10 CHEAP Universities In Switzerland

It is less complicated for many foreigners to move to Switzerland due to the country’s lenient immigration laws.

By extension, prospective students wanting to further their higher education in Switzerland may be looking for affordable universities.

Fortunately, Switzerland is home to some of the cheapest international universities, so even domestic students benefit from the low tuition cost of most of these institutions.

Due to how easy it may seem to find cheap universities in Switzerland, the real work is identifying the best affordable ones that guarantee high-quality education regardless of meager tuition cost.

If this is what you are looking for, then no need for multiple clicks over the net. We have created this one-stop guide for you:

10 Cheap Universities in Switzerland

Studying in Switzerland is affordable since the Swiss government subsidizes many universities’ tuition fees. In addition, a handful of public institutions offer more relaxed tuition costs than their private counterpart.

Meanwhile, many Switzerland universities offer specific scholarships and financial aid to ease the financial pressure on students while they study.

This is coupled with the affordable cost of living in the country, which is greatly influenced by your lifestyle choice and the city you are based in.

If you are looking for the best cheap universities in Switzerland today, here are some of the best options, in no particular order, for both domestic and international students:

1. University of Lausanne
2. University of Geneva
3. Franklin University Switzerland
4. ETH Zurich
5. Bern University of Applied Sciences
6. University of Basel
7. University of Bern
8. FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts 
9. University of Zurich
10. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne

University of Lausanne

• Tuition fees: CHF 580 per semester
• University of Lausanne Admission Requirement Page 
• University of Lausanne Tuition Details Page

 The University of Lausanne offers a low tuition fee and scholarships for students at all levels, making them one of the leading universities in Switzerland in affordability.

It is the second oldest educational institution in Switzerland, dating back as far as 1537, and located in Lausanne, where the international Olympic committee is headquartered.

Here, there are five faculties: the Faculty of Geosciences and Environment, Faculty of Biology & Medicine, Faculty of Law, Criminal Justice and Public Administration, Faculty of Business and Economics, Faculty of Arts, and Faculty of social and political sciences.

The significant courses at this university are human and social sciences, life sciences and medicine, and environmental sciences.

University of Geneva

• Tuition fees: 1000 CHF 
• University of Geneva Admission Requirement Page 
• University of Geneva Tuition Details Page 

The University of Geneva is another old institution in Switzerland with convenient tuition costs for domestic and international students alike. The university has been operating for the past 40 years. It has maintained the reputation of offering quality education in various fields through the state of the art facilities despite the low tuition.

Meanwhile, the university is peculiar for its extensive research. Still, it comprises different faculties, including the Faculty of Theology, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of social sciences, Faculty of psychology and educational sciences, and the Faculty of economy and management.

The popular majors in this school are law, Environmental Sciences, Genetics, political science, economics, and Human Rights.

Franklin University Switzerland

• Tuition fees: $36,300 and $45,600 for Domestic and International tuition respectively.
• Franklin University Switzerland Admission Requirement Page 
• Franklin University Switzerland Tuition Details Page 

Another affordable higher institution worth considering in Switzerland is Franklin University Switzerland.

Although it is a private liberal arts university in Lugano, Franklin University has flexible tuition costs to fit the educational budget of an average international student, as you’d see from the tuition sticker price.

Another thing that makes this school stand out is its accreditation by the United States and the presence of various scholarship packages for both national and international students.

The university offers Bachelor’s degree programs and about five master’s degree programs under three colleges: the Colleges of Business; Health and Public Administration; and Arts, Sciences, and Technology.

ETH Zurich

• Tuition fees: $790 Per Semester for both Undergraduate and graduate programs
• ETH Zurich Admission Requirement Page 
• ETH Zurich Tuition Details Page 

It may surprise you that Albert Einstein is an international alumnus of ETH Zurich in Switzerland. The school is a popular choice for international students who want to attend school in Switzerland but are on a tight budget.

ETH Zurich is an Institute of Technology located in Zurich that offers programs mainly in mathematics, engineering, technology, and science.

It may have a meager tuition fee, but it only applies to science-inclined students.

The Swiss government established the university in 1854 to educate aspiring engineers and scientists.

ETH Zurich has been ranked top 5 among engineering schools worldwide.

Bern University of Applied Sciences

• Tuition fees: 1,500 CHF and 1,900 CHF for domestic and international Bachelor’s tuition, respectively.
• Bern University of Applied Sciences Admission Requirement Page 
• Bern University of Applied Sciences Tuition Details Page

If your search is narrowed down to the kind of institution where you learn a wide range of subjects through research and discussions, but with low tuition fees, then the Bern University of Applied Science is your best bet.

The institution has a prominent international presence and has affiliated with many commercial enterprises worldwide.

