Switzerland is one of the leading countries in medical education, with most of its schools included in the top 100 medical institutions in the world. However, getting into their medical schools is almost impossible for international students, especially those with no relation to the country. We will dig deep into these relationships later. In the meantime, let us figure out why despite the slim chances of getting in, you should still try and apply to Switzerland medical schools.

There are only six universities in Switzerland offering medicine, and all of them are included in the top 100 medical schools by QS World University Ranking for Medicine. Their educational system is recognized globally and offers excellent career prospects for its graduates. It is also imperative to consider the cost of living before deciding to pursue your studies in Switzerland. This article will shed light on the best medical schools in Switzerland.

Read More: Cheap Universities in Switzerland

Can International Students Enroll in Medical Schools in Switzerland?

The answer depends on many factors, but generally NO since they only have a few medical schools, which are more often reserved, to train their citizens. However, there are special provisions for non-Swiss applicants to get accepted to Swiss medical schools like the University of Basel, University of Geneva, University of Zurich, and more, which are as follows:

  • Residents of the Principality of Liechtenstein
  • International Students with Swiss or Principality of Liechtenstein Settlement Permit
  • International Students with Citizenship in Member States of the European Union, Iceland, or Norway
  • Children Whose Parents Originated From Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Norway, or Liechtenstein
  • International Students Who Have Resided in Switzerland for Past Two Years
  • International Students Whose Parents Hold Diplomatic Status in Switzerland
  • International Students Who Are Recognized as Refugees in Switzerland

The above list is just an overview of qualifications. Check the full list here. If you satisfy any of the criteria to get admitted to Swiss medical schools, do not forget to prepare all the verifying documents for the provision and the academic requirements, which may vary in every school. Please check the website of the university of your choice for complete details.

Check Also: Programs in Europe for International Students

What Is the Medical Curriculum Like in Medical Schools in Switzerland?

Medicine education in Switzerland is in German (University of Basel), German (University of Bern), and French (University of Geneva and Lausanne) languages. Medical education in Switzerland lasts for six years. Divided into Bachelor’s (3 years) and Master’s (3 years) degrees. Let us look at the overview of the medical program from University of Basel.

Students are generally required to undergo a four-week nursing internship before the start of the program. But the students can complete it until the second year of the Degree program, where it will be required prior to registration to the performance exam. The Bachelor’s degree curriculum includes cultivating the manual, diagnostic and therapeutic skills of the students. All through different clinical course courses and mantle studies.

Completion of the Bachelor’s degree allows that student to proceed to the Master’s program. It is better to take your Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in the same schools as finishing an undergraduate degree from another school will not guarantee acceptance to other schools as slots for each school are limited. The first three semesters of the Master’s degree curriculum consist of studying the organ and topic-related blocks taught in the Bachelor’s degree but with more depth in the Master’s with a clinical focus on diagnostics, therapy, and prevention.

The fourth and fifth semesters in the second year of the Master’s program will be an elective year of study where students will become sub-assistants in different hospitals in Germany and abroad. The colleges dedicate the last semester to writing a master’s dissertation. The Federal examination awaits the students at the end of the Master’s program. Passing it will make the graduate eligible for the federal medical diploma. The diploma-holder can now practice under supervision or proceed with specialization. Only physicians who have undertaken the specialization training and exam can treat patients independently.

Learn More: Steps to Become a Doctor in Switzerland

Best Medical Schools in Switzerland

1. University of Basel

The University of Basel is the oldest yet presently the best medical school in Switzerland, founded in 1460. The medical education at the University of Basel based on the Bologna system has a topic block structure; where instead of the subjects separated per semester, it is in topic-based blocks.

2. University of Geneva

University of Geneva Faculty of Medicine is one of the nine original faculties in the university since 1876. The faculty offers medical education and research at an international level. The university is also in partnership with the University Hospitals of Geneva, the largest hospital complex in Switzerland. Because of all this, the University Faculty of Geneva is one of the leading institutions in neurosciences, genetics, transplantation, and more. The language of instruction at this top medical school in Switzerland is French, so they require prospective students to take the French Language Test before admission.

3. University of Zurich

The University of Zurich was founded in 1833 and became the first European university independent of the Church. It has the largest Faculty of Medicine among the six medical schools in Switzerland. The university started as having only six faculty members, which increased to 170 in its first century since establishment. Medical admission to the University of Zurich is regulated by the Government Council of the Canton of Zurich for both Swiss and non-Swiss candidates.

4. University of Bern

The medical program at the University of Bern is German structured by the Swiss Confederation. The university is second to the University of Zurich as the largest Medical Faculty in Switzerland. It provides high-end education, training, and research conducted in the University clinics and institutes from Insel Hospital, University of Bern, and University Psychiatric Services UPD. The University of Bern, one of the best medical schools in Switzerland, is also popular with international students despite their limited slots of two to five per academic year.

5. University of Lausanne

Like the University of Geneva, the University of Lausanne also teaches its medical programs in French. This top medical school in Switzerland has a seed planted in 1537, yet its Faculty of Biology and Medicine only came to life in 2003. Medical education at the University of Lausanne focuses on patient care and clinical research with interdisciplinary collaboration with Biology and Nursing. The university also has an international atmosphere as a fifth of its student population is of foreign origin.

