Learn about the 5 most important advantages of studying in Switzerland
Have you been accepted into a study program in Switzerland? Are you now on your way to realizing your dream of studying abroad? Congratulations! However, studying in Switzerland could potentially incur substantial expenses, including university fees, travel costs, and living expenses. Have you considered a solution to address this issue?
Purchasing a lottery ticket might be an option, or perhaps searching for a lost pirate treasure, but as you’re aware, the most realistic approach would be to secure employment.
Balancing work and study can indeed be challenging, but pursuing education in Switzerland is worth the effort. There are numerous advantages to studying in Switzerland. Let’s explore these benefits together through this article on Almanypedia, a comprehensive knowledge resource.
Advantages of studying in Switzerland
Switzerland is renowned for its chocolate and Swiss cheese, but it also offers a multitude of educational advantages that one can benefit from while studying there. Allow me to outline the various merits of pursuing education in Switzerland.
- the language
Due to Switzerland’s geographical location, its inhabitants speak three languages: German, Italian, and French, in addition to English.
And certainly, you might be wondering about the advantage here. Let me inform you that this matter will greatly facilitate things for you. Then, you won’t need to study a new language. Of course, you already speak one of these languages, and you won’t need to waste time on learning a new language.
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- beauty of nature
Words cannot fully describe the beauty of nature in Switzerland. The renowned Alps and expansive green landscapes are all regions that recharge your energy to continue your studies thereafter.
The scope extends beyond Switzerland’s borders alone, as its central location makes it an excellent hub for venturing into neighboring countries. Imagine your delight in knowing that these easily accessible neighboring countries include France, Germany, Italy, and Austria.
Where you can spend one of your holidays exploring the old continent, Germanic perhaps, or maybe enjoy a romantic night in the Italian city of romance. You have absolute freedom and a plethora of choices in deciding how to spend your vacation.
- happiness
Does this surprise you? Let me clarify. Just as there are countries that top the charts in suicide and depression rates, Switzerland has been ranked sixth in the World Happiness Report. This is attributed partly to their consumption of chocolate – after all, who doesn’t love it!
- quality of education
Education in Switzerland ranks second in education indicators. Additionally, Swiss universities are among the best-ranked institutions for their effectiveness in knowledge dissemination.
- Switzerland Mosaic panel
Imagine a country with 26 cantons, linguistically diverse in four languages, leading to a population diversity. Moreover, the foreign student ratio reaching 25% contributes to a rich cultural blend. This integration paints a magnificent tapestry of varying customs, traditions, and intricate social networks. In the future, we might even hear about the incorporation of additional languages as official languages in Switzerland.
In order to achieve your dream of studying in Switzerland.. I will explain to you in brief points what are the conditions for studying in Switzerland.
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Conditions for studying in Switzerland
Upon completing their high school education, the idea of migration for further studies starts to prominently emerge in the minds of young individuals. Switzerland, being highly regarded, stands out as one of the countries that attracts many for educational pursuits. Therefore, it has established several prerequisites that must be met. These conditions are summarized in the following lines:
- Submitting proof that specifies your legal age is required, and you must have completed your eighteenth year.
- Providing documentation to verify your high school certificate, which must be internationally recognized, is necessary.
- When applying for studies in Switzerland, you will be required to take language proficiency tests for the languages used in Switzerland. Passing this test is mandatory, as these languages constitute the medium of instruction within the Swiss education system.
- Define your educational goals in a clear and systematic plan, as this plan significantly influences the acceptance of your application for studies.
- Once you have identified the program you wish to pursue, it is essential to directly communicate with the university and apply through their dedicated portal.
- One of the crucial documents that aids in your acceptance for studying in Switzerland is providing evidence of your enrollment in student health insurance coverage against accidents. Therefore, do not overlook this matter.
- If your goal is to apply to a public university, you should access this list from here to obtain the essential requirements based on your country.
After presenting you with clear and specific admission requirements for studying in Switzerland, let’s now review Swiss universities together.
Switzerland universities
As previously mentioned, Switzerland’s possession of top-tier universities has made it a destination for many seeking quality education. Switzerland is home to several universities that are internationally renowned and highly ranked in the field of education.
In the following lines, I will put in your hands the Swiss universities that you can choose from.
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One of Switzerland’s oldest universities that has brought about significant transformations in education is known for its numerous faculties covering a variety of subjects distinct from other Swiss universities, including the faculties of psychology, economics, and humanities.
University of Zurich
The renowned Swiss city of Zurich is one of the largest cities in Switzerland, and the university bears its name due to its location within this city. The university is among the largest universities in Switzerland.
It encompasses 7 faculties, among the most sought-after being human and veterinary medicine, engineering, and sciences. It also embraces scientific advancement by offering opportunities to study fields such as computer science and robotics.
