TASA ASIA | Switzerland

Universities in Switzerland are highly regarded around the world. Listed below are a few features of Switzerland that make it a sought after study abroad destination.

Highly reputed institutions

Swiss universities and the faculty have a high reputation all over Europe. The universities are of top quality and facilities which exceed the students’ needs. The compact class size, practical courses, and diverse research opportunities make it a preferred destination for higher studies.

Diversity

Switzerland has four national languages and 26 federal states which makes it one of the most diverse regions in Europe. International students get to learn and absorb much due to this diversity.

High-quality life and great landscape

Most of the people around the world have Switzerland in their travel wishlist. From beautiful landscapes to the Alps, Switzerland is picturesque. Also, quality of life is high. Studying at such a place is a memorable journey for students.

International network

Switzerland has a considerable number of the international student population. This helps in the social and professional networking of students, which will help them in their careers.

Connectivity and Safety

Switzerland borders five other European countries. The efficient Swiss transportation system makes traveling hassle-free. The efficiency extends to other important factors like official documentation, registrations, and migration paperwork as well. The universities are well-organized which makes the student’s life easy while studying away from the home country. It is also one of the safest countries for international students.

The education system in Switzerland is divided into primary education, secondary education, and higher education. Primary education is compulsory and is from the age of 6 to 16. Swiss higher education institutions offer degrees in Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate levels and undergraduate and postgraduate diplomas over a full range of disciplines.

Higher education in Switzerland

Many universities in Switzerland are made up of colleges that are dedicated to a specific subject matter. There are 14 public and generic universities in Switzerland, 10 of which are maintained at the cantonal level and usually offer a range of non-technical subjects. Of the remaining 4, 2 are run by the Swiss confederation and are known as Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology. Switzerland is well known for its advanced business education system. Many world-class universities and MBA programs belong to that category.
The top universities of Switzerland are ETH Zurich, University of Zurich, University of Geneva, University of Lausanne, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, University of St.Gallen, University of Bern and so on. Some of the best colleges in the country are situated in Zurich, Geneva, Bern, and Lausanne.

The qualifying exams vary between study programs and levels. For each course, Indian students will need to meet a minimum English language requirement. Besides, there will be a minimum academic performance record as stipulated by the universities to qualify for admission.

General Exams

GMAT - The Graduate Management Admission Test is given by those who want to pursue an MBA or business or management-related courses. The aspirants are measured on English, mathematical and reasoning skills.
GRE - The Graduate Record Examination is taken by students applying to graduate schools to pursue an MA or MS. Also, many business schools accept GRE scores for granting admission for pursuing MBA or business or management courses.

Students need to check on the qualifying exams as stipulated by the universities and accordingly apply for the same.

Language Exam

TOEFL – It is the most popular English proficiency exam accepted by a majority of the universities. The TOEFL tests the students’ usage and understanding of the English language as it is used in communicating in college and university settings. Students can appear for this exam any number of times. This test is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), which conducts the test and sets the test paper.
IELTS – International English Language Testing System is a standardized language test that needs to be cleared for admission in different universities in Switzerland.

Students are advised to thoroughly check the entry requirements of the university/college they are applying to and then take up the exams accordingly. Many educational institutes accept some specific exams whereas some institutes allow students to give the exams of their choice. Therefore, before preparing for the exams, students should check the university requirements.

Application Requirements

Apart from the above-mentioned tests, there are other requirements for applying to educational institutes in Switzerland.
Letter of recommendation – (LOR) is a reference letter written by a third-party describing the qualities, characteristics, and capabilities of the prospective student for recommendation to the college in terms of that individual’s ability to perform a particular task or function. The third-party could be a professor, direct manager, etc.
Statement of Purpose – A Statement of Purpose (SOP) is the introduction of the student to the college and admission officers. It is always written in the first person and describes the reason for applying to a particular college. It needs to highlight why the college should accept you. The style of writing could differ from formal to casual, but it is important to remember that it should reflect the student’s personality as well.
Essay: Essays are also required to be submitted by a prospective student. Essays are an important part of the university admissions process. Students may be required to write one or two essays, along with a few optional essays too. Common topics include career aspirations, strengths and weaknesses, skills, experiences, and reasons for considering a particular school.
Apart from the above-mentioned requirements, students applying to undergraduate courses should have completed 10+2. Also, those who are applying to graduate courses must have completed 16 years of education. In addition to all these, students also need to show proof of the finances to the universities to secure admission.

Cut-off for Exams

All the major universities and colleges also set cut-off for various exams which students need to obtain for securing admission. Before applying to their preferred universities, aspirants should check the cut-off marks for GMAT, GRE, TOEFL and then start preparing for the exams accordingly.

The cost of living in Switzerland is in line with the world-class facilities the country provides. The tuition fee for International students varies according to different universities, courses, and the city that the students choose to live in. Living expenses like accommodation, food, travel, etc are as per the choice of the student. Costs will vary depending on the lifestyle, place of residence and socializing of the students. But compared to studying in the US or Australia, Switzerland can work out to be a much reasonable study abroad destination with the best quality education. The location of the accommodation plays an important role in the costing for the students. A student residing in the metropolitan city will be spending more on accommodation as compared to a student who resides in the suburban part of the city.
Business Management, Banking, Information Technology, Computer Science, Finance and Accounting, Economics, Pharmacy, Communications/Media are popular courses that Indian students pursue in Switzerland.

Scholarships and Education Loan

There are hundreds of scholarships available for international students from a wide variety of sources. These are awarded solely at the discretion of the individual organizations that set down their criteria for eligibility. Students are advised to contact the institution or organization of their choice directly, to obtain more detailed information.
Loans are provided by the banks for higher education. Certain parameters are to be met by the applicant. The candidates should be an Indian national with a strong academic record. The applicant should be seeking admission to a professional, technical or other courses as prescribed by the bank. The application is considered only if the admission is confirmed. All relevant documents need to be submitted along with the application. The approval of loans is at the discretion of the bank.

Student visas are issued to applicants whose primary purpose of visit to a country is to pursue education. Although getting admission in the university is extremely important, these legal documents for obtaining visas are of utmost importance. Every country has its own immigration rules. The documents can range from education-related ones to different proof of funds acceptable and so on to enable the students to study in that country. These are specified on the official website. Students can check on the same and accordingly apply for their visa. There are some common factors in all student visa applications. The students need to know the entire process of applying and obtaining the student visas to study abroad. Studying abroad requires meticulous planning. Students are advised to plan their admission/ application process as per the university deadlines and should accordingly work backward. Students are required to appear for English eligibility tests as per the university policies and also have required documents in place for the smooth processing of their application. Hence, students are always advised to apply 3-4 months in advance to avoid any last-minute delays. Candidates seeking financial aid, scholarships and education loans should start a couple of months earlier than the regular applicants for the process of application and approval of the same.

Switzerland

About