Swiss Education– A class of its own

About the country

The official name of the country is Swiss Confederation. The capital of Switzerland is Berne. It covers an area of 41,293 Sq Km and an estimated population of about 7,133,500. It is located in West central Europe and bound by Liechtenstein and Austria to the east, Italy to the south, France to the west and Germany to the north. Switzerland has a temperate climate. Summers are generally warm while winters are characterized by clear skies. The Swiss people are comprised of four principal ethnic groups that make up the majority of the population, the Germans, the French, the Italians and the Romansch of Celtic origin. Most of the Swiss people are Christians. The official languages of Switzerland are German, French, Italian and Romansch or Rhaeto-Roman. However, English is also widely spoken now. The official currency of Switzerland is Franc (SwF) divided into 100 Centimes.

Why study in Switzerland

Switzerland's international schools are known for high academic standards, multilingualism and social graces. Switzerland has long had a high reputation for delivering fine education to young people. Many of its universities are among the oldest and most renowned in the world.

The polish of a Swiss education is still a sought-after attribute. There is an increasing number of slightly older students, in their early and mid-twenties, who realize that although they have finished university and their careers may be in business, they still need to know the social graces used to manage an embassy or a public relations firm, or just to get ahead in life.

Switzerland is also an excellent country in which to study languages. Switzerland has a reputation for being a law-abiding country, and many parents are more comfortable sending a youngster to the peaceful and less temptation-filled cantons of Switzerland than to the big cities of London, Paris, Berlin or Rome.

In Switzerland, students experience the unique 4-language multicultural society and conduct their studies together with students from all over the world. All these advantages make Switzerland the perfect place for a high-quality education that will be a strong cornerstone of any student's future.

In general, the Swiss secondary schools endeavor to instill not just a work ethic, but also a cultural curiosity about the world at large.

Swiss Education System

The university year is made up of two semesters: the winter semester from mid-October to the beginning of March and the summer semester from mid-April to mid-July. Courses start in mid-October in almost all universities; in a few faculties it is possible to start in the summer semester. There are three types of academic certificates and, consequently, three basic university qualifications: the Bachelor Degree, the Diploma and the Doctoral Degree. Post-Graduate Certificates are also offered. A certificate attests that the holder has mastered the theory and practice relevant to his subject and that he has demonstrated his ability in the prescribed examinations taken at the end of the regulation number of semesters. 

Undergraduate Studies: The duration of an undergraduate course is generally 6 to 8 semesters and 12 to 13 semesters for medical studies. The basic requirement for admission to an undergraduate degree is Year 12 from a recognized board of higher education.

Postgraduate Studies: Post-graduate courses can be taken, leading to either a Doctoral Degree or a Post-Graduate Diploma. The basic requirement for admission is a Bachelors degree and relevant work experience may also sometimes be required. 

Universities and Institutions:

There are eleven university-level institutions in Switzerland and four cantonal universities. A few of the good universities and institutions in Switzerland are as follows:

• University of Basle
• University of Berne
• University of Fribourg
• University of Geneva
• University of Lausanne
• University of Lucerne
• University of Neuchâtel
• University of St. Gallen
• Università della Svizzera italiana
• University of Zurich
• EPFL - Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne
• ETHZ - Federal Institute of Technology Zurich

Besides these universities and institutions there are many universities of Applied Sciences, which offer various specialized courses.

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Tuition Fees and Living Expenses

The cost of a university education varies according to the location, the course taken and the duration of the course. The average living expenses in Switzerland come to around Rs 6 to 7 Lakh per annum.

Part Time Work

International students are not allowed to take up any part time job during their study. Students are therefore advised not to rely upon any such source while calculating their budget. 

Further Information

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