PhD in Switzerland: Guide on Universities in Switzerland for PhD, Fees, Requirements, Scholarships, Scope

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

Suggested: Working in Switzerland

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:

1. University of Lausanne
2. University of Bern
3. University of Zurich
4. University of Geneva
5. 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
University of Lausanne World Ranking 2024	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
University of Bern World Ranking 2024	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
University of Zurich World Ranking 2024	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
University of Geneva World Ranking 2024	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
University of Basel World Ranking 2024	#=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

Suggested: View more PhD universities in Switzerland

 

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

Suggested: How to apply for student visa in Switzerland?

 

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.  

Suggested: A detailed guide on cost of studying in Switzerland

 

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

Suggested: View more scholarships in Switzerland for international students

 

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

Suggested: What is it like to work in Switzerland?

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.