Study in Switzerland

Who this applies to

International students at Swiss universities. Admission is per-university; the 2 federal institutes (ETH/EPFL) sit in the ETH Domain, the others are cantonal.

Governing authority

SERI (federal); cantons (cantonal universities); swissuniversities (rectors' conference).

Degree system

Bachelor 3 yrs · Master 1.5–2 yrs · PhD 3–5 yrs (often salaried). Languages by region: German, French, Italian — plus many English-taught Master's.

Admission

How

Apply directly to each university. A recognized secondary diploma (with sufficient equivalence) is required; some universities require an entrance exam (ECUS) for non-equivalent diplomas. ETH/EPFL admit Bachelor entrants with strong qualifications or via an admission exam.

Language

Bachelor's mostly in the cantonal language (German/French/Italian — proficiency required); Master's increasingly in English (IELTS/TOEFL).

Tuition Per Year Chf

Typical

Low: ~CHF 1,000–CHF 4,000/yr. ETH Zurich ~CHF 1,460/yr (CHF 730/semester); EPFL similar; cantonal universities ~CHF 1,000–2,000 (some charge non-EU/foreign students more, e.g. Geneva/USI/St. Gallen higher for non-residents).

Note

As of 2025 there are proposals to raise (potentially ~triple) fees for foreign students at the federal institutes — confirm current figures.

Living Cost Chf

High — ~CHF 21,000–28,000/yr (Switzerland is among the most expensive countries).

Source

ETH Zurich tuition page; swissuniversities

Student visa & residence permit

Non-EU/EFTA students need a student residence permit, applied for via the cantonal migration office after admission; proof of sufficient funds (~CHF 21,000/yr) required. EU/EFTA students register after arrival.

Scholarships

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships (federal, for international postgrad/researchers); ETH/EPFL Excellence Scholarships; university scholarships.

Sources & references

• tuition — https://ethz.ch/students/en/studies/financial/tuition-fees.html (2026-06-10)
• costs/visa — https://www.axiom-academic.com/en/higher-education-guide/country-guides/switzerland/ (2026-06-10)