Switzerland continues to be one of the top study abroad destinations, with its diversity in program selection, prestigious reputation, and exciting opportunities in and out of the classroom. How could you not want to go? If you’re already packing your bags like the rest of us, these tips for studying abroad in Switzerland have you covered!

The truth is, there are many academic reasons to pursue study abroad in Switzerland, but there are just as many non-academic reasons to go! From the incredible chocolates and cheeses to the array of cultures blending to visiting the iconic Swiss Alps—there’s an adventure for everyone beyond academics.

15 best tips for studying abroad in Switzerland

Studying abroad is meant to be an immersive experience full of both knowledge acquisition and learning about your host country. The most simple advice for studying abroad in Switzerland is to find the right balance and be present in your studies and personal life. But, of course, there’s a handful more practical tips worth knowing!

1. Start with the basics

When looking for study abroad advice for Switzerland, there’s no better place to check into than the obvious first—academics! Researching programs and course availability can provide real motivation to pursue your studies in Switzerland. The range of programs available comes from reliable universities with great reputations.

Art, public health, and travel & tourism are just a few of the many options available to study in Switzerland. However, there are plenty more programs to choose from, and Switzerland doesn’t have a bad pick in the bunch. Swiss universities are widely recognized as having some of the best curriculums in Europe.

2. Remember, safety first

If you’re considering safety, as any traveler should, Switzerland is routinely praised for being one of the safest countries in the world. Switzerland has incredibly low crime rates, and that’s not surprising with its long-standing political stance.

The Swiss people, and their cultural expectations of being kind and collaborative, really lend themselves to being a relatively welcoming place for anyone. As a student traveling solo or for the first time, it’s a great option to be able to see a little of the world while focusing on academics.

3. High standards

With Switzerland being one of the safest places in the world, their quality of life is (unsurprisingly) substantial. As an innovator in tech and with incredibly high academic standards, Swiss people are creative and curious to continually push each other to better the community. This standard is brought to Swiss classrooms, so be prepared to participate in an open, collaborative, and highly studious environment.

If that all sounds intimidating, don’t worry! The Swiss value, and also respect, personal and leisure time away from their professional and academic careers. So don’t be afraid to put the book down every now and again and leave the library!

4. International pull

One of the best study abroad tips for Switzerland, or any other country for that matter, is to look at the international student population overview. For Switzerland, the population has been steadily increasing, and only shows signs of going up!

Between the multilingual nature, the general quality of life, academics, and Switzerland being nicknamed Europe’s playground, it’s no surprise that it’s a great place for international students to study. Switzerland’s geography is also pretty central in Europe, making it a great home base while visiting other countries.

5. Neutrality is key

Switzerland, since 1815, is known for being a neutral country. It stands true in its neutrality and isn’t a part of the European Union, the European Economic Area, or the Eurozone. It’s a great place for students to study without worrying about geopolitical issues, for the most part.

The country plays host to many organizations that align with this mentality. For example, you’ll find the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)—of which Switzerland is a founding member. Along with that, Switzerland houses the second-largest office of the United Nations (UN).

6. Cool mountains, lakes, and architecture, oh my!

Before you head off to Switzerland, know that the country is incredibly mountainous because of the Alps. Along with the incredible range stretching through the country, there are 7,000 lakes, plateaus, and other natural feats, so prepare to traverse, if you choose to do so. The area is known for its outdoor activities because of its extensive and diverse nature, so yes, bring those good hiking boots.

Additionally, you can find Roman, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassical, Art Nouveau, Modern, and Postmodern styles of structures speckled throughout the cities and even more remote parts of the country. It’s a great way to wander through a new part of Switzerland on weekends or visit for academic purposes.

The architecture is an incredible sight. Paired with stunning lakes, mountain ranges—and often both—it’s the stuff of fairy tales.

