Study in Switzerland Overview

Switzerland is not only known for its wonderful landscapes, famous brands such as chocolates, cheeses, watches or unique exhibitions and museums, it is also considered a place worth living in the world with a peaceful, friendly environment and a high quality of life. In addition, for a long time, Swiss education has been evaluated as a world-class education with diverse training in many fields, effective teaching methods and quality degrees recognized by friends around the world. Let’s learn about this education system with us.

In Switzerland, education is focused and invested. The government and the states work closely together to provide a well-rounded education for pupils and students. The education depends on each canton of Switzerland (including 26 cantons), the cantons all have different educational policies, methods and study time but all follow the common framework of the Government. They ensure the quality and effectiveness of the educational program. In the educational process that spans from primary school (including pre-school) and secondary school (middle school and high school) and post-secondary education (university level), almost all tuition fees are completely free for the required curriculum and are funded by the Government and states. Although there are still private schools, almost 95% of Swiss children are sent to public schools by their parents.

Compulsory study program in Switzerland

The compulsory curriculum comprises 11 years, starting from 2 years of kindergarten to 3 years of junior high school (from 4 to 15 years old) depending on the state.

Primary

Primary school is 8 years old, including kindergarten, which lasts from 4 to 12 years old. Before entering primary school, children can attend preschool classes (these kindergartens are optional) but if they are part of the state elementary curriculum, they are required to attend. However, most states send children to kindergarten when they are 4 years old. After completing 2 years of kindergarten, they will enter elementary school.

However, there are some states that combine kindergarten with the first years of elementary school, often referred to as the first school cycle. As in the German-speaking states, children between the ages of 4 and 8 will be in the same class during the first school cycle. Or the French-speaking states consider the two years of kindergarten as part of the first year of primary school, which lasts for four years. The state of Ticino alone has 7 years of primary school, and 3-year-olds can go to school for another year before entering 2 years of kindergarten. There are also a few German-speaking states that do not require kindergarten or only require one year. Mostly, kindergarten classes teach children manners and basic knowledge of Math, Language and Swiss Culture.

Middle School Level

Compulsory education includes a 3-year junior high school (four years in Ticino state), usually from grades 7 to 9 (ages 11 to 15). The academic year in Switzerland usually begins in mid-August or September and ends in May or June. Schools follow a three-month (12 weeks) semester system with two semesters per year. After finishing primary school, based on academic ability or transfer exam, determine the student’s ability to be placed in a suitable high school.

There are 3 different models of High School structure:

• Threading model: comprise separate fields and classes with different program requirements. Based on academic performance, students will be admitted to a different type of school.
• Collaborative model: include classes with different levels of academic achievement and program requirements (general or advanced).
• Integrated model: comprise non-selective classes and students of different levels all in the same class. All school models focus on providing an environment for personality development, problem-solving, as well as training in teamwork.

The subjects taught are mainly Languages ​​Spoken in the States, Foreign Languages ​​(English for other electives), Mathematics, Natural and Social Sciences, etc. In addition, there are several additional fields. interdisciplinary such as Information Technology, Sex Education, some related to Culture, Religion, ...

In most states, students receive grades and progress reports every two years. Or there will be end-of-term tests to assess student ability depending on the state. Parent-teacher meetings take place regularly to discuss their child’s academic performance.

High School Level (After Compulsory Curriculum)

After completing compulsory education, students can choose to go to high school or not. However, most students choose to study up. During the transition to high school, junior high schools will open classes to equip students with the best skills to prepare for high school.

General high school (15 years old to 19 years old) divides into schools with General Education Program and schools with Vocational Training Programs.

Schools with a general education program: including Baccalaureate School and High School for the Gifted

• For Baccalaureate School (about ⅓ students attend): usually lasts up to 4 or 6 years depending on the state. They prepare students for higher education programs without going too far into professional qualifications. Students after obtaining the Baccalaureate Diploma (Matura / Maturité) can apply to study at State Universities, Teacher Training Universities and Institutes of Technology.
• For the Senior High School (about 5% of students enter): they provide general education and professional education programs in specific career areas. Students can earn a Specialized Baccalaureate Diploma (Fachmaturität / maturité spécialisée) and study at Universities of Applied Sciences and pre-school and primary teacher courses at Teacher Training Universities.

Schools with Vocational Training (VET): most students choose this education after completing a compulsory program. Vocational schools have over 250 different careers that students can choose from. In Switzerland, professional degrees can be obtained at the upper secondary level, while in other countries these degrees must be obtained from universities. Vocational schools train based on practice along with theory, improving students’ skills. Students will receive either a Federal VET or a Vocational Baccalaureate diploma upon completion of the course. They are allowed admission to Universities of Applied Sciences.

