IGCSE, A-Level & AP IGCSE, A-Level & AP Sheet preview

← All destinations

Study abroad

Switzerland

The cheapest tuition of any destination here, at two of the best universities in Europe — taught in German and French.本栏目中学费最低的目的地，两所欧洲顶尖大学——但用德语和法语授课。

Figures are for 2027 entryLast checked

At a glance

Who it suitsStudents who already read German or French, or are willing to spend a year getting there, and whose family can carry Swiss living costs.适合已经能读德语或法语、或愿意花一年时间达到水平，且家庭能负担瑞士生活成本的学生。

Language of instruction
⚠️ German at ETH, French at EPFL — and ETH wants the German certificate by the 31 March application deadline, not later⚠️ 苏黎世联邦理工用德语，洛桑联邦理工用法语——且苏黎世要求在 3 月 31 日申请截止前提交德语证明，不能延后 [5]
Tuition, ETH Zurich
CHF 2,190 a semester for international students since autumn 2025, against CHF 730 for Swiss students — CHF 4,380 a year自 2025 年秋季学期起，国际学生每学期 2,190 瑞士法郎，瑞士学生为 730——每年 4,380 [2]
Tuition, University of Geneva
CHF 500 a semester, with no higher rate for foreign students on the page每学期 500 瑞士法郎，页面上未列出针对外国学生的更高标准 [1]
Living costs
CHF 22,100 a year on ETH's own budget, of which CHF 11,300 is a room in the canton of Zurich按苏黎世联邦理工自己的预算为每年 22,100 瑞士法郎，其中 11,300 为苏黎世州的房租 [3]
Work during study
15 hours a week in term — but bachelor's students must wait 6 months after arriving before working at all学期中每周 15 小时——但本科生抵达后须等 6 个月才可工作 [8]
Stay and work after
6 months from the date of graduation, needing CHF 10,500 in the bank, and it cannot be extended自毕业之日起 6 个月，需有 10,500 瑞士法郎存款，且不可延长 [9]

Which qualification leads where

  • IB DiplomaGood route

    The only one of these four that can avoid an entrance examination: 38 of 42 points without bonus points, with Higher Level mathematics, a science and a language A.四条路径中唯一可能免考入学考试的：42 分中取得 38 分（不含附加分），且高级课程包含数学、一门理科和一门语言 A。 [12]

  • A-LevelPossible

    Three A-Levels in mathematics, a science and a language at grade A, plus four more AS or GCSE subjects, can admit you without the examination — but ⚠️ A-Levels taken alongside another school system instead of the British one send you to the comprehensive entrance examination.数学、一门理科和一门语言三门 A-Level 均达 A，再加四门 AS 或 GCSE 科目，可免试录取——但 ⚠️ 若 A-Level 是在其他学制之上加考的，则需参加全面入学考试。 [12]

  • AP and a US high-school diplomaPossible

    At best the reduced entrance examination: a diploma plus three APs scoring at least 3 in mathematics, a science and a language. Otherwise the comprehensive one.最好的结果也是简化入学考试：文凭加三门 AP，数学、理科与语言各至少 3 分。否则须参加全面考试。 [12]

  • GaokaoPossible

    ⚠️ ETH asks for the gaozhong certificate AND a place at a recognised Chinese university in the same subject, AND the reduced entrance examination. Without the university place, the comprehensive examination.⚠️ 苏黎世联邦理工要求高中毕业证，加上被中国认可大学同一专业录取的证明，并且仍需参加简化入学考试。没有该录取证明则需参加全面考试。 [12]

  • Chinese high-school diploma onlyHard

    The comprehensive entrance examination — eight subjects, in the teaching language.须参加全面入学考试——八个科目，且以授课语言进行。 [12]

Universities to look at

  • ETH Zurich Zurich

    Accepts The main teaching language in every bachelor's programme is German, and you must meet the language requirement by the 31 March deadline. ETH decides which entrance examination you face only after your application is in.所有本科项目的主要授课语言为德语，且须在 3 月 31 日截止前满足语言要求。苏黎世只有在收到申请后才决定你需要参加哪一种入学考试。

    Tuition a year CHF 4,380 a year, or CHF 4,528 with the compulsory semester fees每年 4,380 瑞士法郎，含强制学期杂费为 4,528

    Admissions page → [2]

  • EPFL Lausanne

    Accepts French at B2 is required and C1 recommended. Non-EU applicants enter through the foundation year or the entrance examination.要求法语 B2，建议 C1。非欧盟申请人通过预科年或入学考试录取。

    Tuition a year CHF 2,190 a semester for international students, plus about CHF 50 in association and sports fees国际学生每学期 2,190 瑞士法郎，另加约 50 的学生会与运动设施费

    Admissions page → [13]

  • University of Zurich Zurich

    Tuition a year CHF 720 a semester, plus a CHF 500 surcharge for foreign students at bachelor level每学期 720 瑞士法郎，外国本科生另加 500 附加费

    Admissions page → [14]

  • University of Geneva Geneva

    Accepts Teaching is in French.以法语授课。

    Tuition a year CHF 500 a semester — CHF 65 fixed and CHF 435 for supervision每学期 500 瑞士法郎——固定费 65，教学指导费 435

    Admissions page → [1]

Your checklist

0 / 8 done My plan →

Your ticks are saved in this browser, and to your account when you are signed in.

