Welcome to Switzerland!
Switzerland is a peaceful and prosperous country. It is a federated state, with different languages spoken in each one of its cantons (federal units). Hence, Switzerland is a united country but also a diverse one. Lifestyle in Lugano could be quite different from the one enjoyed in St Gallen. The three official languages of the nation are: German, French and Italian, and they are spoken according to the geographical location of the cantons relatively to their mother-tongue countries.
In general, however, Switzerland is quite breathtaking. Its landscapes are almost fairytale: green grass, snow-capped mountains and cristal-clear rivers make up one of the purest environments in Europe. That is also possible because of its really low pro-capita emissions and a strict regulation on pollutants. So yes, open air activities are a must in Switzerland, and they range from biking, to trekking to skiing. There you can find some of the best alpine skiing resorts.
Social assistance is strong, unemployment is low, and GDP pro-capita is one of the highest in the world. Average salary is double compared to the French and German ones, and three times the Italian one. Usually Switzerland is a reserved place, but in the last decades it is becoming more and more open to the world, and is for sure an appealing destination for foreign workers.
What are the best universities in Switzerland for semester students?
Are you still undecided whether or not Switzerland might be an appealing destination for you? On wearefreemovers you can find a selection of 9 academic institutions offering you the possibility of spending a semester or a full academic year in Switzerland. Let’s check some statistics about them.
Here you can see the positions of the Swiss institutions among the world’s best universities rankings.
| NAME | QS | THE | ARWU | CWUR | CWTS | Eduniversal palmes | U.S. News & World Report's Best Global Universities Rankings | Webometrics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ETH Zurich | 6 | 14 | 20 | 29 | 78 | 3 | 26 | 10 |
| University of St. Gallen | 428 | 401–500 | - | 582 | - | 5 | - | 936 |
| University of Zurich | 69 | 73 | 56 | 67 | 96 | 3 | 62 | 57 |
| University of Bern | 114 | 109 | 101-150 | 144 | 196 | - | 107 | 511 |
| University of Fribourg | 601-650 | 351–400 | 401-500 | - | 988 | - | 480 | 521 |
| HEC Lausanne | 169 | 191 | 101-150 | 181 | 293 | 5 | 189 | 260 |
| Graduate Institute Geneva (Master level) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Les Roches Global Hospitality Education | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Università della Svizzera Italiana | 273 | 251–300 | 701-800 | 803 | - | - | 427 | 971 |
Switzerland has a solid academic reputation. It hosts some of the best universities in the world, that have forged minds that made history. Graduate Institute Geneva and Les Roches Global Hospitality Education are not included in rankings because of their size, but they are still prestigious institutions.
Costs and fees
Switzerland is an extremely expensive country. Monthly costs of living for a single person are close to 1500€. Keep in mind that, as a student, you could have access to various discounts which can include food, travel, and accommodation expenses.
When it comes to university’s fees, Switzerland is very cheap, with a median 1200€/semester for free mover students.
Which Swiss cities are available to free movers?
Currently there are many cities that accept free movers in Switzerland. Have you ever dreamt of studying in Zurich or any other city in Switzerland? Here you can find institutions divided by city:
