Switzerland Cost & living - Tuition & budgets

The one-year MBA at IMD Lausanne in Switzerland costs about CHF 97,500 on an all-inclusive basis. That figure rolls tuition together with mandatory fees and items such as books, coaching and project travel, so compare it carefully with schools that quote tuition alone.

A Master's at a public Swiss university typically costs around CHF 820 to 1,220 per semester, usually over 1 to 2 years. At a private university it typically costs around CHF 20,000 to 40,000 a year, which is a much higher bracket.

Tuition at the University of Zurich typically runs around CHF 720 to 1,220 per semester, while ETH Zurich and EPFL each charge around CHF 730 to 2,190 per semester. Public Swiss universities are heavily subsidised, so tuition is one of the smaller items in your budget.

The University of St. Gallen MBA typically costs around CHF 30,000 to 60,000 a year, while IMD costs around CHF 97,500 for its one-year MBA. Private Swiss business school fees are far higher than public university tuition and can resemble US or UK fees.

ETH Zurich and EPFL have tripled tuition fees for new international students, from CHF 730 to CHF 2,190 per semester. Other public universities in Switzerland remain comparatively affordable, with master's programmes typically around CHF 850 to 5,000 per semester, though costs vary by university and city.

None is better for everyone. ETH Zurich ranks in the top 10 and has the lowest fees, NUS ranks 10 and NTU 12. NTU and NUS both offer a one year Long-Term Visit Pass after graduating, while ETH Zurich offers non-EU graduates a six month job seeking visa.

Italy suits the tightest budgets, with public tuition of €900 to €4,000 a year. Switzerland suits STEM and finance students chasing high ROI, with low tuition but living costs of CHF 1,500 to 2,800 a month. Australia suits English immersion and strong post study work rights, despite higher tuition.