Biology is an exciting academic field that feels like a rollercoaster ride when you pursue it. You can learn about the origins of the earth and humanity through traces and fossils found in the land and seas. We can even tell how old a tree is by the number of rings in its trunk! Getting in tune with our environment lets us revisit the past, cherish the present, and hope for the future.
Switzerland is among the best places to study biology as the country features rich natural landscapes in the heart of the Alps. Crystal-clear lakes, snowcapped mountains, expansive meadows, and the ethereal northern lights bring joy to any nature enthusiast.
Switzerland is also a strong advocate for sustainability and sustainable use of resources. Most of its universities pledge to support sustainability acts. This article discusses some of the best biology universities in Switzerland, so let’s take a deep dive and see which university is the right match for you.
Top Schools Offering Biology Programs in Switzerland
1. ETH Zurich
Recognized as one of the best biology universities in Switzerland, ETH Zurich is a public research university member of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology that heavily focuses on pursuing science, engineering, mathematics, and technology studies. The university also significantly contributes to Switzerland’s progress among the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education, and Research.
In Europe, ETH Zurich ranks as the second-best university, just behind the University of Oxford. It also charts highly in subject rankings, placing first for the earth and marine sciences.
The biology department equips undergraduates and graduate students with the necessary conceptual knowledge and practical skills to lead in biological and life sciences. The department is further divided into institutes for each field of biology, such as microbiology, biochemistry, and molecular systems biology. It also delves into research of various complexities and overlaps among the different fields. Students and faculty alike are interested in looking into cellular health, tissue function, the onset of diseases, or the interrelationship of lifeforms across biological systems.
Undergraduate students are introduced to the fundamentals of natural sciences, and core subjects in the different fields of biology help them find a field they are passionate about. Elective courses and research help cement the students’ understanding and appreciation for biology while preparing them for higher education in the master’s program.
On the other hand, 10 major options are available to students taking up their master’s degrees, ranging from cell biology, ecology, and evolution to microbiology and immunology. Graduate students are not limited by their choice of major and are still capable of securing careers relating to other majors as the direction for teaching for every major is similar, and the subject areas covered are broad.
2. University of Zurich
The University of Zurich boasts the largest student population among all Swiss public universities. It also features the most course offerings, with seven faculties overseeing the teaching of natural sciences, veterinary medicine, human medicine, and mathematics.
The university offers undergraduate degree programs taught in German. Suitable for international students aiming to perfect their German while learning a degree, the university also provides graduate studies taught in English.
The institution’s Department of Molecular Sciences features dedicated research groups in the fields of development, neurobiology, cell biology, and systems biology. The department regularly collaborates with ETH Zurich to conduct research and various seminars concerning biology.
The department also offers a competent Ph.D. program for aspiring doctorates. The program features various subjects, from systems biology, neuroscience, epidemiology, and biostatistics to biomedical ethics and law. Earning a Ph.D. is among the best ways to secure your future in the working world of biology, regardless of the specialization you choose to work in.
3. École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
The École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne is among the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology, ranking among the top 50 universities in the best higher education institution.
EPFL specializes in engineering and technology but features different schools and institutes for other disciplines. Usually, the School of Life Sciences accommodates all biology majors who wish to study at the university.
The School of Life Sciences integrates biology, computer science, and engineering to make way for life sciences engineering. Life sciences engineering prepares students to tackle the problems of biology through computer-accurate, digital methods. With technology only advancing as life goes on, the future leaders of life sciences must be innovative and tech-savvy professionals for neuroscience, bioengineering, and disease studies.
Moreover, the life sciences engineering program can both undergraduate and graduate students. Undergraduates cover all foundations of biology and engineering, whereas graduate students have seven specializations to choose from, including computational biology, biomedical engineering, neuroscience, and neuroengineering.
4. University of Geneva
The University of Geneva is part of the League of European Research Universities and the European University Association. The university features over 600 courses of study in different fields like the sciences, law, social sciences, humanities, and medicine, but it significantly excels in life sciences, physics, and astrophysics research.
UNIGE is also home to various national centers of excellence, such as those for genetics and chemical biology. It is a great educational foundation for aspiring biology students with easy access to cutting-edge equipment, facilities, and quality references.
The biology section from the Faculty of Science facilitates course offerings for biology and its subfields. It is further divided into botany and plant biology, cell biology, genetics and evolution, and molecular biology departments.
The institution is among the best schools in Switzerland, offering biology at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. However, they teach a bachelor’s degree in French. The university delivers graduate studies in English to accommodate its foreign student population.
A master’s in biology at the UNIGE can be completed without students selecting a specialization. Should they choose to specialize, available areas are biodiversity and systematics, molecular plant sciences, genetics, development and evolution, and bioinformatics.
Scientists and professionals entering this institution for a doctorate can expect to work with the Faculty of Medicine and Science. The university offers a range of Ph.D. programs, such as a doctorate in life sciences and neurosciences.
5. University of Basel
The University of Basel is Switzerland’s oldest university and among the oldest surviving higher education institutions around the world. The university is best known as an outstanding school for biology and for the Basel University Library, which houses some of the country’s most important documents.
The university features course offerings for various disciplines such as psychology, medicine, law, and sciences. Above all, the institution takes pride in accommodating the Biozentrum, a research and training center for students and faculty specializing in biomedicine and other related fields.
The University of Basel features an undergraduate biology program taught in English and German. At the same time, graduate students can study with English as the medium of instruction.
The university’s life science program features several master’s programs in ecology and animal biology. Meanwhile, the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute runs specialized degree programs in epidemiology. Students interested in studying health risk factors and coming up with feasible solutions can choose to get a master’s degree in either epidemiology or infection biology.
The Biozentrum, another center of national excellence within the university grounds, facilitates a master’s program for molecular biology. If you are interested in studying and experiencing work in biochemistry, immunology, and genetics, perhaps this internationally regarded degree is for you.
Finally, the Faculty of Medicine oversees the master’s in biomedical engineering. Students with a medical background can find the program essential as they maneuver their way around nanotechnology, medical imaging, and biomaterials.
We hope this article on the best universities to study biology in Switzerland was informative and helpful. You can also visit our Switzerland Page and browse through some of the available programs in Europe for international students if you are interested in learning more!
