Switzerland is considered an important hub for foreign students. Degrees from Swiss colleges and universities are respected all around the world because of the excellent education they deliver. Due to their consistently excellent research and teaching, only a few Swiss colleges make it into the top tier of the Global colleges ranking.
Swiss institutions often place in the top 0.1 percent globally, contributing to the country’s well-deserved reputation as an educational powerhouse.
Despite its modest size (population: 8 million), Switzerland is well-known as an excellent place to study abroad due to its high position in worldwide university rankings. Switzerland should be on the shortlist of potential study abroad destinations if students are looking for a well-regarded Bachelor’s or Master’s degree program and can pay the rather high cost of living.
Top 10 Universities In Switzerland To Study Based On Global Score
The following list showcases the top 10 universities to study in Switzerland for international students. The rankings are based on the Global score for 2024:
1. ETH Zurich Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
2. École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
3. University of Zurich
4. University of Bern
5. University of Basel
6. University of Geneva
7. University of Lausanne
8. Università della Svizzera italiana (USI)
9. University of Fribourg
10. University of St. Gallen
1. ETH Zurich Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
ETH Zurich is renowned for its innovative research, earning it a place among the world’s top universities in science and technology. The Swiss Federal Polytechnic School (also called ETH Zurich) was founded in 1855. 22 Nobel laureates, two Fields Medalists, three Pritzker Prize winners, and one Turing Award winner, including Albert Einstein, are alumni.
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich is an interdisciplinary research and teaching institution with 16 major academic departments. Nearly 400 faculty members educate students and do research in the fields of management, social science, engineering, mathematics, natural science, and system-oriented science. Climate change, the global food supply, and human health are a few of the worldwide concerns that ETH Zurich bases its research on.
Most degree programs at ETH Zurich are based on strong mathematical foundations, and the education there blends practical application with solid theory. While English is the language of choice for most master’s and doctorate programs, German is the language of instruction for undergraduates.
ETH Zurich has two primary locations: downtown Zurich and a contemporary campus on a hill on the town’s outskirts. Despite their heavy workloads, ETH students may find time for cultural and other social events. They also offer campus seminars and conferences, where top scientists speak.
Many different kinds of athletic activities are available on campus for ETH students to participate in. The SOLA relay race is the biggest event of the year. It consists of 14 stages covering a distance of over 140 kilometers. More than 900 teams have competed in the yearly event. Since the 1880s, students have performed at the Polyball, a famous ball event with live orchestras and bands.
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2. École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, also called École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) is a Swiss university and research center located in the city of Lausanne. Its focus is on engineering and the natural sciences.
This institution has its origins as a private school that opened its doors to 11 students in 1853. Those days have ended, however; now, Lausanne is home to more than 10,000 students at EPFL, one of two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology.
Among its many research and educational initiatives, EPFL operates a nuclear reactor, fusion reactor, Gene/Q Supercomputer, and P3 bio-hazard facilities. There are 65 buildings spread out across 136 acres at EPFL, which is located on the edge of Lake Geneva. Cafés, banks, and two museums (Archizoom and Musee Bolo) are also part of the facilities.
Campus life is full of energy because of all the student-run organizations that provide various forms of social and recreational activities. EPFL works with other universities and colleges, secondary schools and gymnasiums, businesses, political circles, and the public to change society. More than 6,000 employees, representing over 100 different professions, teach in the university throughout their main site in Lausanne and their satellite campuses.
3. University of Zurich
The University of Zurich (UZH) is the leading university in Switzerland, with 28,000 students enrolled. Among the most prestigious educational institutions in Europe, UZH has been around since 1833. It became the first university in Europe to be founded under a democratic political system. According to the QS World University Rankings 2024, it is the 73rd-best university in the world.
The University of Zurich provides a diverse range of Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD programs across seven faculties that include more than 130 subject areas. UZH is a member of the esteemed League of European Research Universities (LERU), the European Alliance UnaEuropa, and the international network Universitas 21. Students, researchers, and staff from over 120 countries make up UZH’s vibrant community.
The University’s worldwide reputation in economics, neurology, genetics, immunology, and structural biology is emphasized by several awards. 12 researchers from UZH have received the Nobel Prize to date. Zurich is a popular destination for foreign students due to its many cultural offerings, lively nightlife, and undeniable attractions.
