Switzerland has two of the best universities in the world — ETH Zurich (7th in the QS World University Rankings 2026) and EPFL in Lausanne (22nd) — and tuition that is far lower than in the United States or the United Kingdom. The catch is the cost of living: Zurich and Geneva are among the most expensive cities on earth. A Swiss degree is therefore a very good deal on tuition and a very expensive one on rent, food and health insurance. This guide gives you the real 2027 numbers, the new international tuition rates, the visa rules and the scholarships that can make it affordable.
The 12 public universities
Switzerland has 12 public universities: ten cantonal universities and two federal institutes of technology — ETH Zurich and EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne). ETH Zurich is strongest in engineering, computer science, architecture and the natural sciences; EPFL is strongest in engineering, computer science, life sciences and architecture. The cantonal universities include the University of Zurich, the University of Geneva, the University of Bern, the University of Basel, the University of Lausanne, the University of St. Gallen (business and economics), the University of Fribourg, the University of Neuchâtel and the University of Lucerne, plus the Università della Svizzera italiana in Lugano. Most bachelor's degrees are taught in the local language — German at ETH Zurich and Zurich, French at EPFL, Geneva and Lausanne, Italian at Lugano — while most master's degrees are taught in English. That language split shapes everything: if you want a bachelor's at ETH Zurich you need German at C1 level; if you want a master's, English is usually enough.
Tuition fees 2026-27 — the big change
From the autumn semester of 2025, ETH Zurich and EPFL tripled tuition for international students who move to Switzerland to study. The new rate is CHF 2,190 per semester (about CHF 4,380 a year), against CHF 730 per semester for Swiss students and students who earned their school-leaving qualification in Switzerland. Students already enrolled before autumn 2025 are grandfathered at the old rate. At the cantonal universities, international tuition in 2026-27 ranges from CHF 435 to CHF 4,000 per semester, before compulsory fees: the University of Geneva charges about CHF 500 per semester, the University of Zurich CHF 720 per semester (plus a surcharge of CHF 500 at bachelor's level and CHF 100 at master's level for foreign students), the University of Lausanne CHF 580 per semester, and the University of St. Gallen CHF 3,343.50 per semester for foreign bachelor's students from autumn 2026. Even at the new ETH/EPFL rate, Swiss tuition is a fraction of what a comparable degree costs in the US or UK — but remember that tuition is the small part of a Swiss budget.
Living costs — the real expense
ETH Zurich advises international students to budget CHF 20,000–26,000 a year for living and study costs. Its own detailed estimate puts average living costs at about CHF 22,100 a year, of which rent is around CHF 11,300 and food about CHF 7,200. EPFL estimates about CHF 2,107 a month for a foreign student in Lausanne, not counting tuition. The Budgetberatung Schweiz guideline for 2025-26 puts a student in a flatshare at CHF 1,735–3,260 a month. Three costs surprise newcomers most. First, health insurance is mandatory — every resident must hold basic Swiss (KVG) cover within three months of arrival, at roughly CHF 280–380 a month. Second, rental deposits run to three months' rent, held in a blocked Swiss bank account. Third, accommodation is brutally tight: a room in a shared flat costs CHF 700–1,100 a month in Zurich, and the rental market is one of the tightest in Europe. For the visa, the canton of Zurich accepts CHF 21,000 for twelve months as sufficient living funds, confirmed by a bank authorised in Switzerland.
Admission and the visa
Admission to a Swiss bachelor's degree depends on whether your school-leaving certificate is recognised. Pakistani FSc/A-level qualifications are assessed case by case: ETH Zurich may require a reduced or comprehensive entrance examination if your certificate is not recognised, while EPFL runs its own first-year selection — historically, 40–50% of students fail the first-year Basisprüfung (basic examination). For a master's degree, you apply directly to the university with your bachelor's transcripts, a CV, a statement of purpose and proof of English (usually IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL 100 for English-taught programmes at ETH and EPFL). Deadlines are early: most master's applications close between 15 November and 15 December 2026 for autumn 2027 entry, so start in the autumn of 2026, not the spring of 2027. After admission, you apply for a Swiss student visa (type D) at the Swiss embassy, showing your admission letter, proof of funds (about CHF 21,000 a year) and health insurance. Students may work up to 15 hours a week during term (with a permit, after six months of residence in most cantons) and full-time during holidays.
Scholarships and the honest verdict
The best-known scholarships are the ETH Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP), which covers full tuition plus a living stipend for outstanding master's applicants, and the EPFL Excellence Fellowships, which offer CHF 10,000 per semester plus a guaranteed room in student accommodation. The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships fund research stays and PhDs (not bachelor's or master's degrees), and several cantonal universities offer their own merit awards. The honest verdict: a Swiss master's degree is one of the best value-for-money options in the world if you get in — world-class teaching, low tuition, and starting salaries for ETH and EPFL master's graduates in tech of CHF 100,000–130,000 a year. But it is not a cheap option overall, because living costs are so high, and admission is fiercely competitive. Apply to ETH or EPFL only if your grades are genuinely excellent, and have a backup plan in Germany or the Netherlands, where living costs are lower.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need German or French to study in Switzerland? For a bachelor's degree, usually yes — German at ETH Zurich, French at EPFL. For most master's degrees, English is enough.
How much does ETH Zurich cost now? CHF 2,190 per semester for new international students (about CHF 4,380 a year), plus living costs of about CHF 22,100 a year in Zurich.
Can I work while studying? Yes — up to 15 hours a week during term (after six months of residence in most cantons) and full-time during holidays, with a work permit.
Is there a post-study work visa? Non-EU graduates may stay for six months to look for a job, and can then apply for a work permit if they find a qualified position — but the employer must show that no Swiss or EU candidate was available.
Related guides on Pakunii
Fully Funded Scholarships 2027 · IELTS Academic Guide · FAFSA 2027-28 Guide · TOEFL iBT 2027 Guide
Sources and verification: swissuniversities 2026-27 tuition schedule (ETH Zurich and EPFL CHF 2,190/semester for students who move to Switzerland to study; Swiss-qualified CHF 730; cantonal universities CHF 435–4,000/semester); ETH Zurich Financial Aid Office cost estimate (living CHF 22,100/year; total with tuition CHF 28,100); canton of Zurich proof of funds CHF 21,000 for 12 months; QS World University Rankings 2026 (ETH Zurich 7th, EPFL 22nd). Confirm the current fee on the university's own page before applying.