Studying and Settling in Switzerland
Affordable Education for International Students
Switzerland is the richest country in the world, but studying in Switzerland as an international student is among the cheapest in the world. When you compare studying in Switzerland with any other country, the type of innovation that Swiss universities are doing is unmatched no other university, at least in Europe, is doing that sort of innovation. The best part is that education in Switzerland is almost free for anyone. Even as an international student coming from non-European countries, it’s still almost free.
This covers everything you need to know to start your education in Switzerland as an international student how to get admission, how to apply, how to secure a scholarship, how to get a visa, and how to settle in Switzerland for the longer run. If you live in Switzerland for 10 years, you will of course become a millionaire, because Switzerland is one of those countries with the highest number of millionaires of any country in the world.
Swiss Universities
Innovation and Prestige of ETH Zurich and EPFL
Switzerland is known for innovation. Right from the beginning, Switzerland was always known for science and innovation. Einstein studied at ETH Zurich which gives a sense of how innovative Swiss universities are. The top university in Switzerland is ETH Zurich, and it consistently stays in the top 10 universities in the world, currently placed around sixth position worldwide. Getting admission at this leading institute means attending one of the most prestigious universities in Europe. For anyone passionate about high-quality research, ETH Zurich should be the first priority.
Its rival, EPFL, is also among the top 20 universities in the world and is one of the best research institutes globally. ETH Zurich alone has 21 Nobel prizes, which reflects the quality of education Switzerland offers.
Understanding Research Universities and Applied Sciences
There are several other universities the University of Geneva, University of Basel, University of Bern, and many others. The whole university structure in Switzerland is divided into two parts. The first type are research-based universities like the University of Geneva. The second type are Fachhochschulen similar to German applied sciences universities. These are not research-based; they are designed to prepare students for industry.
Research-based universities are purely dedicated to research and train primarily PhD students, which is why they are very competitive for international students. Non-European students are less common at ETH Zurich or EPFL, but more common at Fachhochschulen. Switzerland is genuinely a hidden gem that most people overlook.
Tuition Fee
Comparing Costs with Other Destinations
The tuition fee in Switzerland is surprisingly negligible around 700 to 800 Swiss Francs per year at some universities, and up to 1,500 Swiss Francs at others. This is an annual amount. In Germany, what’s called “free education” still involves a semester contribution fee of around 300 to 400 euros depending on the university and state and Germany is also moving away from free education for international students.
The Hidden Gem of Affordable Tuition
When comparing everything, Switzerland comes out roughly equal or better. The only drawback of Switzerland is the living cost, which will be covered shortly. The tuition fee of €700 to €1,500 per year depending on the university is much cheaper than what a bachelor’s or master’s degree costs in Pakistan, India, or Bangladesh. Studying in Switzerland at that price makes strong financial sense compared to studying domestically in many countries.
Living Cost
Budgeting for Expensive Swiss Cities
Living in Geneva or Zurich will cost around 1,500 Swiss Francs a month at minimum. It also depends on lifestyle and how finances are managed, but an average student can sustain on around 1,000 to 1,200 Swiss Francs a month. Living in Switzerland is expensive, but there are ways to manage it.
As an international student in Switzerland, it is possible to work part-time but not for the first 6 months. That initial period is considered a starting period, during which working is not permitted, so having savings before arriving is necessary. After that, working up to 16 hours a week is allowed.
High Salaries and Part Time Work Opportunities
Switzerland offers some of the highest part-time salaries for international students in Europe. Most students go for internships, which are highly paid an intern from an engineering or IT background can easily earn around 20 to 30 Swiss Francs an hour. During summer months June, July, and August students can work full-time at 40 hours a week, which can bring in around 4,000 to 5,000 Swiss Francs or more, depending on the company and city.
Even working as a cashier rather than in a technical role, it is entirely possible to survive as an international student in Switzerland.
Scholarships
Government and Excellence Programs
The hardest part is managing the first 6 months. After that, things become easier. Scholarships are another way to reduce costs. A fully funded scholarship such as the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship, EPFL Excellence Scholarship, or the Swiss Government Scholarship provides a stipend to cover studies in Switzerland.
The Swiss Excellence Scholarship program, offered by the Swiss government, is primarily a research-intensive program aimed mainly at PhD students, though in some cases it is also offered to master’s students with an excellent profile. A GPA of around 3.8 out of 4.0, along with some research experience, strengthens an application for this scholarship.
Finding University Funded Opportunities
Almost every university in Switzerland has a fully funded or partially funded scholarship where tuition fees are waived. Applying to all available university-based scholarships is worth considering, though admission must be secured first. All scholarships in Switzerland can be searched on euroscholarships.com, which is one of the best platforms for finding scholarships across Europe.
How to Apply
Navigating University Portals and Study Platforms
The portal studyprograms.ch lists all programs available at Swiss universities. The process involves selecting a program from that portal and then applying directly through the individual university’s own application portal. There is no single centralized portal for all universities each has its own with its own deadline.
Application Intakes and Competitive Planning
There are two main intakes in Switzerland, with the winter intake being the major one, similar to Germany, when most programs are open. Some programs also open in summer, usually starting in March or April. Planning studies in Switzerland should ideally start one year in advance, as admissions especially to research-based universities are competitive. Applied sciences universities are comparatively less competitive and are worth considering as well.
Visa
Proof of Finances and Success Rates
Applying for a Swiss student visa has a very high success rate, and rejections are uncommon. For the Swiss visa, a blocked account is not always required it depends on the university and the region. Where a blocked account is required, the funds must be reserved in a Swiss account. Where it is not required, finances must be demonstrated instead.
The standard requirement is showing at least 100 to 120 Swiss Francs per day. For a student visa, finances need to be shown for one full year. Multiplying 120 Swiss Francs by 365 days comes to over 22,000 Swiss Francs that is the minimum amount that needs to be demonstrated to obtain a Swiss student visa.
Embassy Procedures and PhD Sponsored Visas
The process varies depending on the country of origin. Applicants from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, and other regions apply through their respective Swiss consulate or embassy.
For PhD applicants, all PhDs in Switzerland are fully sponsored. No blocked account, bank statement, or additional sponsorship is needed only a contract from the supervisor, university, or lab. Most PhDs in Switzerland are treated as employment, and applicants apply for a different visa category accordingly.
Challenges
Navigating the Multi Language Barrier
The first major challenge in Switzerland is the language barrier. Switzerland has three main official languages. In the western region, such as Lausanne, French is spoken. In the central region around Zurich, German is used about 65% of Swiss people speak German. And in the south, Italian is spoken.
At ETH Zurich and EPFL, many courses are available in English, and all research work is conducted in English. For long-term professional growth in Switzerland, however, learning German or French and in some cases both becomes necessary.
Job Search Permits and Settlement Obstacles
The second challenge is managing finances during the first 6 months of studies. The third challenge relates to long-term settlement. After graduating, international students receive a 6-month permit to remain in Switzerland and search for a job. If no job is found within that period, leaving the country is required, though in some cases this is extended to 1 year. It is, however, rare to hear of graduates failing to find employment in Switzerland.
Long-Term Settlement
Eligibility for PR and Citizenship
For long-term settlement, living in Switzerland for 5 years makes a person eligible to apply for permanent residency. Living there consecutively for 10 years qualifies for Swiss citizenship. The Swiss passport is one of the strongest passports in the world.
Professional Application Assistance and Support
No consultant is required to apply in Switzerland. For those who need guidance, there are teams of scholars currently studying in Europe and the US who have helped many applicants secure admissions in Germany, the UK, and Switzerland covering the full process from admission to visa.