Switzerland

| Education

Switzerland has ten universities and two Federal Institutes of Technology. About 100,000 students attend these academic institutions; 21% are international students (one of the highest percentages of foreign university students in the world for one country). Swiss institutions of higher learning typically divide study into 1) a broadly-based period of study; 2) in-depth study in the first stage; and 3) the final period of specialization in the second stage. The Swiss academic year is divided into two semesters: the winter semester, which lasts from mid-October to late February, and the summer semester, which lasts from early March to mid-July. Though a number of variations exist, most universities consist of the following faculties: theology, law and social sciences, arts, natural sciences and medicine.

Higher education differs in each canton. Some faculties award the demi-licence, baccalauréat or Vorprüfung after two to four semesters of study. Six to eight more semesters, with the preparation of a mémoire (oral exam), earns the licence/lizentiat or the diplôme. Four to eight further semesters and a thesis are required for a doctorate.

Switzerland is very active in changing its higher education system according to the rules of the Bologna Process; most of the universities have already introduced bachelor's, master's and PhD degrees.

Significant differences exist between European universities and their U.S. counterparts: in European universities, the structures of programs and majors vary considerably. Foreign students are placed differently than natives; thus, although ISEP students are able to take courses with regular Swiss students, their programs of study may be slightly different than those of their Swiss friends.

To complement lectures, professors sometimes prepare a bibliography of suggested readings on the lecture topics; it is a good idea to talk with the professors early to find out whether they might have these reading lists. Specific assigned readings or homework, as U.S. students know them, are uncommon; keeping up with general reading is your responsibility. It is advisable to tell your professors that you are a U.S. ISEP student and are not totally familiar with the Swiss educational system; most professors will be willing to advise and guide you in the first few weeks of adjustment.

Exams in European universities are not the same as those in the United States. Exams vary from one professor to the next; some professors prefer to give oral exams, while others give written or even take-home exams. Testing usually occurs at the end of each semester or grading period. Grading systems vary. In general, grading is done on a one to ten scale, or one to six. At the Université de Lausanne, 6 is the highest grade, 4 is passing and 1 is the lowest; at Fribourg, grading varies from faculty to faculty.

Living arrangements at Swiss universities are different from those in the U.S. Swiss students tend to live either in private apartments or at home. As an ISEP student, you will either be placed in a privately owned apartment or will be given a choice of housing among several privately owned facilities near to or on campus. These facilities will be either walking distance or a ride on public transportation from the university.

Although you might not live on campus, you will have opportunities to meet Swiss students as well as other international students. Almost all universities have sports grounds and sports associations. At each institution, you will find a number of different clubs and activity groups that provide a good opportunity for you to meet people and to do things that you enjoy. Even if you are not a "joiner" and clubs do not particularly appeal to you, you should nevertheless get involved in things that interest you. The Associations d'Etudiants, Fédérations des associations d'étudiants and Sociétés d'étudiants are organized according to the particular faculté under which you are studying.

The majority of Swiss students go home on the weekend; an exodus of suitcase-laden students on Friday afternoons is a familiar sight. Thus, if you live on campus or in university housing, things might seem awfully quiet over the weekend. Although you may feel upset at a lack of Swiss companionship, look around. You might become friendly with Swiss students who will invite you home for a weekend with their families. You will notice that the Swiss are very family-oriented; once accepted, you will surely feel right at home.

Switzerland claims to have one of the world's best education systems. In Switzerland, students normally complete 13 years of primary and secondary education before being awarded the maturité/maturität certificate in one of five areas. These certificates allow entrance into all faculties in the universities.