Switzerland

Country in Europee

Dialing code: +41
Currency: Swiss franc
Population: 8.081 million (2013) World Bank
Banks: UBS, Credit Suisse, Zurich Cantonal Bank, more
Colleges and Universities: ETH Zurich

Switzerland is a mountainous Central European country, home to numerous lakes, villages and the high peaks of the Alps. Its cities contain medieval quarters, with landmarks like capital Bern’s Zytglogge clock tower and Lucerne’s wooden chapel bridge. The country is also known for its ski resorts and hiking trails. Banking and finance are key industries, and Swiss watches and chocolate are world renowned.

Higher Education System

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Switzerland offers a very dynamic, conducive and competitive education and research landscape, as testified by 27 Nobel Prize winners from 1901 to 2002. The first Swiss University was founded in 1460 in Basel and today the country offers outstanding higher education in the Universities and Institutes of Technology, in the more professionally-oriented University of applied sciences and in the University of teaching education. There are also a few more University level institutions that are considered public institutions of higher education.

High diversity of cultures and languages, open access to students, very low student fees, highly international student cohorts and staff, as well as access to international networks and programs and tight links to academic research and industry, are the major strengths of the Swiss Higher Education System.

ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)

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Switzerland’s highest ranked university, ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) is currently placed 8th in the world and is the only non-UK European university to rank within the global top 10. The university was founded in 1855, and is well established as a leader in scientific and technical fields, with connections to an impressive 21 Nobel laureates.

Today more than 18,600 students study at ETH Zurich, studying at two campuses – one in the center of Zurich, and one on the outskirts. In the QS World University Rankings by Faculty, ETH Zurich is currently ranked fifth in the world for engineering and technology subjects, and sixth for natural sciences. Teaching at undergraduate level is mainly in German, while most master’s courses are English-led.

Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

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The second of the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology, the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) was established slightly earlier than ETH Zurich, in 1853, and follows close behind in the international rankings tables. It’s placed 14th in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2016-2017, and in the QS World University Rankings by Faculty comes 17th for engineering and technology and 13th for natural sciences. Since Lausanne is in a French-speaking part of Switzerland, most courses offered are in French, though there are also some programs in English. About half the size of ETH Zurich, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne currently teaches about 9,900 students.

University of Zurich

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With around 26,000 students, the University of Zurich is the largest university in Switzerland, and lays claim to the country’s largest selection of study programs. Currently ranked 80th in the world, it conducts teaching and research across a broader subject spectrum than the more specialized ETH Zurich and EPFL, with facilities spread throughout the city of Zurich. With public outreach at the heart of its mission, the University of Zurich runs an impressive selection of museums, public libraries, collections, events and educational programs, including a “Children’s University” and “Senior Citizens’ University”.

University of Geneva

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Among both the largest and the oldest universities in Switzerland, the University of Geneva was established in 1559. It stands at joint 95th in the QS World University Rankings 2016-2017, and is located in Geneva, the second-largest Swiss city after Zurich. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs across a broad range of subjects. Teaching at bachelor’s level is mainly in French, while many master’s courses are led in English.