Students who want to attend the Bern University of Applied Science in Switzerland only have to worry about raising 1,500 CHF for domestic tuition.

Here, strategic education and high-quality teaching are valued despite the low tuition rate.

University of Basel

• Tuition fees: Students enrolled at the university are charged a fee of CHF 850 each semester. Doctoral candidates are charged a fee of CHF 350 each semester.
• University of Basel Admission Requirement Page 
• University of Basel Tuition Details Page

There are 7 Faculties at the University of Basel: Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Science, Faculty of business and economics, Faculty of Theology, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Psychology, and institute of education science.

The institution is the oldest in Switzerland and is ranked among the top 100 universities worldwide. International students are offered various scholarships, such as the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship, to reward students with outstanding academic performance.

In this institution, students are offered Bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and doctorate programs through a series of courses.

University of Bern

• Tuition fees: CHF 750 per semester
• University of Bern Admission Requirement Page 
• University of Bern Tuition Details Page 

Apart from being among the most affordable higher institutions in Switzerland, the University of Bern is among other institutions spearheading the possibility of having full-time online lectures. 

The modern adoption in the school allows for a complete switch of all teaching activities to an online channel for over 19,000 students within the space. To this effect, the school has, in recent years, developed new approaches for its research activities.

It is a public institution based in the Swiss capital of Bern and made up of eight faculties which are the Faculty of Theology, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Human Sciences, Faculty of Science. Through these faculties, a series of courses are taught at different levels.

FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern 

• Tuition fees: Starts from 700 CHF 
• University of Applied Sciences and Arts Admission Requirement Page 
• University of Applied Sciences and Arts Tuition Details Page 

Nine schools are under the FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland. They are the school of applied Psychology, school of engineering, school of architecture, civil engineering and geomatics, school of education, school of life sciences, school of social work, school of business, academy of music, and academy of art and design.

An institution is a group of higher education institutions based in Western Switzerland that heavily prioritizes practicals over theory.

A series of courses for Bachelor’s and master’s degree programs are offered to students through the colleges under the university.

The FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland currently has more than 12,000 students, some of which are international students.

University of Zurich

• Tuition fees: From 820 CHF Per Semester for both undergraduate and graduate programs
• University of Zurich Admission Requirement Page
• University of Zurich Tuition Details Page

The University of Zurich in Switzerland is home to many international students. It is considered one fo the most affordable in the country, despite its excellent facilities and very high quality of education. 

At this university, the primary language of study for a Bachelor’s degree is Swiss-German which would have been a barrier for international students thanks to the rising number of English programs in the institution. Most master’s programs in some faculties are administered in English now.

The school has a student body of 30,000 and has been in operation since 1833. This university has seven different faculties, such as the Faculty of Computer Sciences, Philosophy, Mathematics, Law, Economics, Medicine, and Engineering.

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne

• Tuition fees: 780 CHF Per Semester for Undergraduate and graduate programs
• Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Admission Requirement Page 
• Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Tuition Details Page

The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology draws many international students into Switzerland due to its low tuition fees and high education standards.

Located in Lausanne, the institution was developed by the government as a show of support to engineers and scientists in the country.

Given that the school is located in the French-speaking area of Switzerland, it would help if international students learn the language for easy integration. But this doesn’t seem to be a problem given that 50 percent of Swiss Federal Institute of Technology students are international students.

This is an excellent college to attend if you want a place with enough extracurricular activities to choose from while studying.

At this university, students can join various groups such as ones on music festivals, reading clubs, anime clubs, and others.

It is one of the most affordable institutions in Switzerland.

How affordable is it to study in Switzerland?

Studying in Switzerland is affordable to a great extent, considering the presence of many cheap universities with scholarship options for international students. Aside from that, the average cost of living in Switzerland for students is another good indication that it is affordable to live and school there, but this largely depends on your lifestyle and the city you are based in.

Do cheap universities in Switzerland teach in English?

Some universities in Switzerland are based in the French-saturated part of the country, while in some other universities majority of the programs and courses are administered in Swiss-German. However, some universities in Switzerland have English as their language of instruction.

Fortunately, most English-inclined universities are affordable and reviewed in the above article.

What exam is required when studying in cheap universities in Switzerland?

IELTS is not a requirement when studying at affordable universities in Switzerland. International students looking to apply to any of the above universities may be required to write other exams like TOEFL.

In Summary

Switzerland is home to QS-ranked universities, which partly explains why it has become a hot destination for international students who want to study abroad.

For a country with so much glitz and glamour, it is customary to second-guess your judgment on the affordability of many Switzerland schools due to fear of the high expenses in this country.

But the universities reviewed in the above article prove that you can still obtain valuable education at a price that fits your educational budget.

So, if you have been looking to study in the top affordable universities in Switzerland, I hope this post was the Superman saving the day.