Eligibility Criteria You Must Know for Studying in Switzerland 2026
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Eligibility Criteria You Must Know for Studying in Switzerland 2026

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Priya
Priya Garg
Study Abroad Expert
Updated on Jan 14, 2026 10:18 IST
Make your dream of studying in Switzerland come true. Before you actually take steps towards studying in Switzerland, you must know a few facts about education there to make an informed decision. Are you looking to study in Switzerland? Are you worried about the admission criteria? Then go through this complete article and know more.

Switzerland is located in the middle of Europe and is globally known for its amazing education and the higher educational institutions here are designed around a decentralised education system. So, for Indian students willing to study in the country, this article presents the complete admission and eligibility requirements to study in Luxembourg.

Criteria you must know for studying in Switzerland

Students from all over the world come to study in Switzerland because of its diversified culture and languages in use, and the presence of some top business organisations and multinational companies. For Indian students, studying in Switzerland in 2026 requires meeting academic (10+2/bachelor's with good grades), language (English/German/French), financial (approx. CHF 21,000/year) and health insurance criteria for admission to the university and for getting visa.

Note that students need to apply for a Swiss student visa as soon as they get an offer from the university by presenting their valid passport, motivation letter, SOP, accommodation contract, health insurance and academic transcripts. However, getting an offer from the university itself requires a long list of documents and conditions be met. So, before you take steps towards studying in Switzerland, you must know a few facts about education there to make an informed decision. This article presents the complete requirements for studying in Switzerland for Indian students.

It would be helpful if you knew what languages people speak in Switzerland to get help in getting jobs and just get along with its community, people, mentors and trainers. 

Table of contents
  • Reasons to Study in Switzerland
  • Eligibility Criteria to Study in Switzerland 2026
  • Top Universities to Study in Switzerland 2026
  • Popular Courses at Top Swiss Universities 2026

Reasons to Study in Switzerland

Bachelor's and master's programs offered by top public universities in Switzerland are at almost no cost to students. The average fee at the HSG for foreign students amounts to 5560 Swiss Francs per year. The reason for this is that the government supports education. In addition to a recognised Bachelor's degree, students must have a good grade average and a language certificate depending on the master's program. 

Students applying to any of the Swiss universities or colleges will be evaluated by them, with a thorough scan being carried out to validate if their last qualification qualifies them to enrol for the first-cycle degree. Therefore, those who hold an upper secondary certificate, have a school leaving certificate and also are considered fit to pursue higher education in their own countries will be considered for further education in Switzerland. There might also be times when students may need to pursue some extra courses in order to study the main course.

Also Check: Apply to Universities in Switzerland 







Eligibility Criteria to Study in Switzerland 2026

Now, look at the criteria you must know for studying in Switzerland:

Admission to a Bachelor’s Program

A valid Swiss maturity certificate or an equivalent foreign upper secondary school-leaving certificate qualifying for university entrance is required for access to Swiss universities. Students have to complete the basic education of 10+2 from a recognised board.

Admission to a Master’s Program

A completed Bachelor's level program is required for access to a Master's program. Graduates of Bachelor's programs have access to certain Master's programs, as listed in the database available at uni-programme.ch. For PG, course candidates require the score of GRE/ GMAT exams.

Language Requirements

The universities require a good knowledge of the language of instruction. Students must submit their scores for English language proficiency exams like IELTS or TOEFL. At the Master's level especially, the universities offer an increasing number of study programs in English. For students who do not hold fully recognized certificates qualifying for university entrance, the admission requirements also include a university entrance examination.

Given below is a table featuring the top Swiss higher education institutes and their teaching langauges. 

English German French

EU Business School

University of St.Gallen

University of Geneva

University of Neuchâtel

University of Fribourg

Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne

University of Fribourg

University of Basel

University of Fribourg

Glion Institute of Higher Education

University of Lucerne

University of Lausanne

University of Geneva

University of Zurich

University of Neuchâtel

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Top Universities to Study in Switzerland 2026

The best universities to study in Switzerland for 2025 are given below.

