The cost of studying in Switzerland works out to roughly CHF (Swiss Franc) 20,000 to CHF 33,000 (INR 22.80 lakh to INR 37.62 lakh) a year. That covers tuition and living costs together at a public university.

Here’s the surprising part about the cost of studying in Switzerland. Tuition is cheap, often CHF 500 to CHF 2,200 (INR 57,000 to INR 2.51 lakh) a semester. Rent, food and health insurance are what eat into your budget. Most students spend CHF 1,400 to CHF 2,175 (INR 1.60 lakh to INR 2.48 lakh) a month just to live.

In this article, you’ll find the cost of study in Switzerland for Indian students, university-wise fees, MBA costs, city-wise living costs, visa fund rules, scholarships and easy ways to save. 

Overall Cost of Studying in Switzerland

The cost of study in Switzerland for Indian students depends on three choices: your university, your city and your room. A Geneva student pays CHF 1,000 (INR 1.14 lakh) a year in tuition. An ETH Zurich student pays CHF 4,380 (INR 4.99 lakh). That gap only grows once rent comes in.

This is what the cost of studying in Switzerland looks like for one year at a public university:

Cost	Per Year
Tuition	CHF 1,000 to CHF 10,000 (INR 1.14 lakh to INR 11.40 lakh)
Living costs	CHF 16,800 to CHF 26,100 (INR 19.15 lakh to INR 29.75 lakh)
One-time costs	CHF 300 to CHF 600 (INR 34,200 to INR 68,400)
Total	CHF 20,000 to CHF 33,000 (INR 22.80 lakh to INR 37.62 lakh)

The University of St. Gallen gives a similar figure. It tells students to keep CHF 25,000 to CHF 30,000 (INR 28.50 lakh to INR 34.20 lakh) aside each year. For more on courses and visas, read our guide to Study in Switzerland.

Tuition Fees in Switzerland for International Students

Swiss public universities are funded by the government, which keeps fees low. Still, the cost of studying in Switzerland for international students has gone up lately. ETH Zurich and EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) tripled fees for new foreign students in Autumn 2025, and Bern and St. Gallen followed in 2026.

Tuition Fees at Public Universities in Switzerland

Fees are charged per semester, and there are two in a year. These rates set the cost of studying in Switzerland for international students at each university:

University	Fee per Semester
University of Geneva	CHF 500 (INR 57,000)
University of Lausanne	CHF 580 (INR 66,120)
University of Basel	CHF 850 (INR 96,900)
University of Zurich	CHF 820 (INR 93,480) for Master’s, CHF 1,220 (INR 1.39 lakh) for Bachelor’s
ETH Zurich and EPFL	CHF 2,190 (INR 2.50 lakh)
University of Bern	CHF 2,550 (INR 2.91 lakh) from Autumn 2026
University of St. Gallen	CHF 3,343.50 (INR 3.81 lakh) for Bachelor’s, CHF 3,557.50 (INR 4.06 lakh) for Master’s
USI (Università della Svizzera italiana)	CHF 5,000 (INR 5.70 lakh) for new students from 2027-28

One thing to note. If you finished school in Switzerland, you may pay the lower Swiss fee even as a foreign national. Want to compare these on rankings too? See our list of Top Universities in Switzerland.

Tuition Fees at Private Universities in Switzerland

Private schools push the cost of studying in Switzerland much higher. Most of them are hospitality or business schools with no government money, so fees run into lakhs every year. A couple of examples:

• EHL Hospitality Business School: CHF 59,660 (INR 68.01 lakh) in compulsory fees for Year 1 of the Bachelor’s. Students from outside the EU (European Union) also pay CHF 18,000 (INR 20.52 lakh) upfront before the visa, which is later adjusted against fees.
• Glion Institute of Higher Education: About CHF 70,000 (INR 79.80 lakh) a year for the Bachelor’s in International Hospitality Business.

Cost of Studying in Switzerland by Programme

Your field shapes the cost of studying in Switzerland as much as your university does. Engineering at ETH Zurich costs CHF 4,380 (INR 4.99 lakh) a year, while arts and social sciences at Geneva or Lausanne cost around CHF 1,000 to CHF 1,160 (INR 1.14 lakh to INR 1.32 lakh). Business at St. Gallen goes up to CHF 7,115 (INR 8.11 lakh) a year.

Medicine is the odd one out. The cost of studying MBBS in Switzerland hardly applies to most Indian students, since foreign nationals usually need a Swiss residence permit to get a seat. Our guide to Study Medicine in Switzerland explains the rules.

Suggested Read: MS in Switzerland for Indian Students

Cost of Studying in Switzerland by Degree Level

The cost of studying in Switzerland also changes with your degree. A Bachelor’s or Master’s at a public university is easy on tuition. An MBA is where costs jump. And a PhD often pays you instead.