7. Take a hike (or relax)!

A great tip is to not miss out on finding things to do outside of campus in Switzerland and check out what the locals do! The absolute-must-not-miss is, of course, the Swiss Alps. Since the range covers well more than half of the country’s geography, and there are 1,0850 recognized mountains named, it’s an undeniable part of the culture and way of life to experience.

Not a super outdoorsy type? No worries! There are cable cars to take in the mountain views, regional food and wine tours to get a taste of Switzerland, and even thermal baths to soak and take everything in.

8. Get chatty

Some great advice for studying abroad in Switzerland is to be prepared to hear and speak some different languages! Yes, languages; the country has four official languages—Romansh, French, German, and Italian. On top of that, don’t be surprised if you hear more variations of some of the ones above.

Romansh, for those who are unfamiliar, is a descendant language of the Roman Empire. It’s predominantly spoken in the canton (districts or geographical areas) of Grisons.

Switzerland is a wonderful host to even more different languages, including English! It’s an incredible place to try your skills in any language and pick up some of the fun regional differences, too.

If you’re concerned about speaking another language other than English, don’t worry. Keep a look out for English-speaking programs and tracks—they do offer them.

9. A country that cares

It’s well known Switzerland has a long-standing reputation for being a caring and peaceful country globally, but did you know that it was the same for its citizens? Their motto “Unity, yes; uniformity, no” is a testament to the Swiss people and how they carry on as a nation. They believe in treating everyone with respect and have a high standard of gender equality policies well in place.

Don’t take advantage of their easygoing and collaborative nature, though; they are big on punctuality and respect. If you can keep up with that social aspect—you’ll be met with the same.

10. Make a budget and find deals

Money can be a big concern for any student studying abroad. For any international student seeking study abroad tips for Switzerland in terms of funding, it can be tricky. The cost of living in the country is high and can be difficult to budget for.

As a student, make sure you take or get an International Student Identity Card (ISIC) for discounts anywhere in the world. The ISIC card is a great catch-all bound to offer deals anywhere you go. There are more specific options; such as transportation and museum cards, that can also be beneficial. Check in with other prospective students or the university you’re interested in for more specific options and read up on how to make a budget, in the meantime.

11. See the sights in all sorts of ways

The ways to travel through Switzerland come in plenty of different shapes and sizes—cable cars, trams, multiple types of buses, trains, and even passenger ships on some occasions, are all available.

So, how much does it all cost? Unfortunately, it can become pretty pricey quickly (especially at different points throughout the year) but a great tip to save while studying in Switzerland is to look into passes.

As mentioned, an International Student Identity Card can offer great discounts. Other options like a Swiss Travel Pass (which can also provide free admission to various museums) and a regular student ID from your university can be other viable options.

12. Eat like the locals do

Of course, you have to eat while abroad, so why not try some Swiss classics? The obvious choices are cheeses and chocolates (Switzerland is the home of Toblerone, after all!) but there’s plenty to taste and experience. With influences from neighboring countries like Germany, France, Austria, and Italy, it makes for an incredible culinary landscape.

A standout is Rösti, and it’s something not to be missed! Rösti is a hybrid between a potato pancake and hash browns but native to the farmers of the canton of Bern who used to eat the dish as a filling breakfast.

It’s made of grated parboiled or raw potato and can be fried on the stove or baked in the oven. Various fats and other small ingredients can be added, depending on the meal or preparation. Today Rösti is the national dish, and can be found at any time of the day, from being a side to a whole dish.

It never hurts to find your new favorite dish while abroad!

13. There’s always a reason to celebrate

Switzerland is made up of many wonderful little mountain towns and bigger cities that hold their own unique traditions. The makeup and history of these cantons have been influenced by their neighboring countries, making each part of Switzerland all the more unique. There’s a lot of blending of regions, with the largest influences becoming more centralized as Switzerland has continued to develop.

To get a glimpse into some of the most beloved parts of the country consider hitting festivals like Fasnacht, Sechseläuten, the International Alphorn Festival, or the Swiss Yodeling Festival.

