to its affordable tuition and some of the greatest colleges in the world. International students can benefit from many things in Switzerland; Swiss institutions offer top-notch instruction, and their degrees: undergraduate, master’s and postgraduate are respected all over the world.
Switzerland consistently achieves high rankings in education, thanks to the caliber of its research and instruction. The undisputed leading institution in Switzerland is ETH Zurich, a prestigious technical institute that ranks among the top 10 colleges in the world. Additionally, other Swiss institutions, like the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, the University of Zurich, and the University of Geneva, are well-known in both academia and commerce (EPFL).
Best Universities In Switzerland For International Students
With a population of only over 8 million, Switzerland is a relatively small country, but its remarkable ranking in global university rankings highlights its status as a top location for international study. Switzerland should be at the top of your list when choosing a location to study abroad if you are looking at a Bachelors or Masters programme of high academic standing and can afford the rather high cost of living. Here is a list of the best universities in Switzerland.
ETH Zurich
ETH Zurich is an institution located at the Swiss city of Zürich, It is an open research institution and it was established in 1854 by the Swiss Federal Government with the stated goal of training engineers and scientists and the first on our list of the best universities in Switzerland. The school largely concentrates on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It is a part of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology Domain, which is a division of the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education, and Research, just as its sister university EPFL.
After the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial College London, ETH Zurich was placed eighth in the world in the QS World University Rankings for 2022, making it the fourth-best university in Europe. It was ranked first for Earth and Marine Science and fourth overall for engineering and technology in the 2021 QS World University Rankings by subject.
The majority of degree programs at ETH Zurich include a significant amount of mathematical study, and education there often places a greater emphasis on theory than practice. German is the primary language of teaching for undergraduate (Bachelor) students, and admission requires proof that the student has a competent command of the language. The majority of doctoral programs and master’s degrees are in English. Although, some applicants from a number of European nations are exempt from this requirement, foreign applicants must take either the comprehensive admission exam or the reduced entrance exam. By passing the extensive admission exam, a candidate can be accepted to ETH Zurich even without any verifiable educational credentials.
EPFL Lausanne
École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) is a public university in Lausanne. It focuses on engineering and natural sciences. The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education, and Research has direct control over the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology (ETH Domain), which includes EPFL.
Every resident of Switzerland who completed the maturité high-school course and received a certificate recognised by the Swiss Confederation is required to be admitted, just like at every other public university in Switzerland. International students must, however, achieve a final grade average that is at least 80% higher than the national upper secondary school system’s highest grade. As a result, when it comes to Swiss students, EPFL’s undergraduate admissions process is not selective.
Since the majority of undergraduate courses are taught in French, foreign students must provide documentation proving they have level B2 proficiency as determined by the CEF scale, though C1 proficiency is advised. The application process for undergraduate programs is quite strict for international students.
The academic year is split into two semesters at EPFL just like other Swiss universities. For the Bachelor of Science degree, it typically takes six semesters to complete, and for the Master of Science degree, it usually takes four more semesters. However, just 58% of the students who are able to graduate do so within this time frame. The third year of study offers the option to take one or more semesters abroad because EPFL has a number of established student exchange programs, including a graduate aeronautics and aerospace program with the ISAE in France and a junior year engineering and science program with Carnegie Mellon University in the United States.
The thesis writing process takes place throughout the last semester. It is one of the best universities in Switzerland and according to the 2020–2021 QS World University Rankings, EPFL is ranked 14th globally across all subjects, while according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, EPFL is the 19th-best institution in the world for engineering and technology. You can apply for the EPFL Excellence Fellowship to study for free in this school.
University of Zurich
University of Zurich is a public research university with 28,000 students enrolled, it is Switzerland’s biggest and one of the best universities in Switzerland. It was established in 1833 using the pre-existing, 1525-dated colleges of theology, law, and medicine along with a brand-new department of philosophy.
