Located between Germany, France and Italy, Switzerland is a great place to explore Europe from. It contains two of the highest rated universities in the world, and consistently ranks among the best places to live in the world. Here’s why so many students are deciding to choose Switzerland as their destination to study abroad.

Top universities:

Switzerland has some of the most reputable universities in the world, and their top two institutions (EPFL and ETH Zurich) are constantly ranked within the top 30 of The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. For the 2016-17 rankings, Switzerland had a whopping seven universities in the THE top 150, a very impressive return for a country which has a population of 8.3 million, which is less than that of London. Students are consistently happy with the high-quality facilities throughout the country’s institutions, and are usually pleased with the level of teaching on their courses.

Petr Jiskra, Marketing Manager and Alumni from the Hotel and Tourism Management Institute (HTMi) in Switzerland, says attending a Swiss university will leave you in a good position when looking for graduate employment.

“In general, Swiss universities have a good reputation for their quality. So, whether you are a Swiss national, or an international student that has studied at a Swiss school, you should be received well among employers.”

Tuition fees

Tuition fees in Switzerland are some of the cheapest fees in the whole of Europe. A lot of the public universities charge around €1,000 per academic year, it doesn’t get much cheaper than that! Be careful though, this number may differ between universities, so it is worth checking direct with the institution for a definite number.

Spending less money on fees means you have more to spend on going out with friends, and getting to travel the country a bit more than usual! Also, the cost of living in Switzerland is quite high so it is handy to have some extra cash.

Geography

Switzerland is bordered by France, Germany and Italy. Because of the country’s various neighbours, and the fact it has 4 different national languages, it is a hugely diverse place to live. As a result, it can feel very welcoming for an international student. If you spend 3 years doing an undergraduate degree in Switzerland, you can very quickly immerse yourself in a new language.

A lot of people who study in the country come back with a much better grasp of German, French or Italian, depending on where their university was based. Petr Jiskra says this is a very important skill for employers too, “usually, the students at Swiss institutions will know more than one language, which means the whole world can be opening up for them in terms of job prospects.”

Interested in learning a new language on your study abroad journey? Have a look at our guide to improving your language skills in a new country.

Career opportunities/earning potential

Switzerland has one of the highest average salaries in Europe, and some huge companies have offices throughout the country, so there are some very prestigious career opportunities for graduates to head into. Although it can be difficult for non-EU students to get a visa to stay in the country after their studies, if you prove you are the best candidate for a company then they can provide aid with your application. Wondering about your options once you graduate from a Swiss uni? Have a look at our guide.

If you do end up landing a promising job with a reputable company, expect the high living costs of Switzerland to suddenly not seem so high. For example, the average annual salary for a teacher is 87,500 Swiss francs (which is about $90,000). Not bad, eh?!

Quality of life

Swiss cities continuously get ranked among the best cities in the world for quality of life. Although it can be a very expensive place to live, the wages are high and the crime rate is low – making the major cities some of the happiest cities in Europe. Switzerland has a brilliant transport infrastructure, meaning that it is easy to travel around, and really get to know the country. Because of the diverse countryside, you’ll enjoy the picturesque journeys too! 

Those who love the outdoors will love living in Switzerland, there are loads of green areas, lots of lakes and the Alps, that are always worth a visit. Also, when the country’s most famous food exports are cheese and chocolate, you can expect a pretty happy population! For an idea of some great things to do in Switzerland, have a read of this article.

Does this make you excited for your studies in Switzerland? So it should! Have a look at some universities now on our Swiss universities list! You can also pay a visit to the Studying In Switzerland website for dedicated resources and information and studying in the county.