Are you interested in public universities in Switzerland that welcome international applicants? Switzerland has a well-established public higher education sector, including cantonal universities and federal institutes of technology. These institutions offer study and research opportunities across a wide range of disciplines, although available programs and teaching languages vary by university and degree level.
In addition, many of Switzerland’s public educational institutions are comparatively affordable for international students. However, tuition fees vary, and some universities charge higher fees to students from outside Switzerland. Applicants should consult each institution’s current fee schedule before applying. If you are interested in pursuing higher education in Switzerland, this article highlights top public institutions for international students.
Top Public Universities in Switzerland
| University | Selected Academic Areas |
|---|
| University of Zurich | Broad multidisciplinary programs across approximately 100 subject areas |
| ETH Zurich | Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Architecture, Computational Biology, and Bioinformatics |
| University of Geneva | Science, Medicine, Humanities, Social Sciences, Economics, Management, Law, Theology, Psychology, Education, and Translation |
| University of Lausanne | Interdisciplinary Studies, Religious Studies, History, and Sociology of Culture |
| University of Bern | Theology, Law, Economics, Social Sciences, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Humanities, Human Sciences, and Natural Sciences |
| University of Basel | Life Sciences, Medicine, Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Law, Business, Psychology, and Theology |
| University of Fribourg | Broad interdisciplinary and bilingual academic programs |
1. University of Zurich
- Admissions | Tuition Fees | Scholarships
- Location: Zurich, Switzerland | Medium of Instruction: Bachelor’s programs are mainly taught in German; master’s programs may be taught in German, English, French, Italian, or Spanish, depending on the program
Founded in 1833, the University of Zurich is Switzerland’s largest university. It has seven faculties and offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral studies across approximately 100 subject areas.
The university provides students with services such as career guidance, language courses, and housing information. Its Housing Office assists students in searching for accommodation, but the university does not operate a conventional on-campus housing system and cannot guarantee that every student will receive a room.
2. ETH Zurich
- Admissions | Tuition Fees | Scholarships
- Location: Zurich, Switzerland | Medium of Instruction: Bachelor’s programs are mainly taught in German; most master’s programs are taught in English, although some require German
ETH Zurich is a public federal institute of technology founded in 1855. It specializes in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, architecture, and related academic fields.
ETH Zurich provides dedicated guidance for international students on immigration, residence permits, insurance, employment, and studying in Switzerland. It also offers several forms of financial support. One example is the competitive Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme for eligible master’s applicants, which can cover study and living expenses for the regular duration of the degree.
A recipient’s path: Emma Craig, a South African chemical engineering graduate, enrolled in the Master’s in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics at ETH Zurich with the Excellence Scholarship and Opportunity Programme. Her application included a thesis pre-proposal, two recommendation letters, and GRE scores of 170/170 quantitative, 164/170 verbal, and 5.0/6.0 analytical writing; she also reported meeting the scholarship’s top-10% academic criterion. She says her interviewer specifically highlighted her previous scholarships and detailed recommendation letters, while she concentrated most of her preparation on making the thesis proposal original but realistically achievable. View More ETH Zurich recipients →
- Outcomes of students who studied at ETH Zurich: Filippo: after completing his ETH master’s in Mathematics, he stayed at ETH Zurich for PhD studies.
3. University of Geneva
The University of Geneva traces its origins to an academy founded in 1559. Today, it is a multidisciplinary public university offering studies in fields such as science, medicine, humanities, social sciences, economics and management, law, theology, psychology, education, and translation and interpreting.
The university’s location in Geneva, which is home to numerous international organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and diplomatic missions, can provide students with opportunities to pursue relevant internships and professional experience. The university advertises internship and employment opportunities connected with these organizations, although availability and eligibility depend on the individual position and academic program.
4. University of Lausanne
Founded in 1537, the University of Lausanne is a public university with a multidisciplinary academic and research profile.
The University of Lausanne emphasizes interdisciplinary education and research. Although French is the main teaching language, selected departments and programs offer courses in English or provide bilingual French-English study options. Applicants should check the language requirements and course catalog for their intended program.
Students may also participate in research through the university’s faculties, institutes, and research centers. Available projects, placements, and research opportunities depend on the student’s discipline, degree level, and academic unit.
A recipient’s path Mariano Villalba pursued a PhD in Sciences of Religions at the University of Lausanne with the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship from 2017 to 2020. Coming from History and Sociology of Culture, he searched specifically for European programs strong in the history of esotericism, contacted professors and former students, and earned 104/120 on the TOEFL iBT while preparing for doctoral applications. After identifying the Swiss award, he contacted a prospective Lausanne supervisor who agreed to support his project, allowing him to carry out the doctoral research there with scholarship funding and institutional support. View More University of Lausanne recipients →
5. University of Bern
- Admissions | Tuition Fees | Scholarships
- Location: Bern, Switzerland | Medium of Instruction: Bachelor’s programs are mainly taught in German; master’s programs may be taught in German, English, or another language, depending on the program
The University of Bern is a comprehensive public university founded in 1834 and located in Switzerland’s capital. Its eight faculties cover areas including theology, law, economics and social sciences, medicine, veterinary medicine, humanities, human sciences, and natural sciences.
The university provides career services and guidance on internships, employment, and professional development. International applicants should note that admission procedures and document requirements vary according to their previous qualification, country of education, degree level, and intended program. The university does not guarantee student accommodation, so students are generally responsible for arranging housing independently.
Katyayani Sharma’s path to the University of Bern: Katyayani Sharma completed a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Bern, supported by the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship. Rather than choosing by university name alone, she focused on laboratories whose research matched hers and assessed the prospective supervisor and research group, drawing on experience with competitive national exams and PhD interviews in India. She says she kept her application original and honest, tailoring it to the host institution’s format and repeatedly improving her motivation letter using feedback from earlier applications. View More University of Bern recipients →
6. University of Basel
- Admissions | Tuition Fees | Scholarships
- Location: Basel, Switzerland | Medium of Instruction: Bachelor’s programs are mainly taught in German; master’s programs are taught in German or English, depending on the program
Established in 1460, the University of Basel is Switzerland’s oldest university. It has seven faculties and a broad academic profile, with particular research strengths in life sciences and medicine as well as programs in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, law, business, psychology, and theology.
The University of Basel supports interdisciplinary and international research. Some of its life-science units collaborate with pharmaceutical companies and other external research partners in the Basel region. Students can also access services such as career counseling, language courses, and support for international students through the university’s relevant offices.
7. University of Fribourg
- Admissions | Tuition Fees | Scholarships
- Location: Fribourg, Switzerland | Medium of Instruction: French and German, with bilingual and selected English-taught study options
The University of Fribourg was established in 1889. It describes itself as Switzerland’s only bilingual university, with programs taught in French, German, or both languages. Some courses and programs are also available in English.
The University of Fribourg supports interdisciplinary work through its faculties and interfaculty institutes. Its bilingual setting can be particularly valuable for students who want to develop their French or German skills while studying in a multilingual academic environment.
International students at the University of Fribourg can access services such as career guidance, language courses, student associations, and mobility support. The university also participates in exchange programs with partner institutions in Switzerland and other countries, although available destinations and eligibility requirements vary by agreement and academic program.
Public universities in Switzerland can be a comparatively affordable choice for international students, particularly when compared with many private institutions. Nevertheless, tuition fees differ by university, degree level, and student category, and some institutions apply additional charges to international students. Applicants should confirm current fees directly with each university.
We hope you found this article on public universities in Switzerland useful. If you are interested, explore Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for International Students!