The language, first and above everything

The entrance examination

Apply

Money and permit

Timeline

  1. Sep 2025 24 months before passed

    Start German or French. This is the step that decides whether Switzerland is possible at all.开始学德语或法语。这一步决定瑞士是否可行。 [5]

  2. Sep 2026 12 months before now

    Work out which entrance examination your qualification leads to, and prepare for it.弄清你的学历对应哪一种入学考试，并开始备考。 [12]

  3. Dec 2026 9 months before

    The ETH application opens on 1 December.苏黎世联邦理工的申请于 12 月 1 日开放。 [11]

  4. Mar 2027 6 months before

    Submit by 31 March, with the language certificate already in hand.在 3 月 31 日前提交，语言证书须已到手。 [11]

  5. Jun 2027 3 months before

    Arrange the bank confirmation of CHF 21,000 and apply for the residence permit.办理 21,000 瑞士法郎的银行证明，并申请居留许可。 [15]

  6. Aug 2027 1 month before

    Find a room — CHF 11,300 a year is the Zurich average, and rooms go early.找房——苏黎世平均每年 11,300 瑞士法郎，房源很早就被订走。 [3]

Money

Compare all destinations →
A year
¥190,000 – ¥230,000
Whole degree
¥560,000 – ¥680,000 over 3 years

Converted to RMB at two significant figures — the rate moves and the ranges are wide. Rate: European Central Bank: euro foreign exchange reference rates, 18 September 2026, checked .

Tuition
CHF 1,000 a year at Geneva, CHF 4,380 at ETH, CHF 2,440 at Zurich with the foreign-student surcharge日内瓦每年 1,000 瑞士法郎，苏黎世联邦理工 4,380，苏黎世大学含外国学生附加费为 2,440 [1]
The fee tripled
⚠️ Since autumn 2025, ETH and EPFL charge international students CHF 2,190 a semester where Swiss students pay CHF 730. Any figure you read from before that date is wrong⚠️ 自 2025 年秋季起，两所联邦理工对国际学生每学期收取 2,190 瑞士法郎，瑞士学生为 730。此前的任何数字都已过时 [2]
Living costs
CHF 22,100 a year: CHF 11,300 rent, CHF 7,200 food, CHF 1,320 health insurance, CHF 586 transport, CHF 1,680 personal每年 22,100 瑞士法郎：房租 11,300、伙食 7,200、医疗保险 1,320、交通 586、个人支出 1,680 [3]
Study and living, all in
CHF 28,100 a year on ETH's own total for an international student, or CHF 31,400 for architecture按苏黎世联邦理工的合计，国际学生每年 28,100 瑞士法郎，建筑专业为 31,400 [3]
Money you must show
CHF 21,000 a year, confirmed by a bank on FINMA's authorised list, in your own name — lower than the real cost of living每年 21,000 瑞士法郎，须由 FINMA 认可银行出具、以本人名义——低于实际生活成本 [15]
The other Switzerland
A private hospitality school is a different country financially: EHL's compulsory fees total CHF 183,874 over a preparatory year and three years私立酒店管理学院在财务上是另一个世界：洛桑酒店管理学院预科加三年的强制费用合计 183,874 瑞士法郎 [16]

Scholarships and funding

  • The famous scholarships are for master's students [17]

    The ETH Excellence Scholarship is CHF 12,000 a semester plus a tuition waiver, and EPFL's Excellence Fellowships CHF 10,000 a semester.苏黎世联邦理工卓越奖学金为每学期 12,000 瑞士法郎并免学费，洛桑联邦理工卓越奖学金为每学期 10,000。

    Both require a completed bachelor's degree and are closed to undergraduates. Do not plan a Swiss bachelor's around them.两者都要求已完成本科学位，本科生无法申请。不要把瑞士本科的规划建立在它们之上。

  • Need-based social scholarships [19]

    ETH offers need-based social scholarships at bachelor and master level.苏黎世联邦理工在本科与硕士阶段提供按经济需要发放的助学金。

    This is the honest answer for an incoming international undergraduate: no merit scholarship for new bachelor's students was found at either federal institute.对新入学的国际本科生而言，这是实话：两所联邦理工都没有面向新生的成绩类奖学金。