Federal Polytechnic School
Its reputation has spread for numerous reasons, with one of the most notable being its utilization of hydroelectric power to energize the campus. Educationally, it garners significant international attention as a leading university in science and engineering. Its students are among the exceptional due to the high-quality education they receive.
Federal Institute of Technology
It’s sufficient to mention that 20 students who graduated from this prestigious institution have been awarded the Nobel Prize. Moreover, some of the most renowned scientists like Albert Einstein and others have also emerged from this university.
Bern University
In your research journey about Swiss universities, never overlook placing the University of Bern at the forefront of the institutions you consider applying to. It is one of the largest universities situated across multiple campuses.
Renowned for its distinguished faculty members, the University of Bern’s prestige is exemplified by the fact that Einstein himself taught physics to students within its walls.
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Indeed, you’ve provided a glimpse of Swiss universities, but there are many more prestigious institutions such as the University of Geneva, University of Lucerne, University of St. Gallen, University of Neuchâtel, and the list goes on.
I understand that the matter has become more tempting now, but you are also contemplating your financial capability to afford the study costs. You’re about to explain the detailed study expenses in Switzerland.
Study costs in Switzerland
Let’s start by clarifying that the study costs in Switzerland encompass various aspects, not limited solely to university tuition fees.
Certainly, there are registration and examination fees, as well as sports activities expenses, in addition to library usage fees. I’ll detail the approximate amount for each of these items.
- Registration fees vary based on the chosen university, ranging from 50 to 250 Swiss Francs. I apologize for not mentioning earlier that Switzerland still uses its own currency, the Swiss Franc, and has not adopted the Euro within the European Union.
- As for sports activities, their cost typically amounts to around 30 Swiss Francs.
- Admission tests at universities range from 100 to 800 Swiss Francs.
As mentioned earlier, the linguistic diversity in Switzerland is one of the distinct features of studying there. However, every advantage comes with a drawback, and in this case, it might incur some expenses if these languages are not your native language. You would need to provide proof of your proficiency in one of these languages.
In other words, you would need to take the TOEFL or IELTS exam, and the testing fees for these exams range from 170 to 250 Swiss Francs.
You should be aware that you are responsible for living expenses, which can amount to 1500 Swiss Francs. The amount might be lower if you choose to live in a less renowned city.
Certainly, keep in mind the rental expenses, which can also reach up to 1100 Swiss Francs. This value is not fixed and varies depending on the location of your accommodation.
In addition to the aforementioned factors, the study costs in Switzerland are also determined by the level of education you prefer to pursue. Studying for a Bachelor’s degree differs from studying for a Master’s degree. Let’s clarify the expenses for each stage separately.
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Studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Switzerland
Initially, you should determine the type of university you desire, whether private or public. Your choice will play a significant role in determining the costs of your studies. Public universities, of course, have lower tuition fees compared to private ones.
In general, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Switzerland will cost you approximately 18,000 Swiss Francs. However, it’s important to note that there are universities where the cost of a bachelor’s degree can be as low as 5,000 Swiss Francs, while on the other hand, there are others where the cost can reach up to 24,000 Swiss Francs.
The duration of studies at this stage continues for three years. Among the most renowned fields of study are pharmacy and engineering.
Master’s study in Switzerland
The matter here is limited and straightforward. The fees range from 3,000 to 13,000 Swiss Francs. However, certain master’s programs can cost between 30,000 to 85,000 Swiss Francs. Within this range falls the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program.
Please consider that during this stage, the duration of study ranges from one and a half to two years. Among the most renowned fields of study are economics, engineering, and computer science.
PhD study in Switzerland
The situation here is quite different. A doctoral student is treated as an employee of the university or, in other words, as a research assistant, and they receive a stipend as well. Moreover, they benefit from various advantages similar to those of a research assistant at the university.
However, please be aware that if you are a doctoral student holding a master’s and bachelor’s degree from another university, you may be subject to fees of up to 15,000 Swiss Francs.
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Registering for a Ph.D. program at the same university where you obtained your master’s and bachelor’s degrees offers several advantages.
Certainly, the situation varies for each student depending on their background. It might be slightly higher in some cases.
Studying in Switzerland for Saudis
Studying in Switzerland for Saudis, or more broadly for Arabs and individuals from Arab countries, unfortunately, often entails higher tuition fees at certain Swiss universities.
Financial constraints can indeed pose a significant obstacle for Saudis aiming to study in Switzerland. The imposed fees on international students are often excessive.
For instance, the University of Lausanne imposes fees that can reach up to 300 Swiss Francs, and there are certain universities that impose fees as high as 6500 Swiss Francs.