Learning at the UZH entails developing autonomous and critical thinking abilities, accepting new and unfamiliar worldviews, generating new ideas, and gaining new understanding.
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4. University of Bern
In the heart of Switzerland’s capital city (Bern), the University of Bern offers world-class faculty and a diverse array of academic programs in a stunning setting. Its campus is highly connected to the city’s social, economic, and political life, and it has an excellent record for teaching in cutting-edge fields. The location is beautiful, and the university itself is well-regarded. The eight faculties and around 160 institutes that make up the university’s extensive offering have their origins in the seventeenth century.
The majority of Master’s degree programs provide instruction in English. Among these fields are mathematics, political science, economics, biology, computer science, biomedical engineering, business, and economics. Almost every PhD program and degree is offered in English. The majority of Bachelor’s programs teach in German, while a sizable minority also provide English-language options.
The five National Centres of Competence in Research—International Trade Regulation, TransCure (Membrane Transport Research), MUST (Molecular Ultrafast Science and Technology), PlanetS (how planet systems are formed and how they develop), and RNA and Disease—illustrate the academic and research organization’s pride in its interdisciplinary approach. Several international and European research programs, especially those relating to space exploration, involve the institution.
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5. University of Basel
The University of Basel is among the world’s oldest universities, which was established in 1460. It is also the oldest university in Switzerland. Arts, medicine, law, and religion were its original four departments. It is now home to over 10,000 students, including over 2,500 PhD candidates, and seven faculties that span a huge range of academic fields.
The University is a vibrant and forward-thinking institution situated in the middle of Basel that draws on tradition-anchored innovation. It provides a wide range of services to both students and the community.
The university provides a variety of engaging undergraduate and graduate programs and connections to respected worldwide research networks. They recently reviewed their programs to match them with the Bologna Declaration of the European Ministers of Education to improve interdisciplinary, networked research, and the University’s worldwide outlook.
Basel University Library, on the other hand, has almost eight million volumes. This solidifies its position as one of Switzerland’s best library collections.
The University Library also has two additional specialty collections: the University Medical Library and the University Library of Business and Economics/Swiss Economics Archive. The university’s strategic goal is to produce, improve, and promote high-quality research and establish an environment and infrastructure that supports it.
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6. University of Geneva
“Think, teach, converse, and research” is the motto of the University of Geneva (UNIGE). Jean Calvin established the university in 1559. With the completion of the “Bologna System” transition in 2007, UNIGE became a member of the European Space of Higher Education.
The University of UNIGE (UNIGE) is home to 16,500 students from over 150 countries. It provides over 500 degree programs, including 129 Master’s and Bachelor’s degree programs, 80 Doctoral degree programs, and over 300 continuing education programs in a vast array of disciplines.
In addition to Frontiers in PlanetS, MaNEP, Chemical Biology, SwissMap, Genetics, Synaptic Bases of Mental Diseases, and LIVES-Overcoming risks in a life cycle perspective, UNIGE is also home and co-host of seven National Centres of Competence in Research.
By becoming a member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU), UNIGE distinguishes itself as one of the top 20 research facilities in Europe.
7. University of Lausanne
Established in 1537, the University of Lausanne has long been renowned as a preeminent educational and research institution. A broad variety of academic programs are available, including those in the medical, legal, environmental, business, and humanities fields.
Lausanne, a beautiful city on the edge of Lake Geneva, is home to a thriving intellectual community. In keeping with its long history of athletic competition, the Swiss city of Lausanne is home to the International Olympic Committee and the world-renowned Olympic Museum.
Twenty years after its founding, the Académie de Lausanne (now known as the University of Lausanne) started providing economic science courses in 1870. Léon Walras, Chair of Political Economics at the Faculty of La Salle at the time and an early proponent of concepts of economic science was the program’s instructor. Approximately 16,000 students can attend the institution. The university welcomes international students at a rate of one in five. Similarly, one-third of the teaching mentors are hired internationally. In terms of Europe’s university ranking in Europe, the institution is ranked # 42.
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8. Università della Svizzera italiana (USI)
The 1996-founded Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI) provides some important contributions to the Swiss financial and educational wheel. In Lugano, a city with beautiful Mediterranean architecture and lakeside views, the university is located.
