Universities and institutes of technology

The ten cantonal universities, both federal institutes of technology and several institutions of higher education form together the universities and institutes of technology (UIT). The main services offered by the UIT 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.

Generally, master rather than bachelor degrees are more appealing to foreign nationals who come to study in Switzerland. At the universities and institutes of technology, this observation is also valid but above all doctoral studies are preferred by this group. The percentage of foreign entrants educated abroad at doctoral level increased from 36% at the start of the 2000s to 58% in 2023/24.

Entrances (at bachelor/diploma level) and students at universities and institutes of technology by group of fields of study, sex and nationality (category), 2023/24
	Entrances	Students
	Total	Total	% Female	% Foreign
Humanities and social sciences	5 562	46 106	69.2	27.2
Economics	3 295	22 801	35.3	37.0
Law	2 080	16 457	62.0	20.0
Exact and natural sciences	4 903	34 898	40.0	47.2
Medecine and pharmacy	2 558	22 317	64.3	24.8
Engineering, architecture	2 861	21 664	32.8	48.3
Interdisciplinary and other	531	5 012	47.4	27.0
Total	21 790	169 255	52.0	34.3

Source: FSO - SHIS-studex

In 2023/24, more than 169 000 students pursued a university education. Humanities and social sciences attracted the largest number of students (27%). The percentages of men and women do differ by fields of study. Although women make up 69% of people in education in the humanities and social sciences, they account for 33% in the engineering sciences. The number of foreign students is highest in engineering, architecture (48%) and in exact and natural sciences (47%) and lowest in law (20%) and in medecine and pharmacy (25%).

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