Higher education in Switzerland

higher education switzerlandSwitzerland is usually associated by most people with a good and comfortable life, as well as high prices. But only few people know that higher public education in Switzerland, both for citizens of the country and for foreigners, is cheap, namely, an average of 800 euros per semester (the exception is the University of St. Gallen, where education costs 1100 euros per semester, and also Universitá della Svizzera Italiana in Lugano - 4000 euros per semester). 

And if you want to study abroad, then you should pay close attention to this opportunity, as a diploma from a Swiss university can give a very good start to building a successful career, both at home and abroad.

In Swiss universities, the percentage of international students is high, from 7% at the University of Bern to 38% at the University of Geneva.

At universities in Switzerland, there are practically no restrictions on the admission of foreign students, with the exception of such specialties as "Dentistry" and "Veterinary Medicine". The Swiss solve the problem of a large number of students in university classrooms simply. They make it possible for everyone who wants to enter universities, but then at the end of the first year of study, Swiss universities arrange a serious exam, according to the results of which they weed out about half of the students.

Switzerland is a small country, only about 8.5 million people. Related to this is the fact that there are few public universities in Switzerland - only 12. These are the following universities:

  • University of Basel
  • University of Berne
  • University of Fribourg
  • University of Geneva
  • University of Lausanne
  • University of Lucerne
  • University of Neuchãtel
  • University of St. Gallen
  • Universitá della Svizzera Italiana
  • University of Zurich
  • EPF Lausanne
  • ETH Zurich

As for the requirements for applicants, they are different depending on which country the foreigner comes from, and also in which part of Switzerland he is going to study - in the German-speaking, French-speaking or Italian-speaking part. Therefore, the conditions for admission must be clarified in each case separately. But in general, we can say that in addition to having a school certificate, you will definitely need a good knowledge of German or French, or Italian, and some foreign applicants need to pass the so-called combined examination for foreigners.

As for the possibility of entering a Swiss university after school, this primarily depends on which country you graduated from school in Europe or not, as well as how similar your secondary education system is to the secondary education system in Switzerland. For example, if you graduated from secondary school in a country where you need to study at school for 12 or 13 years, 3-4 years of which you studied in the senior classes at school and thoroughly studied the following subjects: three languages ​​​​(one native and two foreign), mathematics, physics , chemistry, biology, history and geography, the basics of law and economics, as well as computer science, then you can count on the fact that your school certificate will be recognized and you will be allowed to enter a Swiss university immediately after school without the entrance examinations. If you studied at school for less than 12 years, then your certificate may be partially recognized, then you will need to pass the so-called entrance exam. a combined exam for foreigners, and only after passing it you will be able to enter a Swiss university. If your certificate is not recognized as equivalent to a Swiss certificate, then your chance to enter a Swiss university is only at first to enter a state university at home for full-time education after your school, complete a bachelor's degree, and only then enter the 1st year of a Swiss university.