It is one of the twelve accredited Swiss public universities that make up the “swissuniversities” network, and USI is one of them.
Students may expect a high-quality education and a stimulating learning environment at this dynamic and youthful institution. Using an integrative, dynamic, and engaging approach that allows for use in practice, students are taught by international teachers.
The vibrant and fulfilling learning atmosphere at USI is created by its small class sizes, multinational professors, and strong ties to the business world. Global recognition for the university’s research has been bestowed upon its ambitious and multidisciplinary undertakings.
The intimate size, multicultural atmosphere, and casual, ever-changing culture of USI enhance the quality of the academic programs.
9. University of Fribourg
Established in 1889, the University of Fribourg has come to be known for its outstanding faculty, cutting-edge research, and commitment to interdisciplinary study. Fribourg, a city famous for its well-maintained medieval architecture and home to a multilingual university, draws students from all over the world. The university has an impressive multicultural learning experience due to its distinctive mix of French and German cultures. It enriches the university’s lively academic atmosphere.
The University of Fribourg uses Sustainability and Impact Rankings to take an integrated strategy for learning and scholarship by considering universities’ social, governance, and environmental standards.
At the core of what the University of Fribourg does is empirical that is intimately related to academic instruction. The university’s mission is to advance scientific understanding to address the present and future problems that humanity faces. It does this via its many centers of scientific excellence and research programs that span all academic disciplines.
10. University of St. Gallen
With its origin as the establishment of a Business Academy in 1898, the University of St. Gallen (HSG) now educates more than 9,500 students with an emphasis on practical skills. St. Gallen, a beautiful city, is home to the university and its world-famous Abbey of St. Gall, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Rigid research spanning five schools is combined with a strong focus on practical use and career help to make it one of the finest business schools in Europe.
The University of St. Gallen was ranked sixth in Europe by the Financial Times’ 2023 list of business schools, solidifying its reputation as one of the top in the region.
The HSG is unique among Swiss business schools in that it is also the best in the German-speaking area. Also, the university has received international stamps of approval, including AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS accreditation, which is characterized by excellent academic standards.
As a global hub for intellectual leadership, cultural understanding, and international connections, the University of St. Gallen welcomes students from all over the world. A variety of global perspectives is offered by the discussion with students from more than 120 countries in St. Gallen.
Conclusion
Over 8 million people call the tiny European nation of Switzerland their home. They speak a variety of languages. Although living expenses are high, tuition fees are relatively affordable, and the nation is home to some of the top colleges in the world, therefore an increasing number of international students go there each year.
Learning one of the four official languages—Italian, French, German, or Romansh—is necessary for establishing a life in Switzerland. However English is a must to survive in the country. The top 10 Swiss universities in the list include a wide range of academic disciplines, including hard and economics, mathematics, social sciences, and the natural and social sciences. Among the list, ETH Zurich stands head and shoulders above the others. Its STEM programs are world-class, and it has produced 21 Nobel laureates, notably Albert Einstein.
Another reason Switzerland is famous is its stunning natural beauty. Beautiful towns like Zurich and Geneva, as well as the majestic Swiss Alps, will be the go-to places for students while they study there.
| Universities of Switzerland | Global Ranking 2024 |
| ETH Zurich | 16 |
| École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne | 45 |
| University of Zurich | 63 |
| University of Bern | 90 |
| University of Basel | 107 |
| University of Geneva | 117 |
| University of Lausanne | 143 |
| Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI) | 364 |
| University of Fribourg | 453 |
| University of St. Gallen (HSG) | 863 |
FAQs
How Cheap Are Public Universities In Switzerland For Students To Study?
Students can get a good education at a reasonable price at Switzerland’s public institutions. The average per semester tuition fee ranges from 1,000 to 2,000 Swiss Francs.
Is It Difficult For International Students To Get PR In Switzerland?
It is often easier to apply for permanent residency in Switzerland than for full Swiss citizenship. Nevertheless, there are still several restrictions that must be met, one of which being the minimum residence durations.
Is IELTS Mandatory To Get Admission To Universities In Switzerland?
IELTS is not mandatory to get admission to any university in Switzerland.
