SWITZERLAND

Switzerland is a country where education is very expensive — but the quality matches the price. People come here for elite secondary education at private boarding schools, considered among the best in the world, as well as for higher education in hospitality management, finance and technology. At the same time, public universities here are inexpensive even for international students — the main expense is not tuition, but living costs.

What people usually come to study

For school pupils. Swiss private boarding schools are the absolute elite. The share of international pupils reaches 98%, with local students making up no more than 2%. Every year around 100,000 international children receive their secondary education at Swiss boarding schools. They come from royal families, major business figures and politicians from all over the world. Lessons can be taken in German, French, Italian or English. Graduates earn either the Swiss Matura (which grants entry to any Swiss university), British A-Levels, or the American High School Diploma. Many parents choose Swiss schools for the multilingual environment and the very highest standards of comfort and safety.

For students. Swiss universities are renowned for their technical disciplines, business education and, of course, hospitality management — the country’s calling card. Public universities have around 258,000 students, up to 30% of them international. Particularly popular are ETH Zurich (the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), the University of Lausanne (UNIL) and the University of St. Gallen (a business school). Hospitality management is studied at private schools such as EHL (Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne), which is regularly recognised as the best in the world.

How studying works

Secondary education. Switzerland’s signature feature is multilingualism. You can study in German, French, Italian or English. The schools themselves are set in picturesque locations: at the foot of the Alps, on the shores of Lake Geneva, in the mountains. The school day is full: lessons, sport, the arts and supervised prep. Sport gets special attention — skiing, tennis, horse riding, swimming, mountain hikes. Some lessons take place outdoors. Classes are small, often 6–12 pupils, allowing teachers to work with each one individually.

Higher education. Switzerland has two types of university: classical universities (theory, science) and universities of applied sciences (practice, links with business). A Bachelor’s usually lasts 3 years and a Master’s 1.5–2 years. One distinctive feature: at some universities students begin working in their field long before they graduate. Swiss academic degrees are recognised worldwide, and ETH Zurich is traditionally among the global top 10 universities for engineering and the natural sciences.

Visa requirements

Citizens of non-EU countries need a study visa (National Visa – type D). It allows you to enter the country, after which you obtain a residence permit on arrival (Permis de séjour).

Main requirements:

•    Confirmation of enrolment from a Swiss educational institution
•    Proof of finances (usually 21,000+ francs for the first year)
•    Health insurance (you can take out Swiss insurance after arrival, but proof is sometimes required for the visa)
•    An international passport valid for a sufficient period
•    Educational documents (school certificate, diploma with an apostille or translation)

Timeframes: You should apply 2–3 months before your studies begin. Processing can take 8–12 weeks. The consular fee for Russian citizens is around 135–150 euros (paid in Swiss francs).

Pros and cons

Pros:  

• The highest standard of living — Switzerland is one of the safest and cleanest countries in the world.  
• A multilingual environment — you can study and live in several languages.  
• Public universities are cheap even for international students (500–2,000 francs a year).  
• Degrees are valued everywhere, especially in engineering, finance and hospitality.  
• Nature — the Alps, the lakes, clean air.  
• Swiss boarding schools offer very comfortable conditions: cosy rooms (often single, with a private bathroom), delicious food and a caring attitude towards children.

Cons:  

• Admission to public universities is not easy: you need a school certificate recognised by the Swiss authorities, high grades and knowledge of the language of instruction (German, French or Italian).  
• It is hard for international graduates to find work after their studies without an offer from a local employer, and only 6 months are allowed for the search.  
• Bureaucracy and expensive (mandatory) health insurance.  
• In 2025–2026 some universities raised their fees for international students (such as ETH Zurich), and there is a risk that others will follow suit.