Cost of Studying in Switzerland in 2026/27: Tuition, Living Costs and a Full Student Budget

International students at Swiss public universities pay $1,210–9,660 (CHF 1,000–8,000) a year in tuition and compulsory fees, from Geneva at the low end to USI in Lugano at the top. Since autumn 2025 ETH Zürich and EPFL charge students who moved to Switzerland to study a triple rate, $5,410–5,470 (CHF 4,480–4,528) a year including fees. Living costs are the bigger item: excluding tuition, universities estimate $1,930–2,660 (CHF 1,600–2,200) a month, and the city sets most of that range.

Private hospitality schools sit in another price bracket: a full bachelor's at EHL, Glion or Les Roches costs $222,000–280,000 (CHF 183,874–231,900) including compulsory charges. For a student visa, cantons also want proof of living funds, for example $25,370 (CHF 21,000) a year in Zurich.

Public university tuition in 2026/27

swissuniversities publishes the official fees. The table shows the rate for international students who moved to Switzerland to study, plus compulsory semester fees. A bachelor's is three years, i.e. six semesters, assuming no extensions.

What the numbers mean:

• Who pays the triple rate at ETH and EPFL. All international students except those who lived in Switzerland before starting their studies for work, family reunification or as refugees. The group is set once and does not change when you move on to a master's. EPFL will adjust fees for inflation every four years from 2029.
• UZH's surcharge depends on the level. It is $600 (CHF 500) per semester for bachelor's students and $120 (CHF 100) for master's students, so a master's there is cheaper than a bachelor's.
• Application fees are extra. They range from $80 (CHF 65) to $320 (CHF 268) and are not refunded.
• Doctoral study is cheap. At UZH, for example, it costs $180 (CHF 150) per semester plus a $120 (CHF 100) surcharge for international students, and many doctoral candidates are employed by the university.

At universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschule, HES) each institution or canton sets fees, and international students often pay more than locals. Check the programme page.

Private schools: what the price includes

Private institutes publish prices for the whole programme, split into tuition, "resources and services", food, housing and insurance. Compare full bills over the same period.

Internship semesters are often paid by the employer, but do not budget the salary in advance: it depends on the placement and country. More on schools, degrees and selection in our guide to hospitality management in Switzerland.

Living costs by city

University budgets are the most reliable benchmark because they are calculated for their own students:

There is also the mandatory Serafe radio and TV fee of $400 (CHF 335) a year per household if your rent does not include it. Landlords usually ask for a deposit, often several months' rent blocked in a dedicated account.

Health insurance: cost and savings

Health insurance is compulsory for everyone living in Switzerland. Students from outside the EU either buy a Swiss student package and apply for exemption from standard KVG insurance, or request exemption with insurance from home; ETH warns that the latter is usually refused.

The student packages listed by ETH cost roughly $50–310 (CHF 43–255) a month depending on age, deductible and insurer: the higher the annual deductible, the lower the premium. ETH's budget uses an average of $1,590 (CHF 1,320) a year. Private schools build insurance into compulsory charges; at Glion it is $8,220 (CHF 6,800) over the whole bachelor's.

One-off costs in year one

How much money you must show for the visa

The visa amount is not your university bill but proof that you can cover living costs. The canton where you will live sets it:

• Zurich: $25,370 (CHF 21,000) for 12 months, confirmed by a bank on the FINMA list, in an account in your own name, in CHF, EUR or USD. Letters or statements from parents are not accepted; the alternative is a guarantee from a solvent Swiss resident.
• Geneva: $24,160 (CHF 20,000) a year or income of $3,020 (CHF 2,500) a month. You can show your own account at a Swiss bank or a sponsor's support; a sponsor abroad is accepted only if a first-degree relative.
• Private schools: EHL states that non-EU/EFTA students pay $21,750 (CHF 18,000) before filing the visa application, credited towards fees.

Funds are checked again when you renew your permit after a year. See our Swiss student visa guide for the full requirements.

Can a part-time job cover costs?

Partly. Non-EU/EFTA students may start work six months after the start of their studies and work up to 15 hours a week during term; Geneva allows up to 40 hours a week in university holidays. The employer applies for the permit and the university confirms that the work is compatible with your studies.

EPFL gives a simple example: at $30 (CHF 25) an hour and 8 hours a week you earn about $970 (CHF 800) a month, so you still need around $1,810 (CHF 1,500) a month of your own. Students with a B permit pay tax at source, and in the canton of Vaud those earning up to $34,790 (CHF 28,800) a year can claim a refund. EPFL's workload is 50–60 hours a week, so avoid planning a job in year one.

Scholarships: what to expect

• Bachelor's. Government scholarships for international students are practically non-existent. University support funds usually help enrolled students in hardship; UZH states it supports only prospective master's students with a Swiss bachelor's.
• Master's. ETH's ESOP pays $16,310 (CHF 13,500) per semester from autumn 2027 plus a tuition waiver, with about 60 awards for 2027/28 and applications from 1 to 30 November 2026. EPFL Excellence Fellowships pay $12,080 (CHF 10,000) per semester plus a reserved place in student housing.
• After a master's. The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships target researchers with a master's degree, up to age 35, at about $2,960 (CHF 2,450) a month; you apply through the Swiss embassy with a supervisor's backing.
• Private schools. Merit-based discounts exist, but they reduce the price rather than fund your studies.

Legitimate ways to cut costs

1. Choose the city together with the university. Geneva's fees are lower than Zurich's, but rents are high in both; Fribourg and Neuchâtel are cheaper for housing.
2. Share a flat or live in a residence. The University of Fribourg estimates a studio at about 50% more than a room.
3. Pick a student insurance package with a suitable deductible and file the KVG exemption with your commune straight away.
4. Apply for scholarships in the first window. ETH's ESOP is available only in the November round.
5. Build in a currency buffer. Your costs are in francs; family income may not be.

Budgeting mistakes

• Counting only tuition. At a public university it is roughly 5–25% of the annual budget.
• Using pre-2025 ETH and EPFL rates. New international students pay three times as much.
• Confusing the university budget with the visa amount. The visa needs the canton's figure, held in the right kind of account.
• Overlooking separate private-school invoices for resources, food, housing, insurance and deposits.
• Counting on a job from month one. The first six months are off-limits.
• Forgetting one-off costs: rent deposit, cantonal fees, Serafe and the first insurance premium.

FAQ

Sources

• swissuniversities: tuition fees at universities, 2026/27
• ETH Zürich: tuition, international budget, health insurance, ESOP
• EPFL: fees, cost of living, working while studying, Excellence Fellowships
• UZH: fees, student budget, guidelines for visa applicants
• University of Fribourg: budget; University of Basel: study costs
• EHL: bachelor's fees 2027–2028; Glion: fees 2027; Les Roches: fees 2027; BHMS: fees 2026
• Canton of Zurich: students from non-EU countries; Canton of Geneva: financial means and work
• SEM: work during studies; SERI: Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships
• Swiss Embassy in Russia: national visa fees
• Dollar amounts use the ECB reference rates of 24.09.2026 (€1 = $1.1367 = CHF 0.9409, so CHF 1 ≈ $1.2081), rounded to $10.

For a comparison of the universities, see universities in Switzerland; for the country overview, studying in Switzerland. For a budget built around your route and city, send us a request.

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