Education Consultant For Switzerland

 The Foundation offers a variety of scholarship programmes to its members (information is only available in French and German).

 Hirschmann Masters grants

 International students can apply for a grant from the Hirschmann Foundation to help fund a Masters at a Swiss university of applied sciences.

 Awarded on a one-off basis, Hirschmann grants are usually worth €5,088. You’ll be expected to be a high achiever at Bachelors level and, if successful, will need to take part in a ‘policy kitchen’ with the rest of your scholarship cohort.

 You can make an application twice a year: April and October. You’ll need to complete an online application form and provide the following documents:

 A cover letter

 A copy of your Bachelors degree certificate and academic transcript

 Two academic references

 A letter of acceptance for a Masters programme at a Swiss University of Applied Sciences

 Between 40 and 50 grants are usually awarded by the Hirschmann Foundation each year. Grant holders will be able to attend regular networking events through the Foundation.

 Masters scholarships awarded by Swiss universities

 Another good source of funding for a Masters in Switzerland is the universities themselves. Many institutions offer scholarship packages to international students, comprising of a tuition fee waiver and / or a monthly stipend to help with living costs.

 Living in Switzerland – A Guide for PhD Students

 Written by Chris Banyard

 Switzerland is a cosmopolitan, multilingual country and a popular and high-quality destination to study for a PhD. You can sample the nation’s famous cheeses and chocolates whilst exploring its modern cities and picturesque Alpine scenery during your Swiss doctoral studies.

 The guide covers everything you need to know about moving to Switzerland for your PhD. You can find information about student life, accommodation, living costs, work permits, setting up a bank account and getting around in Switzerland.

 On this page

 Student life Accommodation Living costs

 Working Banking Transport

Study In Switzerland

 There is plenty to explore and experience in Switzerland during your PhD. The country is famously cosmopolitan with four languages (French, German, Italian and Romansh) and a welcoming and multicultural atmosphere. Around 50% of Swiss university students come from abroad, so there is a strong international atmosphere support for the country’s visitors.

 With four spoken languages over three major linguistic areas, and neighboured by five other countries, Switzerland is a mosaic of many European cultures and its own unique heritage. There are many seasonal and traditional festivals and events to explore, and a modern arts scene with lots of cinemas, museums, music venues and film festivals.

 As an Alpine nation, winter sports and activities are abundant and popular in Switzerland. Hiking, cycling, mountain-biking, skating and canoeing are fun ways to explore the beautiful mountains and countryside. The famous Swiss mountain lakes, including Geneva, Constance and the Vierwaldstättersee, are also great locations for sports and relaxing trips.

 Switzerland’s cuisine has many influences, and as a result has a diverse variety of food and drink. Although the nation is rightly famous for its chocolate, fondue and muesli, each region of Switzerland has its own delicacies and specialities. You can experience potato rösti, bündnernusstorte (nut-filled pastry), saffron risotto and zopf (Swiss plaited bread).

 Ready to start browsing some current PhD opportunities in Switzerland? Alternatively, you can look at our other guides to PhD study abroad.

 The types of accommodation available in Switzerland for your PhD are similar to those in the UK. However, you may find that housing available is limited and is generally costlier.

 Accommodation types

 Accommodation types

 During a Swiss PhD, you will normally stay in one of two types of accommodation:

 Student residence – shared student housing on campus, similar to UK halls of residence. However, at Swiss universities this accommodation is very limited.

 Private renting – rooms and flats available to rent from a landlord or letting agent.

 Regardless of which option you choose, your university’s international office will be able to share more information about housing available in the area. There are also links to organisation and services for accommodation at the Rector’s Conference of Swiss Universities (CRUS). Because accommodation can be limited, it is recommended that you start your search early.

 The cost of accommodation in Switzerland is relatively high, and you can expect to pay around €700 per month. However, this can vary significantly depending on your accommodation type and location.

 The cost of living is relatively high in Switzerland, even compared to other countries of Western Europe.

 In addition to tuition fees, you can expect to pay around €1,880 per month, budgeting €711 for accommodation, €609 for food, and €457 for miscellaneous costs.

 Prices in Switzerland

 The following table gives an indication of prices for some common expenses during a PhD in Switzerland:

 Top Universities in Switzerland and the Swiss government offers many scholarships to international students. These scholarships can help you cover your tuition fees and living expenses. Scholarships are usually awarded to international students engaged in postgraduate or research work.

