Universities and institutes of technology

The ten cantonal universities, both federal institutes of technology and several other institutions of higher education form together the universities and institutes of technology (UIT). The main services offered by the universities and institutes of technology are teaching and research across seven broad areas: humanities and social sciences, economics, law, natural sciences, medicine and pharmacology, engineering sciences and an interdisciplinary field.

Since the introduction of the Bologna reform from the beginning of the 2000s onwards, bachelor and master degrees have progressively replaced the "licence/diplôme". The number of doctorates has increased over time. This rise is mainly due to their appeal among students from abroad.

Graduates of universities and institutes of technology by group of fields of study and level of graduation, 2022

	Bachelor	Master	Doctorate
Humanities and social Sciences	4 587	4 034	636
Economics	2 294	2 389	213
Law	1 684	1 873	148
Exact and natural Sciences	2 706	2 972	1 421
Medecine and Pharmacy	1 949	1 847	1 385
Engineering, Architecture	1 944	2 353	787
Interdisciplinary and other	373	557	21
Total	15 537	16 025	4 611

Source: FSO - SHIS-studex

In 2022, universities and institutes of technology awarded 15 537 bachelor degrees, 16 025 master degrees and 4611 doctorates. 30% of bachelor degrees and 25% of master degrees were awarded to students in the humanities and social sciences. At doctoral level, the number of qualifications awarded in 2022 is greater in the exact and natural sciences (31% of the total number of doctorates) and in Medecine and Pharmacy (30%) than in other programmes. Over half of bachelor (54%) and master degrees (53%) are awarded to women. Meanwhile, women account for 47% of doctorate degree holders. The share of doctorates awarded to foreign students is particularly high (59%).

We highly recommend checking the results published in the tables available under the heading "tables" beforehand.

Further information

Tables

All tables on the topic Tertiary education - Higher education institutions