Study in Switzerland
13 universities · 52 verified programmes
Geneva makes Switzerland a global-affairs hub: the Geneva Graduate Institute (IHEID) and the University of Geneva sit beside the UN and put international relations, development and global health at the centre. Beyond Geneva, ETH Zurich, St. Gallen and Lausanne add strength in sustainability science and quantitative finance.
What it costs to live there
CHF 21,000/yr
Financial means required by Canton of Zurich for non-EU/EFTA student residence permit (per ETH Zurich) · Zurich
Mostly the official figure the student visa makes you prove — a floor to budget against, not a lifestyle estimate. official source
By city
Estimated monthly student living costs for the cities we cover here, from official university or government sources — costs vary a lot within a country.
| City | Living cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Geneva | CHF 1,800–1,900/mo | University of Geneva estimated monthly student living budgetofficial source |
| Lausanne | CHF 30,000/yr | EPFL official budget guidance: approximately CHF 30,000/year for living expensesofficial source |
| Zurich | CHF 2,000–2,200/mo | University of Zurich official accommodation & expenses estimateofficial source |
Universities we have verified here (13)
Every university in this country with at least one master's programme we checked against its official page. Schools past our data gate link to a full page.
| University | City | QS | Verified programmes |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Geneva | Geneva | #155 | 6 |
| Geneva Graduate Institute (IHEID) | Geneva | — | 6 |
| ETH Zurich | Zurich | #7 | 5 |
| University of Zurich | Zurich | #100 | 5 |
| University of St. Gallen | St. Gallen | — | 5 |
| EPFL | Lausanne | #22 | 4 |
| University of Basel | Basel | #158 | 4 |
| University of Lausanne | Lausanne | #212 | 4 |
| Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) | Lugano | #473 | 4 |
| University of Bern | Bern | #184 | 3 |
| Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights | Geneva | — | 3 |
| University of Lucerne | Lucerne | — | 2 |
| ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences | Winterthur | #801 | 1 |
What this destination is strong in
Fields ranked by how many verified programmes here map to them — the honest shape of the country, not a brochure claim.
Scholarships that fund study here
Schemes whose verified destinations include this country. Check each scheme's rules for your programme and nationality.
Screen every scholarship against your profileFrequently asked questions
How much does it cost to live in Switzerland as a student?
The official reference figure is about CHF 21,000/yr (Financial means required by Canton of Zurich for non-EU/EFTA student residence permit (per ETH Zurich)) — mostly the amount a student visa makes you prove, a budgeting floor rather than total spend.
How many universities can I study a master's at in Switzerland?
We have verified 13 universities in Switzerland against their official pages — 52 master's programmes in total.
What is Switzerland strong for studying?
Ranked by the number of verified programmes, Switzerland's strongest fields here are: Sustainability Science, Global Governance, International Development, Quantitative Finance, Environmental Policy.
Are there scholarships to study in Switzerland?
Yes. Scholarships whose verified destinations include Switzerland: Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships.
Counts reflect only what we have verified against official pages and dated in our database — they are a floor, not the country's full offer. Nothing here is a paid placement.