The institution currently includes seven faculties, including Human Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Economic Sciences, Law, and Mathematics. In comparison to other Swiss higher education institutions, the university provides the broadest selection of subjects and programmes.
University of Bern
University of Bern was established in 1834 and is a university located in the Swiss capital of Bern. The Canton of Bern controls and supplies the money for it. It is a comprehensive university with eight faculties and almost 150 institutions, offering a wide range of courses and programs. The Institution of Bern is the third-largest university in Switzerland with over 18,576 students.
University of Geneva
University of Geneva is a public research university in Geneva and also one of the best universities in Switzerland It is known as Université de Genève in French. John Calvin established it as a theological seminary in 1559. It didn’t become a hub for enlightenment studies until the 17th century, after which it returned to its theological roots. It is currently Switzerland’s third-largest university in terms of enrolment.
It renounced its ties to any one religion in 1873 and became formally secular. The 450th anniversary of the University of Geneva’s foundation was commemorated in 2009. Nearly 40% of the students at University of Geneva are international.
The university considers teaching, research, and community service to be its three main goals, all of which it actively pursues. In 2016, it was placed 131st in the Times Higher Education World University Ranking, 89th in the QS World University Ranking, and 53rd overall by the Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities.
University of Basel
Basel, Switzerland is home to the University of Basel known as Universitas Basiliensis in Latin and Universität Basel in German. It is one of the best universities in Switzerland, one of the oldest surviving universities in the world and the oldest university in Switzerland, having been founded on April 4, 1460. The university has long been regarded as one of the nation’s top institutions of higher learning.
The affiliated Basel University Library is the biggest and one of Switzerland’s most significant libraries. The university is home to faculties for theology, law, medicine, humanities and social sciences, science, psychology, business, and economics in addition to other interdisciplinary courses and institutions, such as the Institute for European Global Studies and the Biozentrum for biomedical research. The university had 378 professors and 13,139 students in 2020. 27 percent of the student body were from other countries.
University of Lausanne
Private business school Business School Lausanne was founded in 1987 and is located in the Swiss city of Lausanne. The institution, also known as BSL, has earned accreditation for its business programs from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.
It is one of the best universities in Switzerland in business and management education. It offers doctoral, graduate, and undergraduate programs. MBA, Executive MBA, and advanced level programs are also offered by the school. In addition, it offers a Doctor of Business Administration program to people who are teaching academics or experienced business executives interested in the topic. Students from over 60 different countries can acquire both theoretical concepts and practical skills at the BSL. There are about 50 instructors at the institute, all of them are seasoned business professionals who bring the most up-to-date business expertise to the classroom.
In addition to this, the school boasts numerous, active, and lively student organizations. It has a student council that oversees and coordinates all the annual events and extracurricular activities both on and off campus. The council supports students in creating stronger networks and partnerships. Additionally, it aids in resolving concerns with students and other challenges.
More than 1700 former students from more than 50 different countries who attended the Business School Lausanne currently work in all facets of society. Many of the pupils have started their own businesses and become entrepreneurs.
Some of them have begun employment with prestigious companies including Microsoft, HSBC, Procter & Gamble, Accenture, Johnson & Johnson, IBM, Bulgari, Nestlé, Caterpillar, and many others. Former CEO of Unilever, Paul Polman, MD and Founder of RoyalFish Lorenzo Wiskerke, COO of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce Marco Piermartiri, Chairman of Hublot Jean-Claude Biver, and Peter Bakker are a few of the successful and well-known alumni (President of WBCSD).
Caesar Ritz College
Caesar Ritz College (CRC) is another school that has made it this list of best universities in Switzerland. It was established in 1982, has been teaching hotel and tourist management around the world ever since then. Higher Diploma in Hotel and Restaurant Management, Bachelor of International Business in Hotel and Tourism Management, Bachelor of Arts (Honors) in Culinary Arts, Master of Arts in Entrepreneurship for the Global Hospitality and Tourism Industry, and Swiss Grand Diploma in Culinary Arts and Pastry are the programs offered at this institution.
