Study in Switzerland
Updated 6 September 2026
Switzerland combines high academic standards, an international student culture and one of the most stable economies in Europe. Most internationally-oriented programmes are taught in English, particularly in hospitality management and business, sectors where Swiss universities have built a global reputation.
Living costs are higher than in most of Europe, but so are post-graduation outcomes. Switzerland is a strong choice for students aiming at hospitality, finance, engineering, or international management careers.
Browse our coverage of Swiss universities below.
Key facts and figures
- Tuition at ETH Zurich: since the autumn semester 2025 the school applies two fee groups, CHF 730 per semester for the first group and CHF 2,190 per semester for most international students (source: ETH Zurich, tuition fees, consulted on 6 September 2026).
- Hospitality: Switzerland is the reference destination for hotel and hospitality management, and our page on EHL Hospitality Business School covers that route in detail.
- Language: teaching is in German, French, Italian or English depending on the canton and the programme, and most international master degrees are taught in English.
- Selection: public universities admit on the school leaving qualification rather than on essays, which changes the whole preparation compared with a UCAS or a United States application.
- Your Dream School: more than 1,000 students coached since 2018 and 160+ five-star Google reviews.
Which profile Switzerland fits
Three routes dominate. Engineering and science students look at ETH Zurich and EPFL, where the file is judged mainly on the strength of the secondary school qualification and, for some applicants, on an entrance examination. Business and economics students look at the University of St. Gallen and at IMD for later career stages. Hospitality students look at Lausanne, where the industry recruits directly on campus.
The common thread is that Swiss admissions reward academic consistency more than a polished personal statement. A student with strong mathematics and physics marks and a clear plan is in a better position than one with an impressive extracurricular record and uneven grades. That is the opposite of the balance used by many bachelor admissions systems in the English-speaking world.
Budget and practical planning
Tuition at public institutions stays modest by international standards, but living costs do not: rent, health insurance and transport in Zurich, Geneva or Lausanne are among the highest in Europe, and accommodation has to be secured early because student housing is limited. Non-EU students also need a residence permit for study, granted by the cantonal authorities once the admission letter and proof of funds are in hand.
Most families we coach apply to Switzerland alongside the United Kingdom or the Netherlands. That keeps the calendar tight: the UCAS deadline for 2027 entry is 18:00 UK time on 13 January 2027, with 15 October 2026 for Oxford, Cambridge, medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses (source: UCAS, consulted on 6 September 2026). Swiss deadlines usually fall between February and April, so the two files can be sequenced rather than rushed.
How Your Dream School helps
We check eligibility first, because Swiss universities publish country-by-country equivalence rules and a file that fails on equivalence cannot be rescued later. We then build a shortlist across two or three systems, prepare the language certificate, and support the permit and housing steps. Our admissions counselling starts at 3,000 EUR and each formula is quoted on request. If no admission is obtained in one of the three first-choice universities defined at the start of the coaching, we accompany the re-application. See our master admissions coaching and our student and parent testimonials.
Frequently asked questions
How much is tuition at ETH Zurich?
Since the autumn semester 2025, ETH Zurich charges CHF 730 per semester for its first fee group and CHF 2,190 per semester for most other foreign students, with transitional rules for those already enrolled before that date (source: ETH Zurich, consulted on 6 September 2026). Living costs, not tuition, are the main budget item in Switzerland.
Do I need German or French?
At bachelor level, usually yes, and the required level is normally B2 or C1 depending on the university. At master level a large share of programmes are taught in English, with an IELTS or TOEFL score requested instead. We check the exact requirement of each programme before the shortlist is fixed.
What does your coaching cost?
Our admissions counselling starts at 3,000 EUR, and each formula is quoted on request depending on the number of applications and the test preparation included. More than 1,000 students have been coached since 2018, and our Google page carries 160+ five-star reviews.
Considering Switzerland for 2027? Send us the student profile and the target subject, and we will tell you which Swiss options are realistic. Contact our team.