Top Universities in Switzerland 2024 – Ranking, Fees, & Scholarships

With the most stable economy in the world, Switzerland is one of the best destinations for international students. The pedagogy at the Swiss universities is top-notch and research-oriented. The universities are student-centric and are equipped for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate programs.

Top Reasons to Study in Switzerland

Switzerland has a mix of public and private universities and holds credibility throughout the world, owing to the Bologna process. The top universities in Switzerland are one of the primary reasons for attracting international students. 

Prestigious Education System: 

The fact that many Nobel prize winners in Physics, Chemistry, and Physiology are of Swiss nationality is a testament to its system of education. 

Safety: 

With a stable economy, the crime rate in Switzerland is negligible. This is the foremost benefit for students who are away from home. 

Global Recognition:

The Bologna process is followed here. This means that the degree obtained in Switzerland in any field will be recognized in your home country as well as other parts of the world. 

Let’s find what a dream destination like Switzerland offers academically in the following realms: 

Hospitality/Hotel Management in Switzerland 

Top universities in Switzerland that offer courses in Hospitality Management, for international students with rankings, will help you to discern. 

Physics and Astrophysics Courses in Switzerland 

Switzerland has some top-ranking universities in applied sciences and physics that provide education in English, French, and German. 

 Master’s in Engineering and Technology programs have two major intakes:

• Fall Intake: between September to February
• Spring Intake: between February to June
• Deadline for fall intake is at the end of March.

Law and Legal Studies in Switzerland

Top universities in Switzerland proffer a faculty of law studies for masters and bachelors.  

Intake for LLM Program: 

Although the application can be given throughout the year for many colleges, there are two major intakes:

• Fall Intake: between September to February
• Spring Intake: between February to June
• The deadline for fall intake is at the end of March.

Universities in Switzerland for MBA 

MBA in Switzerland offers various specializations in Marketing, Finance, Supply chain, etc that are recognized all over the world. Below mentioned are the top three colleges for MBA: 

There are two intakes for a master’s in Business Administration. September Intake has rolling deadlines, and the months to apply for are February, May, March, and November. 

Medical Universities in Switzerland

Below mentioned are top universities in Switzerland that offer master’s and bachelor’s in Medicine. 

 The universities offer education in English and have two intakes.

• Spring Intake: Deadline 15th May
• Fall Intake: Deadline 1st December

How to Apply for Best Universities in Switzerland

Most public universities are autonomous and have their own set of requirements. For most of them, the following are the prerequisites before applying:

Bachelor’s

• School leaving certificate
• Previous studies in the same domain 

Master’s

• 60 % score in under graduation
• Bachelor’s to be completed in the same domain

 Mandatory tests for any degree in Switzerland

• English Proficiency test is mandatory, students can take IELTS or TOEFL
• GRE is needed for Engineering 
• GMAT for MBA for all the universities

Cost of Attendance, Pre-Arrival Cost, and Living Cost in Switzerland

Living Expense: 

The following table will help you plan your budget to stay in Switzerland during studies.

Pre-Arrival: 

Cost includes the visa application fee and embassy or consulate fee for transitioning from India to Switzerland. It is approximately between CHF 307 to CHF 357.

Scholarship Programs at Top Universities in Switzerland

Some of the top universities in Switzerland provide scholarships for international students. These are as follows: 

Student Visa Process

Students from the Non-EU/ETA countries require visas and residence permits. The former can be applied at the consulate. The latter is needed after reaching Switzerland.  Students come for short stays and long stays, depending upon their degree. Thus, there are two types of visas:

• Short stay visas- takes 10 to 15 days to arrive and are issued for 90 days. 
• Long-stay visas- take about 8 to 10 weeks and are valid if you are applying for a full-time degree.  

Program Specific Work Permit

Upon degree completion, students can stay for up to 6 months and can work for 15 hours a week. However, a work permit is received once the student gets a permanent job.   

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New-age, cost-effective programs are upGrad Abroad’s USP. The courses follow a unique blended model where students complete some portion of the course online before moving to the abroad destination. To enroll in these courses in the US, UK, Germany, Australia, or Canada, get in touch with our counselors.