Visa

  • The migration office of your canton issues the permit, and it wants a bank confirmation that you can reach CHF 21,000 a year.居留许可由所在州的移民局签发，并要求提供每年可支配 21,000 瑞士法郎的银行证明。 [15]
  • The account must be in your own name, in Swiss francs, euros or US dollars, at a bank on FINMA's authorised list. A guarantee declaration from a solvent Swiss resident is the alternative.账户须以本人名义，币种为瑞士法郎、欧元或美元，且银行须在 FINMA 认可名单内。替代方案是由有偿付能力的瑞士居民出具担保声明。 [15]
  • Cantons set their own figures, so check the one you are moving to rather than assuming Zurich's.各州标准不同，请查你要去的那个州，不要照搬苏黎世的数字。 [15]

Work during and after studies

  • ⚠️ Bachelor's students from outside the EU may not work for the first 6 months after arriving.⚠️ 非欧盟本科生抵达后前 6 个月不得工作。 [8]
  • After that, up to 15 hours a week during the semester, and full time in the lecture-free periods.之后学期中每周最多 15 小时，非授课期间可全职。 [8]
  • After graduating you may extend the permit by 6 months to look for work, counted from the date of graduation rather than from when the permit expires.毕业后可延长居留 6 个月用于求职，起算日为毕业之日，而非居留许可到期日。 [9]
  • Those 6 months cannot be extended, the 15-hour cap still applies during them, and you need CHF 10,500 in the bank to be granted them.这 6 个月不可延长，其间仍受每周 15 小时上限约束，且须有 10,500 瑞士法郎存款才能获批。 [9]

When you arrive

  • Register with the commune and the cantonal migration office to collect your residence permit.到市镇与州移民局办理登记，领取居留许可。 [15]
  • Take out Swiss health insurance: ETH budgets CHF 1,320 a year for a non-EU student.办理瑞士医疗保险：苏黎世联邦理工为非欧盟学生每年预算 1,320 瑞士法郎。 [3]
  • Remember the 6-month waiting period before you may take any paid work.记住在可以从事任何有薪工作之前有 6 个月的等待期。 [8]

Common mistakes

  • The single biggest mistake is assuming the bachelor's is in English because the master's is. ETH says in its own words that the main teaching language in all bachelor's programmes is German.最大的误解是因为硕士用英语，就以为本科也是。苏黎世联邦理工白纸黑字写着：所有本科项目的主要授课语言是德语。 [5]
  • Cheap tuition is not a cheap degree. CHF 4,380 of tuition sits beside CHF 22,100 of living costs — the fee is a sixth of the bill.学费低不等于读书便宜。4,380 瑞士法郎的学费之外是 22,100 的生活费——学费只占账单的六分之一。 [2]
  • The permit figure of CHF 21,000 is below ETH's own living-cost estimate. Meeting the permit threshold does not mean you can afford the year.21,000 瑞士法郎的居留门槛低于苏黎世联邦理工自己的生活费估算。达到居留门槛不等于负担得起这一年。 [15]
  • Almost every Chinese applicant sits an ETH entrance examination. Only the IB, at 38 of 42 with the right Higher Level subjects, avoids it.几乎每一位中国申请人都要参加苏黎世联邦理工的入学考试。唯一的例外是 IB——42 分中取得 38 分且高级课程科目符合要求。 [12]
  • You cannot work your way through the first year. Six months of no work, then 15 hours a week, against CHF 22,100 of costs.第一年无法靠打工维持。前六个月完全不能工作，之后每周 15 小时，而开支是 22,100 瑞士法郎。 [8]

Sources

  1. University of Geneva: registration fees checked
  2. ETH Zurich: tuition fees checked
  3. ETH Zurich: cost of living, the student budget checked
  4. EPFL: the bachelor's degree checked
  5. ETH Zurich: bachelor's degree programmes checked
  6. EPFL: bachelor's admission checked
  7. ETH Zurich: admission prerequisites with a non-Swiss certificate checked
  8. ETH Zurich: employment for non-EU students checked
  9. ETH Zurich: residence permit for job-seeking checked
  10. EPFL: immigration and the law on foreigners checked
  11. ETH Zurich: how to apply checked
  12. ETH Zurich: admission requirements by country, 2026/27 checked
  13. EPFL: tuition fee and other fees checked
  14. University of Zurich: fees checked
  15. University of Zurich: entry and residence guidelines checked
  16. EHL Hospitality Business School: tuition fees checked
  17. ETH Zurich: Excellence Scholarship and Opportunity Programme checked
  18. EPFL: master's Excellence Fellowships checked
  19. ETH Zurich: financial matters checked

Rules and fees change. Everything here was checked against the official pages on the date shown. Confirm on those pages before you apply or pay.

Log in or create account

IGCSE, A-Level & AP