Switzerland is home to some of the best higher educational institutions in the world, with high educational standards and low tuition fees.
Its universities offer a wide range of courses at Bachelor, Master, and Doctorate levels and in four different languages such as French, German, English, and Italian.
What is the cost of living as an international student in Switzerland?
Switzerland is quite an expensive place to live in for a Nigerian international student, the living expenses for students are estimated at CHF18, 000 per year to cover books and materials, health insurance, accommodation, meals, excursions, and other expenses.
However, the country has relatively low tuition fees ranging from CHF 1200 to CHF 2500, per semester, depending on the course, with international students paying almost the same amount as local Swiss students. However, universities may include a surcharge during billing.
Students can work up to 15 hours a week throughout each semester and full-time during holidays, but as a Nigerian international student, you must inform the immigration authorities and wait for six months after the beginning of your course to do so. If you wish to study in Switzerland, the first thing you must do is apply for a Switzerland student visa.
Requirements for a Swiss University
Admissions into a Swiss higher educational university are organized by the institutions themselves, with each demanding its entry requirements. To gain admission into a higher education programme, you first need to contact or check the institution’s admission portal for your desired programme and admission requirements.
The general Swiss Universities Admissions Applications include the following;
- Admission application form.
- Upper secondary school-leaving certificate i.e. WAEC.
- Copy of your international passport or identity card.
- Recent passport photograph.
- Certificate of university admission in the desired academic subject provided by a recognized Nigerian university.
- Required university Entrance Examination.
- Language proficiency certificate i.e. level B2/C1 proficiency in any four languages as measured on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages Scale, EFLE, TestDaF, IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge Advance Certificate.
- Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 180 ECTS points or the equivalent qualification from an internationally recognized university.
- Admissions application fee.
When does the Swiss Universities application starts?
The Swiss university’s admission application duration is January, February, April (autumn semester), October, and November (spring semester).
Top Ten Universities in Switzerland
If you want to study in Switzerland at some of the world’s best institutions, I have compiled a list of the ten best. Here are the top ten universities in Switzerland:
1.ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology): This is a public science, technology, engineering, and mathematics university in Zürich, Switzerland. It is ranked 5th best university in the world. The university is organized into 12 departments.
Programmes and courses link: https://www.ethz.ch/en/studies.html.
Admissions application link: https://www.ethz.ch/en/studies/registration-application/bachelor.html, https://www.ethz.ch/en/studies/registration-application/master.html
2. Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne: This is a public research university in Lausanne, Switzerland. It specializes in physical sciences and engineering. It is divided into seven schools with over 52 departments. Programmes and courses link: https://www.epfl.ch/education/master/fr/programmes/, https://www.epfl.ch/education/bachelor/fr/
3. University of Zurich: This is the largest public university in Switzerland; it is located in the city of Zürich. The university is divided into 7 faculties as Philosophy, Human Medicine, Economic Sciences, Law, Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Theology, and Veterinary Medicine.
Programmes and courses link: http://www.uzh.ch/en/studies.html
Admissions application link: http://www.internationals.uzh.ch/en.html
4. University of Geneva: This public research university is located in Geneva, Switzerland. It is sectioned into nine faculties.
Programmes and courses link: https://search.unige.ch/?text=programmes
Admissions application link: http://www.unige.ch/admissions/sinscrire/immatenglish/
5. University of Lausanne: This is a public university situated in Lausanne, Switzerland. The university consists of seven faculties, and 126 research and teaching units with emphasis on Medicine, Life Sciences, Geosciences, Environment, Business, Humanities, and Social Sciences.
Programmes and courses link: http://www.unil.ch/immat/en/home/menuinst/futurs-etudiants.html
6. University of Basel: This public university is located in Basel, Switzerland. It is organized into seven faculties.
Programmes and courses link: https://www.unibas.ch/en/Studies/Degree-Programs.html, https://www.unibas.ch/en/Faculties-Departments.html
Admissions application link: https://www.unibas.ch/en/Studies/Application-Admission.html
7. University of Bern: This is a public university located in the Swiss capital of Bern. It comprises eight faculties and 150 institutes that offer courses in 39 bachelor’s, 71 masters, and 69 advanced study programmes.
Programmes and courses link: https://www.unibe.ch/studies/prospective_students/international_students/index_eng.html
Admissions application link: https://www.unibe.ch/studies/programs/masters/application/index_eng.html
8. University of St Gallen (HSG): This is a public research university situated in St. Gallen, Switzerland. It consists of, it is specialized in the fields of business administration, economics, law, and international affairs, offering 5 bachelor’s, 13 master’s and 5 Ph.D. programmes in these fields.
Programmes and courses link: http://www.unisg.ch/en/universitaet/schools
Admissions application link: http://www.unisg.ch/en/studium/zulassungundanmeldung/zulbachelorstufe, http://www.unisg.ch/en/studium/zulassungundanmeldung/zulmasterstufe
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