Pay attention to this: if your financial capabilities do not allow you to pursue studies in Switzerland, scholarships might provide you with an opportunity. Switzerland has a distinguished track record in offering scholarships to students.
Scholarships to study in Switzerland
If you meet all the requirements for studying in Switzerland but your financial situation doesn’t support this step, you should focus on the scholarships offered by Switzerland.
The Swiss Excellence Scholarship is among the premier grants offered by the Swiss government, designed to assist international students in realizing their dream of studying in Switzerland, overcoming financial hurdles along the way.
Tuition fees and travel expenses are entirely covered, alongside provided student accommodation. You can find all the details and application information from this link.
If you’re interested in the sciences and seeking an opportunity to pursue a master’s degree, you should refer to this link. The Faculty of Science at the University of Geneva offers the chance to obtain a master’s degree in the field of sciences.
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As for the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ranked 14th best university globally, it offers a diverse range of scholarships along with opportunities to pursue master’s degrees. From the following link, you can access all the relevant information.
Certainly, for doctoral studies, the University of Zurich offers an Economics scholarship for a duration of 4 years with a grant of 45,000 Swiss Francs. You can review all the details from this link.
Certainly, after all the information I’ve provided, it’s time to prepare your documents for obtaining a student visa in Switzerland. But before that, let’s explore the language of instruction in Switzerland together.
Study language in Switzerland
Indeed, as I mentioned at the beginning, Switzerland’s linguistic diversity contributes to a wide range of languages used for instruction. These include German, French, Italian, and even Romansh.
The language of instruction in Switzerland varies based on your location within the country and the university you attend. Despite this diversity, globalization has introduced English as well as one of the languages of instruction in certain cases.
The diversity of languages of instruction in Switzerland has facilitated many students in pursuing their studies with ease. Moreover, the variety of job opportunities has enabled numerous individuals to easily seek employment within Switzerland, benefiting from the flexibility provided by this linguistic diversity.
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How to get a student visa in Switzerland
The D visa is suitable for any student intending to reside in Switzerland for a period exceeding 90 days. You should apply at the Swiss embassy in your country, and the visa fee is only 60 euros. The processing time takes around two months. You need to submit a set of documents to obtain the visa. These documents include:
- Your passport must be valid for a period exceeding three months.
- Submit the acceptance letter from the university you applied to.
- Provide your health insurance documents that prove your coverage against accidents.
- A bank account that ensures your ability to cover accommodation and living expenses in Switzerland.
- Your accommodation in Switzerland should be included among the submitted documents.
- Motivational letters from your previous teachers.
- Providing evidence of your language skills.
- The most crucial point is submitting a written declaration of your intention to leave Swiss territory upon completing your studies.
Your question now raises a thought I am well aware of: whether you have the desire to continue living there and seek employment in Switzerland after completing your studies. Here’s the solution.
Work in Switzerland after studying
If you have completed your studies in Switzerland and wish to seek employment, you can obtain a 6-month residence permit with the condition of not renewing it. You can acquire this permit from the immigration office affiliated with the canton you reside in.
Submit documents proving the completion of your studies, your financial ability to cover expenses during this period, and evidence of your residence.
Upon submitting these documents, you will be granted a 6-month residence permit and will be allowed to work for up to 15 hours per week.
What if you find a job and want to continue with it? In this case, the matter is in the hands of your employer. They need to submit documents proving the significance of your position and their need for your continuation in the job. The immigration office will then issue a work permit. Afterwards, your employer can obtain a residence permit for you, valid for two years.
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Working abroad entails both advantages and disadvantages, and it requires additional effort. Always prioritize your goals and be cautious about wasting time, as it’s a valuable resource. Ensure that you approach this endeavor correctly. Learn from others’ experiences and avoid their mistakes. Strive relentlessly for success.
Finally, make sure you have ample time for essential things like sleep, exercise, and leisure. If you can manage your time well and adhere to a structured schedule, it won’t negatively impact your studies. It’s not impossible, but it requires effort and dedication.
Frequently asked questions about study conditions in Switzerland
How much does it cost to study in Switzerland?
Depending on the chosen university, tuition fees per semester can range from 500 to 2000 Swiss Francs in some cases, while in others, they can range from 3000 to 5000 Swiss Francs. For international students applying to a public university, registration fees typically range from 50 to 70 Swiss Francs.
Is university education free in Switzerland?
Education is compulsory and free in Switzerland until the age of eleven. After that, the student can choose their path, whether it’s to attend secondary school or enter vocational training.
When do you start studying in Switzerland?
The academic year in Switzerland typically starts in the summer, from February to June.
How many semesters in Switzerland?
The academic year consists of two semesters, summer and winter, each lasting for about 5 months. After that, there is a break of two months.