6. ETH Zurich – Department of Health Sciences and Technology

Established as “Polytechnikum” in 1855, ETH Zurich is one of the leading educational institutions in Switzerland that offers medical programs. A testament to the quality of its education is that 22 Nobel Prize winners are, or have once been connected with the university.

The Department of Health Sciences and Technology was established in 2010, to advance research in health, nutrition, and medical technology and to promote new knowledge and technique to clinical practice.

The department introduced a new undergraduate program in medicine in 2017 as a pilot study. The success of this led to the program becoming a regular offering in 2021. Based on the new Swiss Catalogue of Learning Objectives for Undergraduate Medical Training, the curriculum incorporates innovative educational methods. Taught in German, the program covers the anatomy and physiology of the human body and builds clinical and scientific knowledge.

Since the university does not have a hospital to train students, all graduates are guaranteed the opportunity to study for a Master’s degree at one of ETH’s partner universities in Basel, Lugano, and Zurich. These seats are allocated based on academic merit, residence, and social background.

In keeping with the regulation in Switzerland, all students can take the federal exam upon completing six years of training.

7. University of Fribourg – Faculty of Science and Medicine

With a history that goes back to 1889, the University of Fribourg is another top university in Switzerland offering academic programs in medicine. One of the five main faculties in the university, the Faculty of Science and Medicine offers a wide range of programs. All undergraduate courses of the Faculty are bilingual in French and German. Depending on the teacher, courses are taught in either language, but students can choose their preferred language for assignments and exams.

One of the main undergraduate programs of the faculty is the program in human medicine. The program’s first year covers physics, chemistry, and human anatomy. The second year focuses on morphological and functional aspects, and the final year covers the mechanisms that lead to disease.

The faculty also offers a master’s program that has a notable practice-oriented approach. Students are trained in the skills to be a doctor and familiarised with the challenges of the profession through innovative teaching methods and integrated hospital settings. The teaching is interactive, students benefit from regular exposure to the clinical environment, and they are encouraged to undertake independent studies. While the 40 available places are open to all students who hold an undergraduate degree in medicine, priority is given to graduates of the university’s bachelor program in medicine.

The Faculty of Science and Medicine began to offer a doctoral program in 2019. Leading to the degree of Doctor of Medicine, the program is aimed at those who wish to pursue further research and training, and all candidates must hold a master’s degree in medicine.

8. Universita della Svizzera Italiana – Faculty of Biomedical Sciences

Established in 1996, the Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI) is one the best public universities in Switzerland. Through its Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, the university offers a bachelor’s program in medicine. The three-year program is offered in partnership with the University of Basel and the University of Bern, with 15 seats at each location reserved for USI students. On completing the degree, students are eligible for a Master’s program, where they undergo advanced and clinical training.

From 2020, the university also offers a Master in Medicine program, which consists of three years of clinical training.

With a curriculum that uses modern teaching methods and incorporates the latest trends in medical education, these medical degrees prepare students for the federal exam and produce doctors who can meet the challenges of the health sector.

9. University of St. Gallen – School of Medicine

Established in 1898 as a business school, the University of St.Gallen (HSG) is one of the oldest universities in the country. It has expanded and grown over the years to include many schools and faculty.

The School of Medicine, one of the reputable medical Swiss faculties, was specially created to offer the Joint Medical Master, which is given in partnership with the University of Zurich. Offered in German at the St. Gallen campus, this medical program from the two prestigious universities takes in 40 students per year.

Apart from this, teaching and research are carried out through the three Chairs of the School of Medicine: Health Care Management, Digital Health Interventions, and Medical Knowledge and Decision Support. The school remains an important research center of the university.

10. University of Lucerne – Faculty and Health Sciences and Medicine

One of the smallest and youngest universities in the country, the University of Lucerne is known for its focus on the human sciences.

The Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine is one of six faculties of the university, offering an undergraduate and master’s program in Health Sciences. Since 2020, the Faculty has been offering the Joint Medical Master, a cooperation between the universities of Lucerne and Zurich. It is one of the best examples of the results of the effort to increase the number of degrees offered in medicine in Switzerland.

About forty students are enrolled at Lucerne, which offers a majority of the program’s courses in collaboration with its partner institutions in the region. The program aims to prepare students for the mandatory Federal Licensing Exam.

The approach to training is practice-oriented and involves interactive lessons and close exchanges. By the end of the program, students get familiar with the clinical setting and the health sector.

 

Switzerland has always been facing a shortage of physicians, and with limited medical institutions, getting into their medical schools as a foreign national is highly competitive. Nevertheless, if you fit into the special provision for non-Swiss students, then do not miss the chance to study at some of the top medical universities in the world. If you intend to study medicine and are yet to embark upon the journey of pursuing higher education in Switzerland, feel free to check the requirements to apply for a bachelor’s degree in Switzerland.

 

We hope that this article on the best medical schools in Switzerland was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Programs in Europe for International Students to know more information!

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hyun is the founder at Global Scholarships. He has received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College as well as $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for his undergraduate degree and has been offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. Read more about his scholarship journey here.

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2 Comments

  1. Бобур Гаффаров - Reply

    I want to study

    • Hyun Lee - Reply

      Please look at the information above for more information:)

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