 Various scholarships are available at Swiss universities for international students. They are as follows:

 University of Lausanne Master’s Grants for foreign students

 Scholarship abroad

 Post-study visa in Switzerland

 After completing your studies in Switzerland, you can extend your temporary residence permit, allowing you to stay for the next six months to look for permanent full-time work. During this job search period, you can work up to 15 hours per week. This authorization cannot be renewed after six months.

 To apply, you need to go to the cantonal migration office and submit:

 A certificate or other proof that you have completed the course

 Evidence that you can support yourself financially at this time

 If you have found a job in Switzerland, your employer must submit an application to the cantonal authorities where you will be working. Although foreign graduates of Swiss universities are treated in the same way as Swiss graduates in terms of entering the labor market – that is, the job does not have to be offered first to a Swiss or EU candidate – the employer does not care must prove that the work (or you) is of particular economic or scientific importance before you will be granted a work permit in Switzerland.

 If you want to continue your studies as a postgraduate student at a Swiss university, you can apply to extend your residence permit, but you must already have an offer of a place. The maximum term of extension is two years.

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 How much will it cost to study in Switzerland?

 Foreign students who come to Switzerland on an exchange program do not pay tuition fees. Average tuition fees at public universities in Switzerland: Bachelor’s & Master’s programs: 400 – 3700 EUR/year, and Doctoral degrees: 100 – 900 EUR/year.

 Are there free Swiss universities for international students?

 Well, technically no, there are no completely free universities in Switzerland. This applies not only to international students but there are no free programs for national students either.

Study In Switzerland

 Can I study in Switzerland with English?

 Currently, most Swiss universities offer master’s and doctoral programs in English. For undergraduate programs, most courses are taught in German, but English is also present, although to a lesser extent than in graduate studies.

 Is it difficult to study in Switzerland?

 Getting into many universities in Switzerland can be relatively easy, but staying is often not easy. One of the most difficult things you will face during your studies are exams. There is a large workload to be completed in a short period of time.

 Switzerland is a central European country with a centuries-long history as a global centre for finance and political organisations, as well as a hub for world-class tourism and living standards.

 Most Swiss residents live in the country’s three large cities – Geneva, Zurich and Basel. The country’s excellent public transport and infrastructure, low crime levels, world-class restaurants and entertainment venues attract travellers from all over the world.

 There are 4 major regions of Switzerland, each with its own primary language – German, Italian, French and Romansh. But with nearly 45% of the Swiss population speaking English, you can comfortably explore the country and its sights. Although Switzerland is not a member of the European Union or European Economic Area, it is considered a major member of Europe’s economy and attracts plenty of large-scale employers to set up offices in Swiss cities.

 There are 4 major regions of Switzerland, each with its own primary language – German, Italian, French and Romansh. But with nearly 45% of the Swiss population speaking English, you can comfortably explore the country and its sights. Although Switzerland is not a member of the European Union or European Economic Area, it is considered a major member of Europe’s economy and attracts plenty of large-scale employers to set up offices in Swiss cities.

 There are 10 Swiss universities in the QS Global Rankings 2023, which is proof of Switzerland’s world-class educational infrastructure. The country hosts nearly 12,500 new international students every year, and top-ranked Swiss universities such as the University of Zurich and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology are well-known for their programmes in disciplines such as Business, as well as their world-class research facilities. What’s more, Switzerland is also home to world-leading specialist institutes such as the La Roche Hotel Management Institute.

 The Switzerland Student Visa

 The current Swiss visa system offers long-stay student visas under the visa programme ‘National D Visa: Student with a stay in Switzerland of more than 90 days’. International students from the following countries need not apply for this visa, although they will need to apply for a residence permit after three months in Switzerland:

 Future Schengen member countries – Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, and Romania

 You must prepare the original as well as three copies of the following documents, as they are the minimum requirements for a Swiss student visa application:

 Signed application forms – Can be in German, French, Italian, Spanish or English

 Your passport, which must be valid for at least three months after your planned leave from Switzerland. Additionally, three copies of your passport’s relevant pages (pages 1-4, last page, the issue, and expiry page, and copies of all previous visas)

 Four recent passport-sized pictures and biometric data

 Paid visa application fee