This table shows the usual range for each degree:

Degree	Tuition for Foreign Students
Bachelor’s	CHF 1,000 to CHF 10,000 (INR 1.14 lakh to INR 11.40 lakh) a year
Master’s	CHF 1,160 to CHF 10,000 (INR 1.32 lakh to INR 11.40 lakh) a year
MBA	CHF 75,000 to CHF 97,500 (INR 85.50 lakh to INR 1.11 crore) in total
PhD	CHF 160 to CHF 500 (INR 18,240 to INR 57,000) a year

Many PhD students are hired as staff. At EPFL, a first-year doctoral assistant earns CHF 55,225 (INR 62.96 lakh) a year before tax. Read more in PhD in Switzerland for Indian Students, or check course-wise fees in Masters in Switzerland Cost.

Cost of Studying MBA in Switzerland

The cost of studying MBA in Switzerland is CHF 75,000 to CHF 97,500 (INR 85.50 lakh to INR 1.11 crore) in tuition at the two best-known schools. Those are IMD (International Institute for Management Development) in Lausanne and the University of St. Gallen.

Here’s how they stack up side by side:

	IMD Lausanne	University of St. Gallen
Total fee	CHF 97,500 (INR 1.11 crore)	CHF 75,000 (INR 85.50 lakh)
Length	1 year	12, 15 or 24 months
Living cost a year	CHF 36,000 (INR 41.04 lakh)	About CHF 25,000 (INR 28.50 lakh)

A few details can change what you actually pay:

• IMD deposit: CHF 10,000 (INR 11.40 lakh), paid within 2 to 4 weeks of your offer. You don’t get it back.
• St. Gallen early-bird offer: CHF 7,500 (INR 8.55 lakh) off if you apply by 15 November 2026.
• St. Gallen scholarships: CHF 5,000 to CHF 40,000 (INR 5.70 lakh to INR 45.60 lakh).
• Entrance test: Most schools want a GMAT Exam (Graduate Management Admission Test) score.

Add living costs, and a year at IMD comes close to CHF 133,500 (INR 1.52 crore). For jobs and pay after the course, see MBA in Switzerland.

Suggested Read: Best Countries to Study MBA Abroad

Cost of Living in Switzerland for Indian Students

Living costs are the biggest piece of the cost of studying in Switzerland. The University of Zurich puts a student’s monthly spend at CHF 1,850 (INR 2.11 lakh), which is about CHF 22,200 (INR 25.31 lakh) a year.

Their monthly budget breaks down like this:

Expense	Per Month
Rent	CHF 800 (INR 91,200)
Meals	CHF 450 (INR 51,300)
Free time and extras	CHF 250 (INR 28,500)
Insurance	CHF 200 (INR 22,800)
Transport	CHF 100 (INR 11,400)
Study materials	CHF 50 (INR 5,700)

For a closer look at bills across the country, read our guide on the Cost of Living in Switzerland.

Accommodation Costs in Switzerland

Rent takes the largest share of the cost of study in Switzerland for Indian students. University rooms are the cheapest, but they fill up fast. A room at a University of Geneva residence costs CHF 550 (INR 62,700), while a furnished room in Zurich costs about CHF 800 (INR 91,200).

Some quick tips to save on rent:

• Apply for university housing early, especially in Zurich and Geneva.
• Look at nearby French towns like Annemasse if you study in Geneva. They’re cheaper and well connected.
• Check what’s included. In Lausanne, rent of CHF 700 to CHF 900 (INR 79,800 to INR 1.03 lakh) doesn’t cover heating or power.

Food and Grocery Expenses

Food comes next. Universities estimate CHF 450 to CHF 900 (INR 51,300 to INR 1.03 lakh) a month. Zurich sits at the lower end for meals, while Geneva puts food and basics at CHF 600 to CHF 800 (INR 68,400 to INR 91,200). Cooking at home and eating at campus canteens will keep this in check.

Transport, Health Insurance and Personal Expenses

Health insurance is compulsory for anyone staying more than three months. Travel insurance from India won’t count, and you must sort it out within three months of arriving.

These are the other regular costs to keep in mind:

• Student health plan: CHF 89.10 (INR 10,157) a month on the Swisscare plan at USI.
• Local transport: CHF 45 (INR 5,130) a month in Geneva if you’re under 25, and around CHF 100 (INR 11,400) in Zurich.
• SBB (Swiss Federal Railways) Half Fare Travelcard: CHF 120 (INR 13,680) a year if you’re under 25. It halves train fares.
• Phone: CHF 25 to CHF 35 (INR 2,850 to INR 3,990) a month.

