Le News revealed, ‘’Switzerland breaks record for the highest number of PhD students.’’ In 2017, the number of PhD students in Switzerland was 31,293, and in 2022, the number has grown twice more, 54,279. Pursuing PhD in Switzerland is a popular choice amongst international students for its QS-ranked PhD universities, fully funded PhD in Switzerland and a diverse choice in Swiss PhD programs.
Did you also know that PhD graduates in Switzerland receive the highest salary? Working as a doctoral assistant in EPFL offers you 52,700 CHF/year on a general salary range. All of this clearly states your decision to pursue a Swiss PhD is a wise investment. Read along to explore your study and career options for PhD in Switzerland.
Why Study PhD In Switzerland?
Before we can proceed further, let’s first understand why pursuing PhD in Switzerland is a great choice:
- QS-Ranked PhD Universities: Switzerland is home to multiple QS-ranked universities, especially PhD studies. A few are University of Zurich (Rank 70), University of Basel (Rank 138), etc.
- Preferred choice by international students: Academics revealed 50% of PhD students in Switzerland are international students. As you also learnt above, the number of PhD students in Switzerland has increased since 2017.
- Different types of PhD: The Swiss PhD is of two types, general and structural. The general PhD refers to focusing n a doctoral thesis and may include training and development. The structural PhD includes more coursework, formal training and even collaboration with different institutions.
- Multiple Scholarship opportunities: Studying PhD in Switzerland is easy due to the range of scholarship opportunities provided. These scholarships help fund PhD studies and provide payment convenience in recurrent student expenses.
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An Overview Of Swiss PhD
To help you get a better understanding of what to expect from a Swiss PhD study, we have curated brief information on the same:
|
Course Duration |
3-5 years |
|
Top PhD specialisations |
Food science, Finance, Management, Law, Physics, Economics, etc. |
|
Top PhD programs |
Engineering, Education, Psychology, etc. |
|
PhD tuition fees |
8- CHF- 500 CHF/semester |
|
Popular PhD universities |
University of Zurich, University of Geneva, University of Bern, etc. |
|
No of PhD universities |
43 |
|
No. of PhD international students |
54,279 |
|
PhD Academic Year |
Spring/ Autumn |
|
PhD Cycle |
Bachelor- 1st cycle, Masters- 2nd cycle, PhD- 3rd cycle |
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Top 5 Universities In Switzerland For PhD
There are multiple universities to choose from when pursuing PhD in Switzerland for international students. These are popular choices amongst international students, and the universities offer multiple PhD programs to choose from. Here are the top 5 choices:
- University of Lausanne
- University of Bern
- University of Zurich
- University of Geneva
- University of Basel
Details of each of these universities to study in Switzerland is mentioned below:
1. University of Lausanne
University of Lausanne is a research institution that offers seven different facilities. It provides a range of PhD programs for international students to choose from. University of Lausanne is also home to multiple Nobel prize winners in PhD.
|
Type |
Public |
|
220 |
|
|
Academic Reputation |
32.8 |
|
International Student Ratio |
61.7 |
|
PhD Programs Offered |
PhD in Business Analytics, Actuarial Science, Economics, etc. |
|
Average Tuition Fees |
80 CHF/semester |
|
Location |
Lausanne |
2. University of Bern
The University of Bern offers a diverse range of PhD programs for international students to choose from. The university is well known for its teaching methods and campus environment.
|
Type |
Public |
|
126 |
|
|
Academic Reputation |
30.4 |
|
International Student Ratio |
44 |
|
PhD Programs Offered |
PhD in Art history, Business Administration, Computer Science, etc |
|
Average Tuition Fees |
200 CHF/semester |
|
Location |
Bern |
3. University of Zurich
The University of Zurich is on the top list of the best PhD universities in Switzerland. Zurich is a popular student destination and the university offers a range of PhD programs based on different faculties.
|
Type |
Public |
|
91 |
|
|
Academic Reputation |
59.3 |
|
International Student Ratio |
57.8 |
|
PhD Programs Offered |
PhD in Informatics, Theology, law, etc |
|
Average Tuition Fees |
150 CHF/semester |
|
Location |
Zurich |
4. University of Geneva
Another widely popular PhD choice is the University of Geneva. Geneva is well known for its academic excellence and the teaching methods they offer. With every PhD program, students are encouraged to do more self work.
|
Type |
Public |
|
128 |
|
|
Academic Reputation |
48.7 |
|
International Student Ratio |
97.3 |
|
PhD Programs Offered |
PhD in Biology-Medicine, Biomedical science, Neurosciences, etc |
|
Average Tuition Fees |
500 CHF/semester |
|
Location |
Geneva |
5. University of Basel
The University of Basel is a great choice to pursue PhD studies as the list of PhD programs available here are multiple. The university has a great staff student ratio and offers better research based learnings.