Undergraduate and Graduate Levels in Switzerland

Universities in Switzerland are very prestigious and prestigious in the world. The schools are among the top schools with a reputation for teaching quality and a long history. This is also the home of famous universities in Europe with extensive experience in fields such as Science, Technology, Finance, Banking and Restaurant - Hotel. The schools are in different language-speaking states such as France, Germany, Italy. Therefore, educational programs may be entirely or partly in English, so please find out the information about the school before coming to study. In Switzerland, there are 10 cantonal universities and 2 federal institutes of technology. The cantonal universities are operated and managed by the cantons while the Institutes of Technology are directly responsible for the Swiss Government. Besides the above two types of schools, there are two other types of schools: 12 Teachers Colleges that provide practice-oriented education and 8 Schools of Applied Sciences and Arts that provide scientific and professional education, all of which train and offer Bachelor and Master degrees. Only 12 state educational institutions (10 State Universities and 2 Federal Institutes of Technology) may grant PhD degrees.

Switzerland is famous for being the country of many landscapes and different cultures, a good living environment, especially top-quality education and ground-breaking research. In addition, this is also a major economic center of the world and home to many leading large companies. This country always creates favorable conditions for international students to study and work. However, if you want to study in Switzerland, you should prepare enough money because this country is one of the most expensive places in the world. So we will give you some necessary information for you to budget for yourself.

Cost of Studying in Switzerland

With top quality and effective education methods, Switzerland always welcomes thousands of international students to study every year. If you are in other European countries, the tuition fee will be higher if you are not in the EU (European Union) or EEA (European Economic Area). However, in Switzerland, the opposite is true, the tuition fee will be available to all students whether they belong to these groups. The tuition fees of the schools are quite easy to breathe, lower than the tuition fees of the UK or the US. The cost of tuition depends on the school, level and profession you choose. Except for private schools and a few exceptions such as the University of Fribourg, the University of Lucerne, the University of St. Gallen… (these schools will have higher tuition fees for citizens of non-priority countries or tuition fees for international students will be higher than Swiss students), tuition fees at public schools have a higher rate. Affordable prices funded by the Government.

Average tuition fees of Universities in Switzerland:

• Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Programs: ranging from 500 to 3.000 CHF/semester (about 12.397.687 - 74.386.124 VND)
• Doctoral program: ranges from 100 to 1000 CHF/semester (equivalent to 2.479.220 - 24.792.202 VND).

Here are some Universities with affordable tuition fees:

• ETH Zurich University: 730 CHF/year (about 18.100.624 VND)
• University of Bern: 950 CHF/year (about 23,555,606 VND)
• University of Lausanne: 780 CHF/year (about 19.340.392 VND)
• University of Geneva: 1000 CHF/year (about 24.795.375 VND).

You can waive tuition fees by applying for scholarships or taking part in student exchange programs. In addition, there are additional costs incurred during the study process, such as health insurance, books and supplies, student cards, tickets to the library or contributions to school funds…

Cost of Living in Switzerland

Although the tuition fees of schools in Switzerland are affordable, the cost of living is quite expensive. For international students, the major concern they have is the cost of living as it makes up the bulk of your economic costs. Your level of living depends on where you live, where you live and your personal lifestyle.

Place to live

If you choose to live in the major cities of Switzerland, the cost of living will be quite high, the budget can exceed 1.500 CHF per month (about 37.193.062 VND). The big cities here are considered the most livable in the world with high quality of life and living costs such as Geneva ranging from 1.700 - 2.700 CHF a month (about 42.152.137 - 66.947.512 VND) and Zurich ranges from 1.700 - 2.400 CHF per month (equivalent to 42.152.137 - 59.508.899 VND). However, you can choose small towns or cities that will cost less.

House

When going to another country to study, finding accommodation is extremely difficult and time-consuming. Therefore, universities try to provide and support their best to find stable accommodation for students. You can stay in the school dormitory for an affordable price. However, the number of dorm rooms is often limited and not all schools have them, so if you want to stay in a dormitory, please apply as soon as possible when you receive your admission letter.

In order to meet the needs of students to find accommodation, universities in Switzerland have a Housing Office or an International Office to assist students in finding affordable accommodation ranging from CHF 500 to CHF 800. equivalent to 12.397.687 - 19.836.300 VND) per month.

In addition, you can also rent a private house outside at a slightly more expensive price (about 800 - 2000 CHF equivalent to 19.836.300 - 49.590.750 VND per month). If you rent near the city center, the price will be more expensive than the areas outside the center. You can live alone or share a room with roommates, friends, co-workers or locals to both reduce costs and get exposure to different cultures.

Food

Accommodation is not the only payment. Food is also an issue that many international students care about. You should set a reasonable dining budget while living in Switzerland.

Eating out here is quite expensive. Food in a week can fluctuate around 75 CHF - 100 CHF equivalent to 1.859.653 - 2.479.537 VND (including rice, vegetables, eggs...). In Switzerland, meat is extremely expensive (especially beef), more expensive than anywhere else in the world. So it’s best to limit your intake and switch to a vegetarian diet to save money.

Drinks such as beer (8 CHF about 198.363 VND), a cocktail (7 CHF about 173.567 VND), a glass of Cappuccino (6 CHF about 148.772 VND), ... are not cheap. Even popular drinks like Coca Cola (3 CHF about 74.386 VND) are more expensive than other countries in Europe.

