Top 10 Universities in Switzerland

A small nation resting in Europe’s heart, Switzerland is a study-abroad dream for a large number of students. The country has some of the world’s best hotel management institutes and also offers courses in multiple other fields and academic domains. Plan your studies in Switzerland by going through this article which throws light on the top universities in Switzerland and their tuition fees, top courses, and more. 

International students applying to study in Switzerland have the option to choose from more than 3,000 degree courses, of which 700 are taught in English. Moreover, with the country possessing one of the world’s best education systems and a welcoming atmosphere for overseas students, your academic tenure is sure to become memorable and comfortable. Students can indulge in music, arts and other recreational events in Swiss meadows and winter lovers can take part in seasonal outdoor sports such as ice hockey, skating, sledging, snow tubing, tobogganing, etc. This article covers the reasons to choose Switzerland as your study destination, the top universities in Switzerland along with popular programmes and the cost of living in Switzerland. 

Why Study in Switzerland?

Switzerland is not just aesthetically pleasing but also maintains a strong education system which is renowned all across the globe. Apart from the aforementioned reasons enticing students to study here, some of the other prominent reasons have been listed below:

• Good-Quality Education: The country has over 10 higher education institutes which are featured among the world’s best according to QS World University Rankings 2025. Apart from these, there are many more universities and colleges in Switzerland which enjoy good reputations and are internationally acclaimed. Student graduate outcomes are excellent and research is given a high focus.
• Language Learning: Although there are various Swiss universities which impart lessons in English, the nation has a total of four official languages, namely – Italian, French, German, and Romansh. These are all used in different regions of the country. This gives international students a golden opportunity to learn a new language and enhance their resumes.
• Multicultural Atmosphere: As Switzerland attracts students from different parts of the world, each student brings along some new perspective, thinking, and culture to share. This makes the ambience welcoming and comfortable and you can create your very own network of international friends who may even help you in the long run when you ultimately plan to step into the professional world.
• Funding Opportunities: Although studying and living in Switzerland can be expensive, the government as well as academic institutions offer several scholarships and grants to foreign students so that they can accomplish their goal of studying there.
• Multiple Courses: Swiss universities and colleges ensure a great academic experience for international students and therefore distinct courses are available in different fields such as engineering, law, medicine, arts, etc. One can choose any course which captures one’s interest and fits the future goals.
• Student Employment: Foreign students in Switzerland have permission to work for 15 hours every week while the semester is going on. They can even work full-time when their semester break is going on. For this, they are compensated quite well with the payment ranging from CHF25 to CHF35 per hour.

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Top Universities in Switzerland 2024-25

The best universities in  Switzerland along with their QS and THE World University Rankings are given in the table below.

Top 10 Universities in Switzerland
University	QS World University Rankings 2025	Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2024
ETH Zurich, Zurich	7	11
EPFL, Lausanne	26	33
University of Zurich, Zurich	=109	80
University of Basel, Basel	131	=123
University of Geneva, Geneva	=155	183
University of Bern, Bern	161	=116
University of Lausanne, Lausanne	=224	=143
USI – Universita della Svizzera italiana, Lugano	=405	251-300
Universite de Fribourg, Fribourg	=539	401-500
Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW)	781-790	801-1000
University of St. Gallen (HSG), St. Gallen	=436	351-400

Types of Universities in Switzerland

The Alpine land has the following three types of universities where students can enroll themselves:

• Universities (UNIs): These are 12 in number and students who wish to pursue degree courses at a theory-based and high-scientific level can opt for study areas such as science, arts, and a few engineering programmes.
• Universities of Applied Sciences and the Arts (UASAs): These nine institutes are for those who are interested in professional and scientific education. Programmes are offered in health sciences, film, landscape architecture, design, music, theatre, and art.
• Universities of Teacher Education (UTEs): Students enrolled in these undergo practice-centric training. These include special needs education, primary, pre-primary and secondary education. These are a total of 20 in number.

Popular Programmes at Switzerland Universities

A wide range of programmes are offered at Swiss universities which have some of their courses highly ranked on global ranking platforms. Given below is a list of the top universities in Switzerland with some of the popular programmes which are taught over there.

University	Popular Programmes
ETH Zurich, Zurich	Architecture & Built Environment, Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil & Structural Engineering, Biological Sciences, Computer Science & Information Systems, Earth & Marine Sciences, Geology, Geophysics, Mathematics
EPFL, Lausanne	Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Microengineering, Life Sciences Engineering, Architecture, Robotics, Data Science, Cyber Security, Applied Physics, Digital Humanities, Financial Engineering
University of Zurich, Zurich	Ethnology, Political Science, Popular Cultures, Sociology, Banking & Finance, Informatics with Natural Sciences, English Literature & Linguistics, Film Studies, Indology, Physics, Geography, Phychology, Theology
University of Basel, Basel	Biology, Classical Studies, Chemistry, Computational Sciences, Ethnology, English, Geography, French Studies, Earth Sciences, Medical Studies, Cultural Anthropology, Animal Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Business & Technology, Data Science, Drug Sciences
University of Bern, Bern	Dental Medicine, Economics, Biology, Art History, Earth Sciences, Climate Sciences, Geography, Interreligious Studies, Law, Middle Eastern Studies, Linguistics, Musicology, Physics, Social Sciences, Sport Science, Theology
University of Geneva, Geneva	Computer Science, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Biochemistry, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Prehistoric Archeology, Dental Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, Sociology, Geography & Environment, Political Sciences, Economics & Management, Neuroscience
University of Lausanne, Lausanne	Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Law, Forensic Sciences, Geosciences & Environment, Management, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Human Movement & Sport Sciences, Study of Religions, Theology, Molecular Life Sciences, Tourism Studies, Digital Humanities
USI – Universita della Svizzera italiana, Lugano	Architecture, Philosophy, Theology, Medicine, Communication, Computer Sciences, Economic Sciences, Political Economy, Finance, Tourism, IT
University of St. Gallen (HSG), St. Gallen	Law & Economics, International Affairs, Business Administration, Computer Science, Accounting & Corporate Finance, Marketing Management, Quantitative Economics & Finance
Universite de Fribourg, Fribourg	Theology, Law, Management, Economics, Business Communication, Philosophy, English Language & Literature, Greek Studies, French, Contemporary History, Politics & Society, Religious Studies, Psychology, Biochemistry, Mathematics, Earth Sciences, Human Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, Computer Science, Business Informatics, Education Sciences

Cost of Studying in Switzerland

Switzerland is not an inexpensive country. Cities where many top-ranking universities exist such as Geneva, Bern, Zurich, etc., are some of the costliest ones. How much a student will have to pay will depend on the type of university he is enrolled in and the type of course he is pursuing. So for Bachelor’s and PG Diploma courses, one may have to shell out an average of CHF 18,500 annually. Similarly, for an MBA course, the tuition fee may be around CHF 25,000 and above. There are a few MBA programmes which may cost you even more than this amount.

Although Switzerland has many great higher academic institutions where you can study and secure your future by getting good grades, it is recommended to keep your interest, future objectives and especially budget in mind before applying. Do thorough research before finalising a university and keep visiting the official websites of your filtered universities frequently so as to stay updated with all the recent developments or changes around admission.

For more information on studying abroad, admission processes, entry requirements, education loans, etc., reach out to Shiksha Counsellors for a free consultation here.