DON’T MISS
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Education
Swiss news & articles
Swiss universities popular with international students despite COVID-19
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

Swiss universities popular with international students despite COVID-19

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

Swiss graduates build futuristic boat designed to beat sailing speed recordSwiss graduates build futuristic boat designed to beat sailing speed record
SRF: Swiss companies don't want apprentices to study during placementSRF: Swiss companies don't want apprentices to study during placement
Some of Switzerland's top CEOs did apprenticeships instead of high schoolSome of Switzerland's top CEOs did apprenticeships instead of high school
Report finds huge disparities in tuition fees in SwitzerlandReport finds huge disparities in tuition fees in Switzerland
Switzerland’s hopes of rejoining Erasmus+ are fading fast Switzerland’s hopes of rejoining Erasmus+ are fading fast
See a shooting star: Lyrids meteor shower to peak over SwitzerlandSee a shooting star: Lyrids meteor shower to peak over Switzerland
7 best places to visit in Switzerland7 best places to visit in Switzerland
Switzerland now has twice as many vehicles as it did in 1980Switzerland now has twice as many vehicles as it did in 1980
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usSitemap
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Jan 21, 2022
Emily Proctor
Former Editor at IamExpat Media.Read more

Universities in Switzerland have proven popular with international students once again, despite the COVID-19 pandemic hampering global travel and domestic public health measures restricting classes in Switzerland. 

Thousands of international students came to study in Switzerland

Data from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) shows that in 2020, around 12.300 new international students enrolled in degree programmes at Swiss universities. The data shows a 4 percent increase on the previous year, in spite of international COVID-19 travel restrictions. 

According to the statistics, the number of international students coming to study in Switzerland between 2017 and 2020 rose by approximately 13 percent. The pandemic, though widely impactful in terms of international travel, has only had a slight effect on the number of students arriving from outside Europe. 

“Their number has slightly decreased in certain universities, but this decrease has often been offset by an increase in the number of students from neighbouring countries,” the FSO wrote.

Most international students in Switzerland come to study at PhD level

The majority of students coming to Switzerland do so in order to pursue a PhD, with around 50 percent of international students in the country currently enrolled in PhD programmes. As for the rest of the student population, 15 percent are enrolled in Bachelor programmes, and another 20 percent are pursuing a Master’s degree or MBA qualification.

Two-thirds of international students came to Switzerland for the sole purpose of studying, but a further 16 percent of international students had not intended to study in Switzerland when they first arrived in the country. This was found to be more often the case for women, who moved to join family who are residents of Switzerland - approximately 10 percent of women, compared to just 3 percent of men. 

By Emily Proctor