Universities in Switzerland

In Switzerland the word "university" covers three types of institution. According to study in switzerland+, the official portal of swissuniversities, the university system rests on three pillars: fundamental research, applied sciences and arts, and teacher education. The 12 universities have around 150,000 students, the 9 universities of applied sciences and arts around 95,000, and the 20 universities of teacher education around 21,000. Two federally supported institutions complete the picture: the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva and the Swiss Distance Learning University in Brig.

Alongside these, Switzerland has many private hospitality, business and liberal arts schools. Our directory lists 22 universities and higher-education institutions in Switzerland, with the largest group in Lucerne and a cluster of hotel and business schools around Lake Geneva.

Types of university

• Universities teach at a theory-based level and carry out basic research. All humanities degrees, many science degrees and some engineering degrees are offered only here. Examples are ETH Zurich, the federal university for science and technology, which dates back to 1855; the University of Fribourg, founded in 1889 and known for its bilingualism; and the Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) in Lugano, with 4,750 students from over 100 countries.
• Universities of applied sciences and arts combine professional education with applied research and cooperation with industry. Landscape architecture, several health sciences, music, theatre, film, art and design are taught only at this type. Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU), founded in 1997, is one of seven publicly funded universities of applied sciences.
• Universities of teacher education train teachers from pre-primary to upper secondary level.

Degrees and the academic year

Swiss degrees follow the Bologna structure, with 60 ECTS credits for one year of full-time study. A bachelor's degree is worth 180 credits (three years) and a master's degree 90 or 120 credits (1.5 to 2 years). A doctorate requires a master's degree. Continuing-education titles such as the Master of Advanced Studies (MAS/MBA) do not give access to doctoral studies. The year has an autumn and a spring semester, and with a few exceptions courses start in September.

Accreditation and private institutions

The Swiss Accreditation Council, the joint body of the Confederation and the cantons, decides on institutional accreditation under the Higher Education Act (HEdA). All public higher-education institutions must be accredited. Since 1 January 2015 only accredited institutions may call themselves a "university", "university of applied sciences" or "university of teacher education", while terms such as "business school" or "higher education institute" are not protected by federal law. Bachelor's, master's and doctoral titles from an accredited institution are legally protected. A school without accreditation may in principle still award diplomas, subject to cantonal law.

Several private schools in our directory state that they hold Swiss accreditation. César Ritz Colleges Switzerland in Brig describes itself as an accredited University of Applied Sciences Institute, and Franklin Switzerland, a liberal arts university in Sorengo near Lugano, states that it is accredited in the United States (MSCHE) and as a University Institute in Switzerland. The Council keeps a public list of accredited institutions; check it, and ask whether a programme leads to a Swiss degree, a foreign degree or the school's own diploma.

Hospitality and business schools

Hotel and hospitality management is a Swiss specialisation. EHL Hospitality Business School was founded in 1893 as the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne and has campuses in Lausanne, Chur-Passugg and Singapore. Glion Institute of Higher Education, founded in 1962, teaches hospitality and luxury management. César Ritz Colleges combines its accredited programmes with internships.

Admission

There is no centralised admission procedure: each university is autonomous and sets its own criteria, For a bachelor's programme the main requirement is an upper secondary school-leaving certificate considered equivalent to the Swiss Matura, and swissuniversities publishes admission requirements by country. Most universities apply a numerus clausus in human and veterinary medicine, dentistry and chiropractic. A master's programme requires a bachelor's degree from an accredited university. Application deadlines vary from one university to another.

Programmes are taught in German, French, Italian or English, or a mix, and all universities require good knowledge of the language of instruction. Programmes in English are mostly at master's and PhD level, and most universities offer free language courses to enrolled international students. Students from outside the EU/EFTA need a student visa before travelling, which requires confirmation of admission to a recognised or accredited institution; you cannot study on a tourist visa.

Costs and funding

Tuition at public universities is relatively low: practically all of them charge between CHF 500 and CHF 2,000 per semester, plus smaller fees, and some charge international students slightly more. Living costs are high, and few bachelor's and master's students hold a scholarship; most finance their studies through part-time work. Exchange students under the Swiss-European Mobility Programme (SEMP) receive a grant of CHF 380 to 440 a month. Private schools set their own fees.

How to choose

• Type of institution: research university, university of applied sciences or private specialised school
• Accreditation status and the exact degree you will receive
• Language: the language region (German, French or Italian, bilingual in Fribourg) and the language of the programme itself
• Practical training: internships and industry links, central at universities of applied sciences and hotel schools
• Total cost of tuition, accommodation and living in the city

Frequently asked questions

How many universities are there in Switzerland?

According to study in switzerland+, there are 12 universities, 9 universities of applied sciences and arts and 20 universities of teacher education.

How much does a public university in Switzerland cost?

Practically all public universities charge between CHF 500 and CHF 2,000 per semester, plus smaller fees. Living costs come on top and are high.

Can I study at a Swiss university in English?

Yes, mainly at master's and PhD level. Bachelor's programmes are more often taught in German, French or Italian.

Is every Swiss hotel or business school a university?

No. Only institutions accredited under the Higher Education Act may use the name "university"; "business school" is not a protected term. The Swiss Accreditation Council publishes the list of accredited institutions.