Studying at university in Switzerland

How Swiss higher education is organized

Switzerland has three kinds of higher education institution. The federal institutes of technology, ETH Zurich (teaching mainly in German) and EPFL in Lausanne (teaching mainly in French), are funded by the federal government. The cantonal universities, such as those in Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Bern and Lausanne, are run by the cantons and cover the full range of academic subjects. Universities of applied sciences and arts and universities of teacher education offer more professional, practice-based degrees.

A bachelor's degree is worth 180 ECTS credits and normally takes three years. Most students continue to a master's, which is considered the standard qualification for many careers. Grades run from 1 to 6, with 4 as the pass mark.

First-year exams in science and engineering at the federal institutes are demanding. Qualified applicants are admitted without a fixed cap in many programs, and the first-year exam block then acts as the main filter, so arrive prepared to work hard from week one.

Teaching languages

The language of a university depends on its region. Zurich, Basel, Bern and St. Gallen teach mainly in German; Geneva, Lausanne, Neuchâtel and EPFL mainly in French; Fribourg is bilingual; and the Università della Svizzera italiana teaches in Italian and English. English-taught bachelor's programs are limited, while English is common at master's level.

Requirements are concrete. The University of Zurich asks foreign-language applicants for German at level C1. EPFL requires French at B2 for its bachelor's programs and strongly recommends C1. ETH Zurich expects German language requirements to be met by its 31 March deadline. If you are not already fluent, budget at least two years of serious study. Our guide to learning French suggests a routine.

Admission with a Canadian or US diploma

Swiss universities compare foreign school certificates with the Swiss Matura. The umbrella body swissuniversities maintains country-specific lists, updated annually, that set out what holders of each country's diplomas need. The requirements apply only to the year stated and assume all schooling was completed in that country. Universities apply these lists, sometimes with their own additions. Depending on the list and the university, routes for North American applicants can include:

• admission with the diploma plus a set of AP exams or other evidence of academic depth in named subjects;
• admission after one or two years of successful university study in Canada or the US;
• admission after passing a supplementary examination, such as the ETH entrance examination or the ECUS exam used by several universities;
• at EPFL, for certificates from outside the EU, EFTA and UK, possible entry to a one-year foundation course (Cours de mathématiques spéciales) if the certificate meets EPFL's subject conditions, with final math and physics grades and an overall average of at least 80% of the maximum; otherwise, the EPFL entrance exam.

The University of Zurich adds that if your certificate would not give you access to all university studies in your own country, you must show you could enter a comparable program there. The IB Diploma is accepted at most universities when the subject and score conditions are met.

Universities of applied sciences

Swiss universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulen or hautes écoles spécialisées) teach engineering, business, health, social work, design and the arts with a strong practical focus. They often teach in German or French, with some English-taught programs, especially in business and hospitality. Their admission rules differ from those of the universities: Swiss applicants usually enter with a vocational baccalaureate, and holders of an academic school certificate are often asked for about a year of relevant work experience before starting.

Foreign applicants are assessed individually, so a Canadian or US graduate may also be asked for work experience, an aptitude test or a portfolio. Each school publishes its conditions on its admissions page.

How to apply and when

There is no national application portal. You apply to one university at a time through its own system. Using ETH Zurich as an example for 2027 entry with a foreign certificate:

• Applications run from 1 December to 31 March, 23:59 Central European Time, and you may apply to only one bachelor's program.
• Studies start only in the autumn semester.
• You upload a CV, passport, school-leaving certificate and reports from your last three school years, and pay a non-refundable fee.
• If you must take the entrance exam, your decision says so; registration runs from 15 September to 15 October.

Cantonal universities usually set deadlines in spring for autumn entry, sometimes earlier for applicants who need a visa. Check each university's deadline page for the 2027 dates.

Costs and funding

Tuition at Swiss public universities is low compared with North America, but the cost of living is among the highest in Europe. At ETH Zurich, the fee per semester is CHF 730 for Swiss and Liechtenstein citizens and for students who lived in Switzerland or Liechtenstein when they earned their entrance qualification, and CHF 2,190 for most other students, a rule in force from the autumn semester 2025. EPFL applies the same CHF 2,190 fee from autumn 2025 to foreign students who move to Switzerland to study, with exemptions set out on its fee page. Cantonal universities set their own fees, and several charge foreign students more than locals.

Rent, food and mandatory Swiss health insurance make up most of the budget. Universities publish monthly cost estimates for their city, and the migration authorities expect proof of sufficient funds. Scholarships for bachelor's students are limited; most university excellence scholarships target master's study.

Visa and residence permit

Students from outside the EU and EFTA who stay longer than three months need a residence permit for study, issued by the canton where they will live. Depending on nationality, a national visa (type D) may also be required before entry. The process involves your admission letter, proof of funds and a study plan, and it can take several weeks, so start as soon as you are admitted.

See the State Secretariat for Migration and contact the Swiss representation responsible for you. This guide is not immigration advice.

Practical tips

1. Pick the university by language first, then by program.
2. Read the swissuniversities country list for Canada or the United States and the university's own admission page.
3. Plan AP exams, IB subjects or a year of university study to meet the listed conditions.
4. Book the required German, French or Italian exam well before the spring deadline.
5. Budget carefully for rent and health insurance, which cost far more than tuition.

The demanding first year rewards steady problem practice. The study skills for university flashcards help you build that routine. Compare Switzerland with Germany, Austria and France on the universities hub.