|
Type |
Public |
|
#=124 |
|
|
Academic Reputation |
28.7 |
|
International Student Ratio |
86.7 |
|
PhD Programs Offered |
PhD in Ancient History, African Studies, Botany, Geography, etc |
|
Average Tuition Fees |
350 CHF/semester |
|
Location |
Basel |
Eligibility Criteria For Swiss PhD
To pursue PhD in Switzerland, there are certain eligibility criterias that have to be met. These differ based on the university choice, but there are two standard processes for this field of study:
- A Bachelor and Masters Degree
- Language requirements
1. A Bachelor and Masters Degree
International students need to have a three year Bachelor's degree as well as a Master's degree or equivalent in the relevant field of study.
2. Language requirements
Based on the language of instruction of the PhD program, international students will write the language proficiency test like IELTS, TOEFL. For instance, for English, you require a C1 level to pass, etc.
Admission Process For PhD In Switzerland For Indian Students
To apply to the top PhD universities in Switzerland, here is an overview of the admission process:
- Identify which PhD program you wish to study. Choose the PhD university that offers the same.
- Search for a supervisor and confirm the supervision based on your PhD program choice
- Visit the selected PhD universities' official website to learn about the entry requirements
- Clear any tests required and attach them and other relevant documents to send before the application deadline.
- Pay the application fee ( 100 CHF-400 CHF)
- Wait for confirmation, once accepted apply for the student visa and start arranging for funds
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Documents Required For A Swiss PhD
When submitting your PhD application, there are certain documents that need to be attached. Ensure the below is checked:
- All educational transcripts
- Valid identity proof
- Scorecard of exams required(ELP Scores, GRE, GMAT, etc)
- Proof of payment
- Proof of application fee payment
- CV
- Signed declaration of consent
- Information of residence with regards to last educational background
Note: Ensure all documents are translated as per the language enquired on the universities official website.
Cost Of Studying PhD in Switzerland
To study PhD in Switzerland, there are two cost factors you need to consider. These factors are important as they will contribute to your fund planning when you arrive in the country.
Let’s learn about them one by one:
-
Tuition Fees
The tuition fees of doing a PhD in Switzerland ranges from 80 CHF- 500 CHF/semester.
-
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Switzerland ranges from 1,400 CHF- 2,250 CHF/month. Most of your recurring monthly expenses will be accommodation, transport, health insurance, food, and miscellaneous expenses.
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Scholarship Opportunities To Study PhD In Switzerland
You can now study for a PhD in Switzerland with scholarship conveniently. There is a list of popular Switzerland PhD scholarships for international students. They help cover multiple expenses such as travel, etc and also offer grants.
Here are the top 5 Switzerland PhD scholarships for international students:
|
Scholarship Name |
Amount/Grants/Fellowship/Covers |
|
University of Geneva |
Pursue PhD in Life Sciences Covers the cost of living in Geneva |
|
Bizoentrum PhD fellowship in Life Sciences |
Pursue any Bizoentrum PhD program Covers full and independent funding for complete PhD program and also offers travel funds |
|
Life Sciences Zurich Graduate School |
Pursue PhD in Life Sciences Provides financial support based on the PhD student salary |
|
Swiss Excellence Scholarship for Foreign students |
Pursue doctoral studies in any discipline Covers monthly payments and exempts tuition fees, health insurance, airfare and housing, etc expenses |
|
EPFL Postdoctoral Fellowships in Switzerland |
Pursue PhD project in EPFL Provides salary for the academic year |
Career Opportunities After PhD In Switzerland
After completing PhD in Switzerland for Indian students, there are a range of job profiles to choose from. Based on your expertise and experience, the salary figure will fluctuate. On average a PhD graduate in Switzerland will earn 116,000 CHF/year.
Here is an overview of the popular PhD job profiles and expected salary for each:
|
Job Profile |
Average Annual Salary |
|
Lecturer |
112,000- 272,000 CHF |
|
Senior Research Analyst |
110,000 CHF |
|
Advanced Nutrition Aide |
182,000 CHF |
|
Clinical Psychologist |
408,000 CHF |
|
General Medical Practitioner |
260,000 CHF |
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Switzerland offers research-based PhD programs that are tutored well with the help of academic experts. Pursuing a PhD program should always be from an institute that offers a blend of theory and practical approaches whilst also offering additional knowledge about the real world. Luckily this is exactly what a PhD in Switzerland will offer you. With all the information listed above, it's time to apply to top universities in Switzerland for PhD.
