How to Proceed When Wishing to Study in Switzerland
Swiss Education System: diversified but coherent
Swiss Education System: How it works

Swiss Education System

Switzerland is the European country of education.

With 21% foreign students and 40% foreign professors Swiss scientific universities are the most international in Europe. Composed of 26 cantons Switzerland is a federal state in Central Europe.

It is a nation shaped by the resolve of its citizens: it is not an ethnic, linguistic or religious entity. The culture of Switzerland, in fact, is characterised by the diversity of its geography, its languages and its religious affiliation. This is reflected in the variety of its literature, art, architecture, music and customs. Switzerland is home to three of Europe’s major languages (German, French and Italian), but apart from Romantsch – spoken by only 0.5% of the population – it has no language of its own. Due to its geographical diversity Switzerland is the ideal country for all sorts of sports such as skiing, snowboarding, windsurfing, skating, biking and many more.

In Switzerland, as in all democratic countries, citizens elect representatives to act on their behalf. But Switzerland gives its citizens the chance to take a direct part in decision-making as well through the popular initiative and the referendum, two instruments that make the Swiss political system probably the most extensive in the world.

Switzerland is a neutral state. The status of neutrality has not only protected Switzerland from war, but has helped prevent the country from being torn apart when its different language communities might have been tempted to side with different belligerents in cases of conflict. Switzerland’s neutrality also allows the country (and its universities) to act as a mediator. Its diplomats often represent the interests of countries which have no relations with each other.

Proud of its humanitarian tradition, Switzerland has long been a place of refuge for those persecuted for political reasons, and has in turn been enriched by the contribution they and their descendents have made to Swiss life.

Switzerland is a healthy country both in terms of its inhabitants’ mental and physical health and with respect to its industry, environment and lifestyle. One of the joys in Switzerland is travelling by public transport. It doesn’t matter whether a destination is a major city or a remote village : trains and buses are generally timetabled to meet each other and enable passengers to get from A to B in the least possible time. Studying in four languages and cultures in reachable distance is only possible in Switzerland.

Switzerland is internationally recognised as a leading centre for research, and is home to a number of institutes of world-wide importance.

The economy in Switzerland is based on a highly qualified labour force performing highly skilled work. The main areas include micro-technology, hi-tech, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, as well as banking and insurance know-how.

In a league table compiled by the Financial Times in 2001 Switzerland was ranked highest among countries best placed to develop their high-technology industries.

Source: www.swissuniversity.ch