Top 10 Universities in Switzerland

Universities

QS World University Ranking 2025

ETH Zurich 

7

EPFL

=22

University of Zurich

100

University of Geneva

=155

University of Basel

158

University of Bern

=184

University of Lausanne

=212

USI - Universita della Svizzera italiana

=473

Universite de Fribourg

642

Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW)

801-850

Read:







Popular Courses at Top Swiss Universities 2026

The table given below enlists the top Swiss colleges and the courses they are popular for.

Courses at the Top Universities in Switzerland
Hotel Management Global MBA Medicine
EHL Hospitality Business School, Lausanne IMD, Lausanne University of Zurich, Zurich
SHMS - Swiss Hotel Management School St. Gallen, St. Gallen ETH Zurich, Zurich
Les Roches Global Hospitality Management Education, Crans-Montana United International Business Schools University of Bern, Bern
Glion Institute of Higher Education, Glion-sur-Montreux International Business Academy of Switzerland University of Basel, Basel
Cesar Ritz Colleges Switzerland, Le Bouveret   University of Geneva, Geneva
Hotel Institute Montreux, Montreux   University of Lausanne, Lausanne
Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland, Le Bouveret   USI - Universita della Svizzera italiana, Lugano
HTMi Hotel and Tourism Management Institute Switzerland, Sorenberg    
International Management Institute Switzerland, Horw    
EHG - Ecole Hôtelière Geneve (Geneva Hotel Management School), Geneva
   

Note:- In Switzerland, not every university degree from India is accepted. You need to get your degree evaluated for this. Generally, WES-accredited institution (A or five-star) schools are accepted.

Read:

This was all about the eligibility requirements for studying in Switzerland. If you wish to study abroad, then you can get assistance from Shiksha Counselling Services for free. You can also drop your queries in the comments section below.

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   How can I get admission in any university in Switzerland?
A: 

International students must complete necessary academic qualifications according to program to get admission in Switzerland university. Mentioned below are general entry requirements at popular universities in Switzerland-

UG Admission Requirements in Switzerland

  • Complete high secondary education from recognised institute
  • Must meet English language requirements
  • Must provide German language certificate
  • Submit additional test scores for ACT/SAT 

Graduate Admission Requirements in Switzerland

  • Complete a UG degree in a relevant discipline
  • Must meet the English language requirements
  • Must provide a German language certificate
  • Submit additional test scores for GMAT/GRE (if applicable)
Q:   Which exam is required to study in Switzerland?
A: 

Top universities in Switzerland offers programme either in German or in English language to international students. Therefore, applicants who wish to study in Switzerland must meet below language requirements:

Q:   Can I do an MBA in Switzerland without GMAT?
A: 

Some of the universities in Switzerland that offer MBA courses do not require any minimum GMAT exam scores to be considered for admission which includes the University of St Gallen and IMD Business School. The other requirements for MBA in Switzerland are given as follows:

  • Work Experience 
  • Proof of English Language Proficiency 
  • Statement of Purpose 
  • Admission Essay 
  • Letters of Recommendation 
  • Resume/CV 
RecommendationView All

Explore MS colleges in Switzerland

ETH Zurich

Zurich, SwitzerlandPublic

10 courses
1.71 L - 5.13 L
EPFL

Lausanne, SwitzerlandPublic

4 courses
1.71 L - 5.13 L
University of St. Gallen

St. Gallen, SwitzerlandPublic

1 courses
7.78 L - 7.78 L
University of Geneva

Geneva, SwitzerlandPublic

9 courses
1.17 L - 1.17 L
University of Bern

Bern, SwitzerlandPublic

13 courses
2.22 L - 2.22 L
University of Basel

Basel, SwitzerlandPublic

7 courses
1.99 L - 1.99 L
University of Lausanne

Lausanne, SwitzerlandPublic

4 courses
1.36 L - 1.36 L
University of Fribourg

Fribourg, SwitzerlandPublic

8 courses
2.3 L - 2.3 L
Rushford Business School

Geneva, SwitzerlandPrivate

3 courses
20.49 L - 20.49 L
1 courses
1.69 L - 1.69 L
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About the Author
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Written by
Priya Garg
Study Abroad Expert
Priya Garg is an experienced content writer and editor. With her rich experience in content writing, teaching and research & analysis, Priya believes in providing only the correct information which is also up-to-dat Read Full Bio
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