Data science is an interdisciplinary field that combines economics, informatics, computer science, business, natural sciences, statistics, and more to manage, analyze, and use the large volume of data available in today’s highly technological world.
Switzerland is home to many excellent universities that offer competitive programs for students preparing for a future career in data science. Many public universities in Switzerland charge relatively low semester fees compared with universities in many other study destinations, but costs vary by institution and student category. For example, the University of Zurich and the University of Basel list standard semester fees below CHF 1,500, while ETH Zurich has charged a higher CHF 2,190 semester tuition fee to many foreign students who move to Switzerland to study since the Autumn Semester 2025. Even with these differences, international students can earn world-class and quality higher education in prestigious Swiss universities at a relatively affordable tuition cost.
Demand for IT specialists, including data scientists, remains strong in Zurich, and Swiss wages are high by international standards. Earning a data science degree in Switzerland can help prepare students for roles in technology, finance, health, research, and other data-driven sectors. In this article, we will read about Switzerland’s best universities for data science!
Top Schools Offering Data Science in Switzerland
1. University of Zurich
First founded in 1833 as the Universitas Turicensis, the University of Zurich is now Switzerland’s largest university and one of the country’s leading institutions. It has seven faculties, more than 28,000 students, over 100 subject areas, and 12 Nobel Prizes associated with UZH scholars.
UZH offers Data Science within the Master of Science UZH in Informatics. Data Science is available as a 90-ECTS major and a 30-ECTS minor. The major covers areas such as data management, algorithms, advanced statistics and machine learning, data visualization, and ethics. The university also offers related bachelor’s and master’s study options in informatics and artificial intelligence that can help students build skills for data-centered careers.
2. University of Basel
The University of Basel was founded in 1460, making it the oldest university in Switzerland. Today, it is a research-oriented and internationally accessible institution. In the fall semester of 2025, it enrolled 13,707 students and doctoral candidates. The university ranks around the top 150 in major global rankings, including 120th in the 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings and 158th in the 2026 QS World University Rankings.
Students interested in a data science-related career can now study the University of Basel’s Master of Science in Data Science. This two-year, 120-ECTS program includes training in machine learning, scalable systems, AI and large language models, and research-focused data analysis. The university also offers a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, which is normally completed in six semesters and is taught in German and English.
3. ETH Zurich
ETH Zurich is one of Switzerland’s best public universities and a top school for data science in the country. The university dates back to 1855, when it was founded as the Polytechnikum.
ETH Zurich has gained international acclaim for its outstanding contributions to science, technology, and innovation. According to ETH Zurich, 22 Nobel Prizes have been awarded to researchers who have had a connection with the university. ETH Zurich also ranks 7th in the QS World University Rankings 2026 and 11th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026.
ETH Zurich currently hosts 26,942 students from about 130 countries. The university remains highly international and continues to attract students across engineering, science, mathematics, architecture, management, and social sciences.
Moreover, the institution offers an English-taught Master of Science ETH in Data Science. The specialized master’s program is jointly offered by the departments of Computer Science, Mathematics, and Information Technology and Electrical Engineering. It combines theoretical foundations with practical experience through the Data Science Laboratory, where students work on practical interdisciplinary applications. The program lasts two years and awards 120 ECTS credits.
4. Zurich University of Applied Sciences
Winterthur is home to the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, an applied sciences university established in 2007. Today, ZHAW is one of Switzerland’s leading universities of applied sciences and is organized across eight departments. According to its 2025 annual figures, it offers 34 bachelor’s degree programs and 20 master’s degree programs and has 14,995 bachelor’s and master’s students and 3,729 employees.
ZHAW is among the best institutions for data science in Switzerland that offer a Bachelor of Science in Data Science UAS Zurich. The program is taught in German and is based in Winterthur. International applicants with a foreign university entrance qualification must have an equivalent qualification and provide proof of German language skills at C1 level under the Common European Framework of Reference.
The program awards 180 ECTS credits and can be completed in six semesters full time or eight semesters part time. Students can also choose a work-study bachelor’s degree program or an international profile, which includes English-taught specialized modules and an extended stay abroad. The program usually begins in the fall semester.
We hope that you found our article on the best universities to study data science in Switzerland informative. To learn more, you can visit the Switzerland Page and the available courses in Europe for international students!
