Recommended Majors and Universities for Studying in Switzerland

Switzerland is a country with exceptionally beautiful scenery and is known as the “roof of Europe.” As a result, its tourism industry is highly developed and attracts visitors from around the world. But according to official data, a substantial number of students also choose to study in Switzerland every year. Some are drawn by the beautiful landscapes, others by the country’s excellent and open learning environment, and still others by the strong academic programs offered by Swiss universities.

Below, let’s look at the most popular majors that attract large numbers of international students to Switzerland each year.

1. Hospitality Management

Switzerland’s best-known major is hospitality management. Among the international students who apply to study in Switzerland each year, many do so specifically for this field. Hospitality management in Switzerland is a long-established discipline with a history of more than a century. Almost every Swiss hospitality school originally began as a star-rated hotel in Switzerland. One of the defining features of the program is paid hotel internships. Switzerland hosts large-scale internship and recruitment fairs every year. In addition to internships at hotels in Switzerland, students can also intern at hotels in countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and Dubai.

Recommended institutions: École hôtelière de Lausanne, Swiss Hotel Management School, César Ritz Colleges Switzerland, HIM Hotel Institute Montreux, and others.

2. Finance

Switzerland is a world-famous financial center and home to many prestigious business schools specializing in finance education and research. It is also an important hub for higher education in finance in Europe, offering highly practical bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in finance. Students in this field are usually pursuing master’s degrees. Since undergraduate study often has major restrictions and public universities are relatively difficult to enter, this path is best suited to people with relevant work experience and a high academic level. Private schools mainly offer training and short-term courses.

Recommended institutions: University of Zurich, University of St. Gallen, Swiss Business School, and others.

3. Business Management

Switzerland has a highly developed economy, good public security, and a stable political environment. As a result, it also has clear advantages in the field of business management. For most students interested in business-related majors, pursuing an MBA in Switzerland is a strong option. These programs tend to focus on international business and take a global perspective when addressing politics, economics, business, and related affairs.

Recommended institutions: University of Geneva, University of Lausanne, University of Basel, and others.

In addition to the three popular majors above, mechanical engineering, luxury brand management, and informatics are also common choices among Chinese students studying abroad. If you are interested in any of these fields, they are also worth considering.