Applying to universities in Switzerland

 

 

There is no centralized application procedure for foreign students, so contact any institution to which you are thinking of applying directly. You will be able to apply online, and universities’ international offices should be able to help you if you have any problems. Make sure you check the language requirements of the courses you’re applying to – this is a country with four official languages after all. German, French and English (particularly at graduate level) predominate.

 

Admission to a undergraduate programs

 

The decision concerning admission to a study program rests with the individual institution. The basic admission requirement is a Swiss secondary high-school-leaving certificate (Matura, Maturité, Maturità) or a foreign secondary high-school-leaving certificate considered equivalent. Students not holding fully recognized certificates qualifying for university entrance may be required to take a university entrance exam.

 

Admission to a Master's program

 

The prerequisite for access to a Master's program is a successfully completed Bachelor's level /undergraduate. Each university makes its own decisions as to whether a foreign Bachelor's degree can give the holder access to Master's programs, and what are the conditions, if any (entrance examinations, further requirements).

 

Admission to a Doctoral Program

 

To be eligible for a PhD program at a Swiss university, applicants must hold a Master's degree or equivalent from a recognized or accredited university. As conditions vary among universities, interested students should check the admission requirements of their prospective university.

 

 

Language Requirements

 

All Swiss universities require good knowledge of the language of instruction.

 

The Universities of Fribourg, Neuchâtel, Geneva and Lausanne, as well as the Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, are in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. Fribourg is officially a bilingual university, with courses offered both in French and German, while Italian is the teaching language at the Università della Svizzera italiana, located in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. The universities of Basel, Bern, Lucerne, St.Gallen, Zurich and the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich are located in the German-speaking part of Switzerland.

 

An increasing number of study programs at Master's level are offered in English, thus a solid knowledge of English language is advisable for all prospective students.

 

 

Tuition fees

 

 

Switzerland is not a cheap place to live. However, this aspect is massively counterbalanced by low fees. In most cases, international students pay no more than local students (some universities operate a slight mark-up). The exact sum varies but the average fee in 2010 was around EUR 950, making Switzerland one of the cheapest places to study in the world, in terms of tuition.

 

 

Scholarships

 

 

The Swiss Government offers scholarships to foreign students on the basis of reciprocity or within the framework of a scholarship pool to several countries. Scholarships are granted to postgraduate candidates or researchers from both industrial and development countries.

 

Candidates should, firstly, find out from their own country's authorities whether they are entitled to a government scholarship or should approach the Swiss embassy or consulate (www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/reps.html) in their home country.

 

To find out whether a Swiss University offers scholarships to international students, candidates are advised to check the website of the University in question.

 

 

Student visas for Switzerland

 

 

The process you will have to follow to get a student visa for Switzerland will depend on whether you are from an EU/EFTA country or not.

 

If you are from an EU/EFTA country:

 

• You do not require a visa to study in Switzerland.

• You are required to register with the local Residents’ Registration Office in order to obtain a residence permit. In order to get this you will need to present a completed application form, your passport, proof that you’ve enrolled at a university, evidence that you have enough money to support yourself (deemed to be around CHF2,000 a month), proof of your address and two passport size photos. If you have to leave for any reason, you will have to apply for a new residence permit when you return.

• Health insurance is mandatory; hence, make sure that you have purchased cover in Switzerland (unless coverage purchased in your home country is valid in Switzerland).

 

If you’re from outside of the EU/EFTA:

 

• You will need to apply for a multiple entry long stay visa (Visa D) from your local Swiss embassy. You must allow at least three months for your visa to process, so make sure you apply in plenty of time.

• The embassy will tell you specifically what you need to provide in order to obtain your visa, but it is likely to be similar to the above list for obtaining a residence permit. You will be allowed six months to find a job in Switzerland after completing your degree, and will be able to get a work visa if you succeed.

• Within 14 days of your arrival you must apply for a residence permit. See above for what you’ll need to provide.