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Study in Switzerland

Switzerland is a wonderful place. It’s famous for chocolate and skiing, but it is also an amazing place to study. Studying in Switzerland offers a European experience in a developed, yet diverse country. With a variety of nations bordering the country, it’s a cultural melting pot, which makes it great for an inspiring study experience.

Why choose Switzerland as an international student

In total there are 12 general universities located in Switzerland and a smaller number of science and research specific higher education institutions. You will find ten of these universities in the QS World University Rankings, with the highest being ETH Zurich, ranked at number 9. Three of these universities are also listed in the top 100.

Switzerland regards education as hugely important in the day to day success of the country. It believes it is essential for its stability in terms of politics and its increase in wealth. There are a number of institutions which focus on specific subjects, making them highly specialised and an excellent choice for anybody who wants that extra focus.

Switzerland has several welcoming cities for international students, including Geneva and Lausanne.

International students who wish to move to Switzerland for their studies will need to obtain a National D Visa. For more information about this, see our Switzerland Student Visa Guide.

Search for courses in Switzerland

Highlighted courses in Switzerland

English Foundation Program Foundation

EU Business School, Geneva Switzerland

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Innovation & Entrepreneurship Master Degree

EU Business School Digital Switzerland

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MSc International Hospitality and Events Management MSc

International Management Institute (IMI) Switzerland

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Mobilizing People - Leadership Development Program Executive Development Programme

IMD Business School Switzerland

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Master in Global Leadership Pre-Masters, Masters Degree, Online Course

Zurich Business School (UIBS) Switzerland

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View all courses in Switzerland

More information about Switzerland

Capital City Bern (de facto)
Currency CHF, Swiss Franc
Language(s) German, French, Italian
Universities on StudyLink 20 universities
Major Student Cities Geneva, Lausanne, Montreux

Language Requirements

Switzerland has 4 official languages. These are German, French, Italian and Romansh. You will have many opportunities to pick up more than one language during your studies. Make an effort to communicate with locals in their language. This is a fantastic skill and will look great on your CV!

Both bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes are taught in German, Italian and French. There is an increasing amount of programmes being taught in English, meaning there are plenty of options for international students.

No matter what language you choose to study in, you will probably have to prove that your language skills will meet the teaching standards. If they don’t meet these standards, it is common for institutions to offer language courses.

Photos from universities in Switzerland

Read more about studying in Europe

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