Switzerland
With 60% of the country dominated by the Alps mountain range, one thing Switzerland doesn't lack is scenery. However, it's not all about the landscape; the country is also home to a renowned higher education system
There are two types of higher education institutions in Switzerland:
Switzerland has three universities in the top 100 of The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2011-2012:
When applying for a Masters programme, you will need to present your undergraduate degree. Entry requirements vary for each university, so make sure you contact institutions directly to ensure your application is correct.
As Switzerland is a multilingual country, the languages spoken at universities will differ. The majority of the country speaks German, but French is used in the West of the country, Italian in some areas in the South and Romansh is also spoken by a small minority.
However, at Masters level an increasing number of study programmes are in English.
The Swiss University - Interactive Map will help explain which languages are spoken where.
European Union (EU) citizens are entitled to attend a university in Switzerland, even though it is not currently a member of the EU.
However, in Switzerland, 5 out of the 12 higher education institutes require non-Swiss students to pay additional fees. For example, the Università della Svizzera Italiana requires foreign students to pay double that of Swiss nationals.
To see an up-to-date list of all the current university fees, go to Swiss University - Grants, Scholarships and Fees at Swiss Universities .
The Swiss government does not offer scholarships to students who are from the UK.
If you are from another country, then you may be eligible for a government scholarship. Check to see if your country of origin is eligible by visiting State Secretariat for Education and Research (SER) - Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships .
Students attending UK universities can take part in the EU's flagship educational exchange programme Erasmus . The scheme offers work placements, study opportunities and language assistantships, which last for three months to one academic year in EU countries (Croatia and Switzerland have recently been included on the list).
Financial support is also available to selected Masters and Doctoral students through the Erasmus Mundus initiative.
Your university must have a formal agreement with a partner university in another country. Check that your university is involved in the programme and offers the Erasmus scheme in your subject.
It isn't always necessary to speak the language of your host university but it is, of course, very useful. Speak to the Erasmus coordinator at your university about available opportunities.
Students from the EU must register with the Residents' Registration Office of the relevant local authority within 14 days of arrival in Switzerland and apply for a residents' permit. Students will then need to produce:
Health insurance is mandatory for everyone living in Switzerland. If you intend to live in Switzerland for longer than three months then you must purchase your own health insurance. For more information, visit Swiss University - Immigration and Visa .
Forget the fancy watches and Swiss Army knives for just a second and find out about climbing the career ladder in a country with a high employment rate and exceptional quality of life
Switzerland is a fairly small country, with a population of only 7.7 million people. However, it boasts one of most stable economies in the world and the unemployment rate stands at an impressive 3.1%.
The cost of living in Switzerland is very high; Zurich and Geneva are amongst the world's most expensive cities to live in. However, this is matched by the fact Zurich pays the highest gross and net wage levels in the world and is also ranked second for quality of life, according to Swiss University .
The Swiss economy is built on a strong foundation of highly skilled workers. Although the country is best known for its cheese and chocolate, half of all Swiss export revenue is created by the mechanical/electrical engineering and chemistry sectors.
Consulting, banking and insurance also make up a large portion of the international income that Switzerland receives.
Tourism is another area that provides employment, with the ski resorts in the Swiss Alps frequently welcoming seasonal workers. English-speaking ski/snowboard instructors are also in demand. For more information on temporary jobs, see Seasonworkers.com - Ski Jobs in Switzerland .
Search for jobs in Switzerland at:
Multinational Swiss watch-making company Swatch is frequently looking to recruit bilingual trainees and recent graduates to work in its offices in Switzerland; you can even email your CV across speculatively. For the latest positions on offer, see Swatch - Jobs .
For those interested in teaching English in Switzerland, the demand is usually quite low, as most nationals already have a high understanding of English from an early age. If you do manage to secure a teaching post, the pay is usually very good. For more information, visit i-to-i - Teach English in Switzerland .
Voluntary work is well worth considering if you can afford to work unpaid in order to gain experience. Not only will it put your language skills to the test and help you to understand Swiss culture, it will provide you with an opportunity to make valuable contacts and look fantastic on your CV.
Most of the voluntary opportunities in Switzerland involve agricultural work, with unpaid manual labour rewarded with free food and accommodation.
Switzerland is renowned for being a multilingual country. German, French, Italian and Romansh are all spoken in different regions of the country.
It is important to know what language is spoken in the area where you intend to work. For a clear breakdown of the various Swiss regions and the languages spoken, look at the Swiss University - Interactive Map .
There are lots of language course here in the UK, and many good websites exist, along with downloadable podcasts, to help you improve your skills. To test and then sharpen your skills, visit BBC Languages .
As Switzerland is not a member of the European Union (EU), different rules are in place when applying for visas and work permits.
The country admits employed foreign citizens on the basis of a dual system:
More important information regarding visa applications can be found at VFS.Global - Switzerland Visa Information .