Fests like Fasnacht, Switzerland’s largest festival and lead-in to Lent celebration—a la Mardi Gras—but with Protestant-specific roots, and Sechseläuten, which welcomes the Spring season, focuses on a specific time of the year.

The International Alphorn Festival and the Swiss Yodeling Festival focus more on the cultural and social aspects of what makes Switzerland unique. All are great fun and welcoming to anyone interested in checking them out.

14. All in on inclusivity

Switzerland is and has been making space for gender equality since the 1980s and continues to do so. Although there’s still a pay gap, Switzerland does uphold the rights and liberties of women. As mentioned, the country is considered one of the safest in the world.

As for the LGBTQI+ community, the cities are progressive, but a standout amongst them is Zurich. If you’re in the country at the right time, some ski resorts offer an LGBTQI+ week—open and available for anyone to come and join in on the events. There are plenty of options and places to feel safe as a female or as a member of the queer community.

15. Head to class

As we started, the best advice for studying abroad in Switzerland is to check out the educational offerings beyond anything else! Just like study abroad programs, the educational system, and the schools that teach in this manner, are some of the best in the world!

There are twelve universities to choose from, and many rank high in the top schools. So, our favorite, and the best study abroad tip for Switzerland is to check out all the programs available to narrow down your favorites.

Going from there, you can see which institution offers your area of interest. Degrees from Switzerland are highly regarded in the professional fields because of their academic reputation.

3 study abroad programs in Switzerland to get you started

With the promise of great natural sights like the Central Plateau and 7,000 lakes, as well as the incredible social and cultural eats, festivals, and attractions outside of studies you may be wondering if there are more specific tips for studying abroad in Switzerland. Researching what you want to study is your next step—here are a few of our favorite study abroad programs in Switzerland.

1. SIT Study Abroad: Switzerland: Global Health & Dev. Policy

• Highlights: If you’re studying in any health field, there’s no place better than Switzerland! With the committee of the Red Cross within its borders, it’s an obvious choice to consider. Beyond the work in Switzerland, this program includes a brief visit to Morocco, in both modern cities and rural communities, to broaden your understanding and experience of the world of medicine and international aid.
• The program offers the ability to compare and contrast two geographic areas and their needs. Experts from the Worldwide Health Organization (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières, and more are accessible during parts of the program’s duration. It’s a great opportunity to practice French, pursue independent study projects, and have a travel pass to explore Switzerland.

• 2. Research Study Abroad in Geneva, Switzerland

• Highlights: Those who are interested in liberal arts and humanities, wait! Before you skim past this section, you have options available to you here, too. Of course the more traditional research fields—sciences and engineering—have plenty of reasons to check this program out.
• • The University of Geneva is one of the best and leading schools in research, and offers participants projects in a given subject, as mentioned. Studying at Geneva is a great opportunity to learn a language, explore the culture, and have unique hands-on experiences in a professional environment. The subjects are vast ranging from accounting research projects to women’s studies.

  • 3. Study Abroad in Switzerland | YFU

  • Highlights: Youth For Understanding is all about a safe and wholesome immersive experience! Students will be paired with securely vetted host families during their studies. It’s an incredible four-week course that dives fully into honing and practicing a language of choice.
  • Students will be enrolled in a gymnasium (high school for university-bound students) and study alongside Swiss peers. This program offers the opportunity to find incredible connections and community with a family, other students, and YFU as you navigate the program. It’s a great way to be introduced to Europe and YFU has options for students to add on some extracurricular academic activities for additional costs.

• The right advice can shape a successful study abroad experience!

  Hopefully, now that you know some great tips for studying abroad in Switzerland, you can see yourself taking in the Matterhorn on a hike, sauntering the Swiss-Italian coast of Lugano, or cozied up with friends surrounding a pot of fondue! Whatever university you’re at, know that the Swiss staff are open to sharing their knowledge and have even more study abroad advice for Switzerland specifically since they’ve experienced it all firsthand.