Top 10 Universities in Switzerland 2025-26
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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 10 universities in Switzerland in 2025 and their tuition fees, top courses, and more.
Switzerland, or the Land of the Alps, is a paradise for nature lovers, especially for those who are in love with the mountains. Offering picturesque landscapes with crystal clear lakes, captivating natural hideouts, and charming little hamlets, the transformation which one experiences on moving to this country is magical. But this is not it; the country also hosts some of the best universities in the world. An Alpine country in Europe, Switzerland garners the interest of lakhs of students from across the world every year, who apply to pursue higher education there.
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?
- Top 10 Universities in Switzerland 2025-26
- Popular Programmes at Swiss Universities
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 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 10 Universities in Switzerland 2025-26
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 2025-26 | ||
|---|---|---|
| University |
QS World University Rankings 2026 |
Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025 |
| 7 |
11 |
|
| =22 |
32 |
|
| University of Zurich, Zurich |
100 |
- |
| University of Geneva, Geneva | =155 |
171 |
| University of Basel, Basel |
158 |
126 |
| University of Bern, Bern |
=184 |
=104 |
| University of Lausanne, Lausanne |
=212 |
=134 |
| USI – Universita della Svizzera italiana, Lugano |
=473 |
- |
| Universite de Fribourg, Fribourg | 642 |
401-500 |
| Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) | 801-850 |
1001 - 1200 |
Types of Universities in Switzerland
The Alpine land has the following three types of universities where students can enrol:
- 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 Swiss 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 there.
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| 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, Psychology, 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 Archaeology, 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.
Applying to other Swiss universities is not the same as applying to EPFL. There are various reasons why this is the case:
Eligibility: EPFL has varied requirements for eligibility depending on the program. For example, consecutive Master's programs require a minimum average grade of 4.5 for the whole Bachelor's degree.
Application procedure: For various programs, EPFL offers distinct application procedures. Applicants who possess a Bachelor's degree in the same field of study from a Swiss university, for instance, are required to complete the entire online application process.
International diversity: With a current ranking of 12th in the world for international professors and 16th for foreign students, EPFL is well-known for its great international diversity.
Fees for instruction: Both Swiss and foreign students at EPFL pay comparatively little in tuition.
There are various ways in which applying to Les Roches Global Hospitality Education is different from applying to other Swiss universities:
1. It is less competitive than most of the universities of Switzerland having an high acceptance rate of 90 percentage.
2. It specializes itself in hotel management and hospitality which is different from most other universities of Switzerland.
3. Les Roches also provides the students an opportunity to study at many locations across the globe, enhancing their global perspective and cultural knowledge. The school has campuses in China, Spain, and Switzerland. Here experience is required for the MBA program but if a student does not have an experience then also a student can enroll to it through a different program running along the MBA program.
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University of Bern is a beautifully built university in Switzerland and students across the globe desire to study here. Attending the University of Bern is a worth it experience as per the student reviews. However, a lot varies as per the candidate's choice of programme and its curriculum. For programs like Economics, Science, Physics, Mathematics and more, University of Bern is widely applauded. Students do work on various aasignments every week and also get exposure to practical learning. Bern University's buildings is spread all over the city and students enjoy commuting from one place to another, especially on a motor bike.