Switzerland medical schools for international students

Switzerland is a great destination for any student who want to pursue academics in an international environment. The country has always stood out for the high-standard they put on their education system. And medical studies and medical schools are no exception. Moreover, the Swiss healthcare system is one of the best in the world, making it an ideal place for aspiring medical professionals to gain valuable experience. Here is our list of the best medical schools in Switzerland, along with important information on how international students can study medicine in the country.

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Can you study in Swiss medical schools as an international student?

Admission to medical schools in Switzerland goes through a very strict selection process. Also, it’s reserved only for an exclusive category of foreigners. This includes:

Citizens of Lichtenstein
Foreign nationals holding a Swiss or Lichtenstein residence permits
EU citizens who hold a Swiss work permit
Citizens from Norway and Iceland who hols a Swiss work permit
Foreign citizens who possess:

A Swiss work permit that has been continuing for 5 years
A Swiss or cantonal baccalaureate
A Liechtenstein baccalaureate, federal vocational baccalaureate, or a nationally-recognized specialized baccalaureate

The spouse or a partner of a:

Swiss citizen
Foreign national with a Swiss or Liechtenstein residence permit

Foreign nationals with at least one parent who holds a Swiss residence permit or work permit that is uninterrupted for 5 years
Foreigners with diplomatic status
Foreign nationals categorized as refugees in Switzerland

Those who satisfy these eligibility criteria can easily apply. On the other hand, international students who don’t fit for these criteria must enter into a stringent competition to hope getting into medical universities in Switzerland.

Switzerland medical school requirements

Admission to Swiss medical faculties has specific rules and limitations for foreign applicants. And in general, foreigners living abroad can’t be admitted to medical schools in Switzerland. However, the categories of foreign applicants cited in the previous paragraph are treated the same as Swiss applicants. Therefore, the requirements are the same for Swiss nationals as well as eligible foreign candidates.

At the same time, a numerus clausus system restricts the number of available spots. Universities therefore either have a strict internal selection process or hold a qualifying entry examination. Students then need to apply for this entrance test through the university’s website and pay a CHF 200 fee. This qualifying exam usually takes place yearly in July.

Moreover, the test is in German at the Universities of Basel, Bern Chur, Lucern, St. Gallen, Suhr and Zurich. On the other hand, you take it in French at the University of Fribourg and in Italian at Lugano. Applicants to these universities must then provide a proof of proficiency in the given language. Some institutions may also require students to go through some pre-course aptitude tests.

Read also our guide on university admission in Switzerland.

How long is med school in Switzerland?

The Swiss Confederation regulates and structures the university studies of Human Medicine in the country. It usually takes 6 years to complete, and it consists of 2 phases. The bachelor phase lasts from year 1 to year 3, while the master program lasts from year 4 to year 6. At the end of the 6 years, students need to sit the Swiss Federal Licensing Examination in human medicine.

This is a prerequisite for further training in hospitals and doctor’s practices before they take the medical specialist exam. It’s only after that period that they are considered as medical doctors allowed to care for sick people independently. But it’s not the end of the training yet, since they must get through continuous training activity and reviews by medical expert associations.

Switzerland medical school fees

It’s common knowledge that medical schools are usually expensive, and Switzerland is no exception. This is because a high-quality education comes with a high cost. However, it will cost you the half of what you’d pay for med school in the USA or in Canada. Yet, it remains costly, since it will cost you between $21,000 and €1,000,000 per year to earn a medical degree in Switzerland. Of course, there are funding opportunities you might check out.

Read our guide on the scholarships in Switzerland to find out more.

Switzerland medical schools ranking

Medical schools in Switzerland are known to put an emphasis on science and healthcare. Here are some of Switzerland’s top medical universities along with what makes them stand out.

University of Bern medical school

The medical school of Bern University ranks in the top 70 universities for clinical medicine. As for the parent institution, it ranks in the best 150 universities worldwide. The school is one of the largest medical faculties in Switzerland, welcoming over 2,000 students. The educational facilities consist of universities and institutes from 3 organizations: the University of Bern, including a Dental School, the University of Psychiatric Sciences UPD, and the Insel Hospital.

The medical school is committed to offering well-founded theoretical and practice-oriented education with a broadly diversified program. Moreover, the school offers great research opportunities ranging from basic research, at the pre-clinical institution and the Department of Biomedical research, to translational and clinical research.

Find out more by visiting the medical school’s website.

Medical school at the university of Zurich

The medical school of the University of Zurich is a prominent research institution in Europe, with significant contribution in the fields of biology, genetics, immunology, medicine, and neuroscience. The university is also a member of the League of European Research Universities and in this regard has close ties with other high-profile institutions in Switzerland and Europe.

Moreover, the med school is also the largest faculty of medicine in Switzerland, hosting about 4,000 students. Facilities include 4 academic hospitals: University Hospital Zurich, University Childrens’ Hospital Zurich, Balgrist University Hospital and Psychiatric University Hospital. Research at the institution covers the fields of innovation, translation and implementation, providing outstanding infrastructure to the next generation of medical scientists.

Find out more by visiting the website of the Faculty of medicine of the University of Zurich.

University of Basel, medical school

The University of Basel’s medical school ranks in the top 125 globally for clinical medicine. The university has its medical faculty since its foundation in 1460. From that time on, the institution carries on offering training in the areas of Human medicine, Dentistry, Sport, Exercise and Health and even provides a master in Biomedical engineering.

The bachelor’s program in human medicine requires the completion of at least 180 ECTS credits. And during the 1st and 2nd year, students are joined by dental medicine students having common core courses as well as specific ones for each specialty. The master’s part on the other hand focuses on clinical training in addition to theoretical and practical demonstrations.

Find out more on the university’s website.

Medical school at the University of Geneva, Switzerland

Next in our list of the best medical schools in Switzerland is the University of Geneva, which ranks in the top 150 worldwide with its faculty of medicine. It’s a leading research institution, being a member of the League of European Research Universities with partnership with institutions such as Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

Geneva University also prides for its connection with 10 Nobel Prize laureates as well as with the World Health Organization. The medical school is located in the University Medical Center (CMU) in Champel.

Read about the Geneva University’s faculty of medicine and their human medicine program by visiting the university’s website.

The Faculty of Biology and Medicine at the University of Lausanne

Last in our list of the best medical schools in Switzerland is the University of Lausanne with its faculty of Biology and Medicine. The university ranks among the top 150 globally for clinical medicine and in the top 200 best universities in the world. Its Faculty of Medicine and Biology, as its name states offers training for medical, biology and nursing students and researchers.

The institution’s organization revolves around the School of Medicine, School of Biology, Doctoral School and University Institute of Nursing Sciences. The 3 fields of study (human medicine, nursing and biology) also provide students with interdisciplinary collaboration opportunities. This approach continues at the doctoral school where collaboration between physicians and biologists has been ongoing for years.