City-Wise Cost of Living in Switzerland

Where you live can shift your yearly cost of studying in Switzerland by about CHF 9,000 (INR 10.26 lakh). These monthly budgets come straight from each university:

City	Monthly Budget
Geneva	CHF 1,400 to CHF 1,900 (INR 1.60 lakh to INR 2.17 lakh)
Zurich	CHF 1,850 (INR 2.11 lakh)
Lausanne	About CHF 2,050 (INR 2.34 lakh)
Basel	CHF 2,050 to CHF 2,150 (INR 2.34 lakh to INR 2.45 lakh)
St. Gallen	About CHF 2,175 (INR 2.48 lakh)

Lausanne and Basel include semester fees in these numbers. Zurich doesn’t.

Additional Costs of Studying in Switzerland

Some parts of the cost of studying in Switzerland hit before you’ve even packed. They’re small next to rent, but you’ll need the money on time.

The main one-time costs are:

• Application fee: CHF 150 (INR 17,100) at EPFL and the University of Zurich.
• Visa: The student D visa is free, as per the Swiss Embassy in India. A fee applies only in special cases, like PhD applications.
• Permit fees in Zurich: CHF 95 (INR 10,830) for canton approval and CHF 182 (INR 20,748) for the residence permit.
• English test: The embassy asks for an IELTS Exam (International English Language Testing System) or TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score with your visa file.

Financial Requirements for a Switzerland Student Visa

There’s no single amount for the whole country. Each canton (state) sets its own. Zurich asks for CHF 21,000 (INR 23.94 lakh) a year, while Vaud, where Lausanne is, asks for at least CHF 2,100 (INR 2.39 lakh) a month.

To prove this, the embassy wants a few documents:

• A sponsor letter saying who pays and where the money comes from.
• Your sponsor’s ITR-V (Income Tax Return Verification) for the last 2 years.
• Bank statements for the last 3 months, signed and stamped.

If your family is planning a loan, our guide on Education Loan for Abroad Studies can help.

Scholarships and Funding Options in Switzerland

Scholarships can cut the cost of studying in Switzerland by a big margin. Most go to Master’s and PhD students with strong grades.

These are worth a look for Indian students:

Scholarship	What You Get	Deadline
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship (PhD and research)	CHF 2,450 (INR 2.79 lakh) a month, health insurance, flight allowance	Opened 20 August 2026
ETH Excellence Scholarship (ESOP) for Master’s	CHF 12,000 (INR 13.68 lakh) a semester plus tuition waiver	30 November 2026
EPFL Master Excellence Fellowship	CHF 10,000 (INR 11.40 lakh) a semester plus a room	15 December

Keep in mind that the Swiss Government scholarship doesn’t cover tuition, and you need a Swiss professor to supervise your research. For more options, see Switzerland Scholarships for Indian Students.

Part-time work helps too. You can work 15 hours a week during term, starting 6 months after your course begins, and full time during breaks. Our guide on Part Time Jobs in Switzerland has the details.

Suggested Read: Fully Funded Masters PDF

How to Reduce the Cost of Studying in Switzerland

You can’t change Swiss prices, but you can still lower the cost of studying in Switzerland for international students with smarter choices. Picking Geneva over USI alone saves CHF 9,000 (INR 10.26 lakh) a year in tuition.

A few habits make a real difference:

• Pick a low-fee university like Geneva, Lausanne or Basel.
• Book university housing as early as you can.
• Buy the Half Fare card if you’ll travel by train.
• Get a student health plan within three months, or you’ll be put on a costlier one.
• Apply for scholarships in the first round, since ETH and EPFL skip late applicants.
• Plan your budget with the upGrad Expense Calculator.

Want to see how Switzerland compares with other countries? Read our guide on the Cost of Studying Abroad.

Suggested Read: How to Study Abroad for Free

Conclusion

The cost of studying in Switzerland is about CHF 20,000 to CHF 33,000 (INR 22.80 lakh to INR 37.62 lakh) a year at a public university. Fees are low, living costs are high, and your city decides a lot. An MBA is the big exception, at CHF 75,000 to CHF 97,500 (INR 85.50 lakh to INR 1.11 crore).

So what should you do next?

• On a budget? Look at Geneva, Lausanne or Basel.
• Into engineering? ETH Zurich and EPFL are worth the CHF 2,190 (INR 2.50 lakh) semester fee, and their scholarships are generous.
• Planning an MBA? The cost of studying an MBA in Switzerland is steep, so apply early for discounts and line up your loan.
• Thinking of medicine? Check eligibility first. The cost of studying MBBS in Switzerland only matters if you hold a Swiss permit.

After graduation, explore Job Opportunities in Switzerland to see what your degree can earn.

Not sure which Swiss university fits your budget? Book a free 1:1 counselling session with upGrad’s study abroad experts and get a cost plan made for your course and city, plus help with your study abroad applications.