Higher education in Switzerland
Why Switzerland is a popular destination for foreign scientists and researchers
One of the best-known educational institutions in Switzerland: the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich) © Denis Lenine / iStock.com
With its long tradition of excellence in higher education, Switzerland is a popular choice for scientists and academics from abroad. This article examines its higher education system.
Updated: 2025-07-08
Higher education institutions in Switzerland
Swiss universities have an enviable reputation around the world. Indeed, no less than six are featured in the top 200 of QS World Rankings (2026). It is a country with a long tradition of higher education. Its first university was founded in 1460 at Basel. As a result of sustained academic progress over the centuries, Switzerland is now home to some of Europe’s most renowned higher educational systems.
There are twelve state-run universities in Switzerland:
- Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (ETH Zürich; Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich)
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
- Universität Zürich (University of Zurich)
- Universität Basel (University of Basel)
- Universität Bern (University of Bern)
- Universität Genf (University of Geneva)
- Universität Lausanne (University of Lausanne)
- Universität Freiburg / Université de Fribourg (University of Fribourg)
- Universität Luzern (University of Lucerne)
- Université de Neuchâtel (University of Neuchâtel)
- Universität St. Gallen (HSG; University of St. Gallen)
- Università della Svizzera italiana (USI)
Of those, the ten “universities” are cantonal, while the ETH and the EPFL are federal institutes of technology. The differences between them are slight. Cantonal universities are operated and managed by individual cantons, and federal institutes of technology are run directly by the government of Switzerland. Canton is the traditional Swiss form of an administrative area. There are twenty-six such areas within Switzerland.
The differences, whilst small, do impact the structure of the institutions. The federal institutions are aligned in structure to American universities, thus making it easier for foreign students to transfer there.
As well as these twelve institutions, there are two other types of university:
- 10 Universities of Applied Sciences and the Arts (UASAs), which provide scientific and professional education (one of them a private UAS)
- 19 Universities of Teacher Education (UTEs), which offer practice-oriented teaching education.
Doctorates can only be obtained at universities and federal institutes of technology.
University Ranking (Top 200) – QS and THE 2025
| University | QS 2025 Rank | THE 2025 Rank |
|---|---|---|
|
ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) |
7 |
11 |
|
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) |
26 |
32 |
|
University of Zurich |
109 |
– |
|
University of Basel |
131 |
126 |
|
University of Geneva |
155 |
171 |
|
University of Bern |
161 |
104 |
|
University of Lausanne |
224 |
134 |
Students from abroad in Switzerland
Overall, 27.7 per cent of the students in Switzerland come from abroad (source: Statista Research Department). The country also enjoys a high rate of PhD students from abroad. According to swissinfo.ch, 55 per cent of Bachelor's students, 65 per cent of Master's students and 86 per cent of doctoral students at EPFL are from abroad.
The opportunities for foreign students are increasing all the time – in the 2000/2001 academic year, only 20 per cent of all students were international.
Percentage of foreign students by leading institutions
| Institution | Percentage of foreign students |
|---|---|
|
Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPF Lausanne) |
56% |
|
University of Geneva |
40% |
|
Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zürich) |
35% |
|
University of Basel |
27% |
|
University of St. Gallen |
25% |
|
University of Neuchâtel |
24% |
Prerequisites for studying in Switzerland
Those who wish to enrol at a Swiss university must earn a state-recognised Swiss matriculation certificate (Matura), or a qualification of equal value for a foreign student.
Language fluency is required and is determined by the language taught in the class – remember Switzerland has four official languages, including
- French,
- German,
- Italian and
- Romansh.
Higher education expenses in Switzerland
Public expenditure for research is mainly the result of personal initiatives on the part of the researchers. The Swiss Confederation is responsible for providing research funding through two federal agencies – the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and the Innosuisse (formerly the Commission for Innovation and Technology). The cantons are responsible for managing and co-funding cantonal universities and Universities of Applied Sciences.
In 2023, CHF 25.9 billion was spent on research and development (R&D) in Switzerland. This corresponds to an average annual increase of 3% compared to the last survey in 2021. Switzerland thus invested 3.22% of its gross domestic product in research and development, putting it in 9th place worldwide.
Research and Development expenditure in 2023
| Type | In CHF (millions) | In % |
|---|---|---|
|
Private Sector |
18 |
69 |
|
Universities |
7.4 |
28 |
|
Federal government / private non-profit organisations |
0.5 |
2 |
|
Total |
25.9 |
100 |
Switzerland tuition fees
Unlike other countries in Europe, there is not a standard tuition fee scheme in Switzerland. According to swissuniversities.ch, the annual fee at general universities for international students are between CHF435 und CHF 3,100. For example, the University of Italian Switzerland (Università della Svizzera italiana, USI) and the University of St. Gallen (Master) charge EUR 3,100. International students are encouraged to check with the institution they wish to study at. Generally, Switzerland is considered on the lower-scale of fee-paying university countries. However, the cost of living is above average at 1,500 to 1,900 Swiss francs per month.
Working in higher education in Switzerland
Switzerland offers highly-paid positions within academia. Being from Switzerland is not normally a pre-requisite for the position. Scholars, and those particularly from French, German and Italian-speaking backgrounds work right across the higher education system. According to Statista, the proportion of foreign professors at Swiss universities was 51 per cent in 2021.
Depending on whether the institution is within a German or French speaking canton, there can be different titles to positions within the hierarchical order. The lowest rung on the career ladder is generally the research assistant or reader, which in German would be Hilfswissenschaftler:in or in French maître-assistant.
In French-speaking cantons, a PhD is required for all positions above maître-assistant. In German-speaking cantons, it is common for PhD candidates to work as research assistants or lecturer.
Looking towards future career development, lack of funding can be an obstacle to career advancement – not uncommon within the academic world. Age can also be a barrier if you have not obtained self-contained university teaching (habilitation, doctorate) by the age of 35.
Salaries in academia
Salaries are considered highly attractive – Professors in Switzerland earn the highest salaries in the world. Full professors at Swiss universities earn an average monthly salary of CHF 14,000; At ETH Zurich, the figure is up to almost CHF 300,000 per year. Even doctoral students and postdocs can earn six-figure annual salaries.