You can buy food at cheap supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl in Germany. In particular, it is advisable to limit buying at large supermarkets such as Migros, COOP and Spar.COOP because these are the supermarkets with the most expensive prices. Also, you should shop after 5 pm as many stores offer 50% off on many items.

Besides cooking at home, you can try dishes at outside restaurants (average meal ranges from 15 to 40 CHF equivalent to 370,797 - 988,791 VND). Admittedly, restaurants in Switzerland have different prices depending on the quality of the restaurant. If you eat at commercial areas about 26 CHF (about 644.679 VND) or you can also eat at ethnic restaurants of different countries about 10 - 20 CHF (equivalent to 247.953 - 495.907 VND) with Asian food then about 15 CHF (equivalent to 371.930 VND).

Vehicles

Switzerland provides a safe and efficient transport network that runs across the country. You can go by bus, taxi, tram, train or even by boat and many other choices to get around. Travel fees can be expensive depending on how far or near the city center you live in. 11% of students walk, 10% of students ride bicycles and in addition use other means of transportation. A monthly ticket for transportation costs about 50 CHF (equivalent to 123,9768 VND). To save money, you can ride a bicycle as Switzerland provides a network of bicycle transport throughout the country. In addition, SBB applications will help you look up the fastest destination no matter how you travel.

Switzerland is one of the most livable countries in the world with an excellent quality of life and a safe and friendly international environment. In addition, this country is always proud to be a multicultural country. You can understand more about the cultures of different people. This will be an opportunity for you to adapt more quickly to the international environment. In particular, there is education with standard teaching quality in many outstanding fields such as Science, Technology and Engineering, Restaurant-Hotel Management, Finance-Banking,... There are many benefits when you live and study here. However, many international students have to think very hard whether to choose Switzerland as their study place in the future or not. Since a high quality of life often goes hand in hand with high costs, Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries in the world.

If you do not get scholarships from the Government and schools, self-study abroad will be extremely expensive. Money is not everything, but it is the decisive key to help us meet our personal needs and fulfill our dreams. Therefore, most international students to Switzerland work part-time while studying to cover their living expenses as well as reduce the burden on their families back home.

Below we will provide you with some essential information related to part-time jobs you need to know as well as the jobs you can do while studying in Switzerland.

Work Permit in Switzerland

To meet the needs of students, the Swiss Government has provided information on issuing a work permit during the study abroad process.

Non-EU (European Union)/EFTA (European Free Trade Association) nationals must get a work permit before applying for a job. You must submit this form to the Competent Authority of the state in which you will work soon. To get a work permit, you have to wait about 6 months after admission. For those who are studying for a Master’s program (with a Bachelor’s degree abroad) who are studying at Swiss institutions, there is no need to wait. You will be licensed as soon as you enter. Make sure you study full time and that part-time jobs won’t affect your studies or achievements.

Working time in Switzerland

The Swiss government allows up to 15 hours of overtime work per week (i.e. about 2 hours per day) during the study and full-time work during semester breaks. You will be able to work part-time after 6 months from the date of admission. Most employers will pay you a minimum wage of CHF 24.50 per hour (about 2.000 to 2.800 CHF (a month).

Part-time jobs while studying in Switzerland

You should be prepared for any job available such as cleaning, kitchen help, dog walking, babysitting, snow removal, media assistant. There are many other jobs that you may be interested in, such as:

Hotel-Restaurant staff: Switzerland is favored by nature for its fresh air, beautiful scenery such as rivers and lakes, cliffs, valleys... Taking advantage of the above treasures, Switzerland has built High-quality Travel Service and also the origin of the Travel Service, Restaurants and Hotel industries with many palatial long-standing hotels in the world. Therefore, you will be surprised to see restaurants and eateries covering all over the country and they are constantly recruiting staff for them. Here, you will be able to try yourself in a professional environment, practice carefulness, meticulousness, ingenuity in working as well as good improvisation when facing difficult problems. This job can solve the job time to balance between work and study.

Babysitter (babysitter): If you are a person who loves children, this job will be great for you. Most families in Switzerland have little time to take care of their children, so they are always looking for a nanny for their children. This will be an easy job for you with a flexible working time frame. However, any job requires certain requirements and experience. This job requires you to be a person who really loves children, has high patience, knows how to take care and communicate with children.

Call centre worker and customer consultant: This is a job chosen by many students. Switzerland is a multicultural country, each canton uses a distinct language (German, Italian, French and Romansh of the canton of Grisons). Therefore, if you know more than 3 languages ​​(Native Language, English Language and Other Languages ​​like French, German, Italian) can be a huge advantage. The job will require you to be friendly, a good communicator, tactful and flexible problem solver. This job also helps you to improve your vocabulary, to interact with many people of different cultures living in Switzerland.

In addition, universities also offer some part-time jobs for students such as student assistants, laboratory assistants or teaching assistants for on-campus courses. These jobs require experience related to the field you are pursuing as well as your education needs to be good. The job will help you gain experience, practice a professional and careful attitude, perseverance (because it can be very stressful), as well as help, beautify your CV after graduation.