🇨🇭 Switzerland · Study Abroad
How to study in Switzerland as an international student — application steps, student visas, and living costs.
Quick answer
To study in Switzerland you apply to the university, then, once admitted, apply for a student visa (a national D visa) through the cantonal migration office and the Swiss consulate; after arrival you obtain a residence permit for study. Explore the university sites and apply by the (often early) deadline.
Switzerland hosts world-leading universities and federal institutes of technology (ETH Zurich, EPFL) with low public-university tuition by international standards. International students apply directly to the institution; non-EU/EFTA students then obtain a student residence permit. swissuniversities is the umbrella body, and SERI handles recognition of foreign qualifications.
- World-leading universities and federal technology institutes (ETH Zurich, EPFL); low public tuition.
- Apply directly to the institution; non-EU/EFTA students then obtain a student residence permit.
- swissuniversities is the umbrella body; SERI handles recognition of foreign qualifications.
Step-by-step
- 1
Choose your course and institution
Choose your program and apply to the university; explore the university sites (deadlines are often early).
- 2
Meet academic and language requirements
Meet the academic entry requirements and prove language ability (e.g. an English or local-language test) at the level the course demands.
- 3
Apply for admission
Apply for admission through the relevant application route by the deadline, with transcripts, test scores and supporting documents.
- 4
Receive offer and enrollment document
On acceptance, obtain your official enrollment/acceptance document, which you will need for the visa application.
- 5
Apply for your student visa
Apply for a student visa (national D visa) through the cantonal migration office and the Swiss consulate; obtain a residence permit after arrival.
- 6
Arrive, enroll and know the rules
Arrive before the term, complete enrollment and any residence registration, and note the rules on part-time work and post-study stay.
Checklist
- Course, level and institution chosen
- Academic + language requirements met
- Admission application submitted by deadline
- Offer + enrollment/acceptance document received
- Proof of funds + health cover prepared
- Student visa applied for + granted
- Arrival, enrollment + registration done
- Work-hours and post-study stay rules understood
Official authorities
- swissuniversities
Official umbrella body of Swiss higher education.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a Swiss student visa?
Through the cantonal migration office and the Swiss consulate, which issue a national D visa; you then get a residence permit after arrival.
Is tuition high in Switzerland?
Public-university fees are relatively moderate, but living costs in Switzerland are among the highest in the world; budget carefully.
Which language will I study in?
It depends on the region — programs are in German, French or Italian, though many master’s and doctoral programs are in English.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
Government portals
- ch.ch — Swiss Authorities Online — Official information portal for federal, cantonal and communal authorities
- State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) — Visas, residence permits (B/C), and naturalisation
- Federal Tax Administration (FTA) — Federal tax and VAT (cantonal taxes are levied separately)
- EasyGov.swiss — One-stop company registration and business admin