Top Universities in Switzerland | Everything you must know!

Why should you study in Switzerland?

Pursuing a qualification from among the top universities in Switzerland is a great way to enter the global corporate world. Switzerland is a country that continues to make significant investments to improve the quality of its educational infrastructure. 

The result is the emergence of global industry leaders and experts who contribute to their fields with their skills and expertise. The quality of professionals emerging from Switzerland is on par with Ivy League graduates from the United States! 

If you are considering pursuing your higher education in Switzerland, here are the top universities in Switzerland for international students

ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology 

ETH Zurich is Switzerland’s top-ranked university, providing an ideal environment for students to develop independent and critical thinking skills. Situated in the heart of the country, this university is among the top universities in Switzerland for its excellent connections all over the world. ETH Zurich is home to more than 400 professors who conduct research and teach in different fields, such as-

• Social Sciences 
• Management 
• System-Oriented Sciences 
• Natural Sciences 
• Mathematics 
• Architecture 
• Engineering 

In addition, ETH Zurich is well-known for its fundamental research projects. These projects help significantly broaden the knowledge base and provide a starting point for future potential and applications. 

Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)

EPFL is part of the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology, established around the same time at ETH Zurich. Given that Lausanne is in the French-speaking part of the country, most of the courses offered by this university are in French. In comparison to the other top universities in Switzerland, this university helps create a foundation in engineering and natural sciences. 

A key characteristic of this university is that it is one of the only academic institutions in the world to run a fusion reactor, a nuclear reactor, a Gene/Q supercomputer, and P3 bio-hazard facilities.

After the completion of freshman year, the block exam determines whether students can continue with their education or would ‌drop out. Moreover, the campus lies across the shores of Lake Geneva, comprising over 65 buildings spread out across 136 acres. 

The University of St. Gallen 

Established in the year 1898, the University of St. Gallen falls on the list of the top universities in Switzerland with dedicated open research facilities. The university also has several connections with the Association of Advanced Collegiate Business, the Global Alliance in Management Education, and the Professional School of International Affairs and it is one of the best universities in Switzerland. 

In addition to its affiliations, the university is home to over 42 research institutions and centers across the country. Therefore, stimulating intellectual curiosity, while also being located in proximity to the best restaurants in the city. 

The university is in partnership with over 200 well-known universities in the United States, including North-Western University, Manchester Business School, and New York University. 

The University of Bern 

The University of Bern stands apart from the other top universities in Switzerland owing to its special recognition of leading-edge disciplines. This university has excellent quality of faculty and offers a campus environment to explore the political, economic, and social life of the city. The University of Bern offers courses across a variety of disciplines, such as-

• Engineering & Technology 
• Agriculture & Forestry 
• Medicine & Health 
• Law 
• Computer Science & IT 
• Environmental Studies & Earth Sciences 

Additionally offering 9 competency centers, 7 graduate schools, 60 undergraduate courses, and 83 postgraduate courses. It also offers more than 200 specialized executive courses across disciplines such as veterinary medicine, social sciences, humanities, and theology. 

The University of Zurich 

The University of Zurich is the largest and among the top universities in Switzerland for the excellent selection of study courses it offers. The teaching and research conducted by this university cross a broader subject spectrum as compared to the specialized EPFL and ETH Zurich. The facilities of the University of Zurich are spread throughout the city, given that public outreach is the heart of its educational mission. 

In addition to having an impressive selection of events, public libraries, collections, museums, and education courses. The university also has a ‘Children’s University’ and ‘Senior Citizen’s University’ that ‌cater to these specific age groups. Moreover, the courses are offered in English, German, Italian, and French. 

Key Takeaways 

• Switzerland is a European country that is globally famous for the quality of its educational infrastructure. 
• It’s is also home to some of the most reputed universities in the world offering courses across different disciplines. 
• Learning about the top universities in Switzerland can be a great way to streamline your process. Moreover, it will help you find an institution that will give an excellent return on investment. 
• The universities in Switzerland are well-known for the quality of graduates they produce since several graduates ‌secure excellent roles in the global corporate market. 
• Taking the above-listed universities into consideration can help you prepare better for the next step of your academic career. 

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Liked this blog? Read more: Schengen visa – Frequently asked questions and more!

FAQs 

Q1. What is the ranking of the University of Zurich? 

Answer – The University of Zurich is ranked #75 on the global universities list as per the data in 2022. 

Q2. Which are the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology? 

Answer – The two universities that are a part of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology include ETH Zurich and EPFL. Moreover, these are universities recognized for the quality of education and contributions to the field via research projects. 

Q3. Is ETH Zurich a public or private university? 

Answer – ETH Zurich was established in 1855 as a public university and continues under the same label today.