The university has campuses in Lucerne, Brig, and Le Bouveret. Because of this beneficial collaboration, the school provides a dual bachelor’s program with Washington State University that gives students the option to graduate from two prestigious institutions. There are certificate programs in English Foundation Program and Wine Business Management. Students may also take advantage of the institution’s paid internship program.
The institution’s campuses are all specifically planned with cutting-edge facilities and first-rate services for the benefit of students to the greatest extent possible. In addition to academics, CRC also gets students involved in a variety of extracurricular activities and sporting events. The institution has a very powerful placement cell. The International Recruitment Forum devotes all of its energy to placing students on platforms with greater professional rewards.
Academic alliances between Ritz Paris and Caesar Ritz Colleges include those with Washington State University (USA), UBS, and University of Derby. EduQua, THE-ICE, and the United Nations World Tourism Organization all recognise the CRC bachelor’s degree.
University of Italian Switzerland
University of Italian Switzerland) is one of the best universities in Switzerland founded in 1995. It has campuses in Lugano, Mendrisio, and Bellinzona (Canton Ticino, Switzerland). The only institution in Switzerland where Italian is the official language also offers numerous programs in English is USI.
The University of Lugano’s five faculties—Communication, Culture and Society; Economics; Informatics; Theology and Biomedical Sciences—are situated there, while the Mendrisio campus is home to the Academy of Architecture.
University of St. Gallen
The University of St. Gallen is an open research institution that was founded in 1898 and primarily concentrates on the study of economics, business administration, law, and international affairs. The university is a member of the Global Alliance in Management Education, the EFMD Quality Improvement System, the Association of Advanced Collegiate Business, and the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs. The university is renowned for having Switzerland’s largest business administration faculty. The Business Academy started giving lectures in 1899. The university started conferring PhD degrees in 1939.
The campus of the institution is located at the summit of Rosenberg Hill. All the facilities students will be needing for their studies is readily available to all right in the campus. Famous architects including Penalba, Valentin, Taples, Mastroianni, Gehr, Bodmer, Gubler, Fabro, and Stahly have contributed to the campus library, among others. The university’s campus is home to five colleges: the schools of finance, management, law, humanities and social sciences, and economics and political science.
Over 42 research institutes and centres are located at the university. The university is a member of the Auto-ID Labs Network and the European Research Centre for Information Systems. The facility offers students a fantastic learning environment. Numerous cafes and eateries are close by. Near the university, there are a number of general businesses, stationery stores, and pharmacies. Due to the rising enrolment, the institution has chosen to enlarge its campus.
Undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate degree programs are all available at the university. The university has roughly 8,872 students in total. 200 renowned universities, including New York University, Manchester Business School, North-western University, the University of Sydney, and the University of Michigan, are partners with the university. Students now have a lot of opportunities to take part in student exchange programs.
University of Friborg
University of Friborg founded in the City of Fribourg in 1580. The University of Fribourg, the only bilingual institution in Switzerland, offers complete curriculum in both German and French, the country’s official languages. There are approximately 10,000 students, 200 tenured professors, and 700 additional academic teaching and research staff members.
Conclusion
Swiss universities provide a wide variety of courses in different disciplines, at different levels (undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, and post-doctoral), and at various institutions of higher learning including academic universities, universities of applied sciences, universities for teacher education, etc. Switzerland is home to some of the best educational institutions in the world.
Switzerland’s high-quality educational system has long drawn students from all around the world. With an increasing number of international students who wish to learn more about their chosen subject in-depth, it is now among the most sought-after study locations. The European nation of Switzerland has existed for many centuries. If you can afford it, you should pick to study in one of the most best countries in the world and if you can’t you can check out the scholarships for international students by the Swiss Government for international students. Despite the difficulties, Switzerland has a lot to offer students looking for a quiet environment to study. So, if you are looking forward to studying in Switzerland, make a pick out of the best universities in Switzerland that we have curated for you.