Switzerland authorities have decided to charge international students higher fees.
Tuition fees for foreign Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students who move to Switzerland to study at ETH Zurich or EPFL will now face a threefold increase, Schengen.News report.
The new decision will be introduced in the fall semester of 2025. As part of a transitional arrangement, students who are already enrolled will be able to complete their Bachelor’s or Master’s degree without an increase in fees.
Increasing the tuition fees is taking into account the Federal Parliament’s clearly expressed will and proposing a solution that can be implemented quickly. The decision by the ETH Board in March not to implement an increase was based on the significance of internationalism and the ability to attract the best talents, which remain key aspects for the ETH Board.
Over 7,300 of ETH Zurich University Students Are Internationals
Currently, the fees for studying at ETH Zurich and EPFL amount to CHF 730 (€749.42) per semester for Swiss and international students. In addition, about 35 per cent of the 21,000-strong student body at ETH Zurich are foreigners, while at EPFL, this proportion is higher—about half of the total of 13,000 students come from abroad.
During the conference, the ETH Board also proposed linking all tuition fees to the national consumer price index. The board pointed out that this would avoid a further devaluation of tuition fee income due to inflation.
In some Swiss universities, the fees for local and international students are already different. For example, at the University of St Gallen, domestic students pay CHF 1,229 (€1,260) for a Bachelor’s degree, while international students pay CHF 3,129 (€3,210).
In the summer session, a decision was made for students with a foreign degree studying in Switzerland regarding tuition fees. As a result, the House of Representatives decided that such students must pay at least three times the tuition fees of students with Swiss degrees. The responsible committee of the Senate also expressed its support for the increase, but only twice.
The Senate said that it will discuss this in the fall session. At the same time, the issue is expected to be resolved in both chambers by the end of the year.
Moreover, data from the Swiss Federal Statistical Office revealed that 76,257 international students are currently enrolled in higher education institutions in Switzerland. Most international university students are enrolled in Bachelor’s degree programs, with 17,850 students.
