DISCOVER BASEL

FIND YOUR STUDY PROGRAM IN BASEL

BASEL AT A GLANCE

Basel is a city located in the very heart of Europe where Switzerland, France, and Germany meet. It is Switzerland’s third biggest and third most populated city with an area of 37.000 km2 and a population of over 170, 000 inhabitants. The city of Basel itself has a population of many different nationalities studying, working and living there. In Basel, the spoken language in Swiss German but with a specific dialect also called Baslerdytsch. The climate in Basel is considered mild continental with temperatures between 2 and 19 °C depending on the season. Besides the rich cultural life and the amazing nightlife in Basel, locals and expats benefit also from the great infrastructure. Both the city and the countryside of Basel have a really efficient and organized public transport system. There are many tram lines connecting the different part of the city and additionally, there are also dozens of bus lines people in Basel can use during day and night. People living in the city can use the Green Travelcard which is valid for all types of public transport in the northwest of Switzerland. An annual subscription can be purchased in exchange of 760 CHF for adults per year, while the monthly fee is 76 CHF. However, that price applies only to those who are registered local residents. For those who have not registered, the fee is higher, 101 CHF for per month. Additionally, many other different tickets are available at the vending machines throughout the city of Basel. Besides the great public transportation network in Basel, people can also enjoy traveling by plane to many destinations around the world through the EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, located in less than 4 km from the city. In fact, this is the third biggest airport in Switzerland.

Academic Year

Summer Semester: March/April – July/ Winter Semester: August/September – December/January

Official Language

German

Higher Education Institutions

Population

177595

Living Costs

1400 – 1550 EUR

STUDYING IN BASEL

Basel is a famous study destination among students from all around the world, since the city provides an excellent quality of higher education. Located in Basel is the oldest university in Switzerland – the University of Basel, which was founded in 1460. Due to its first-class research and teaching, the University of Basel is not only among the top higher education institutions in Switzerland, but in within the entire German-speaking region. All seven faculties provide many different study courses students may choose from. Moreover, the majority of disciplines are also offered in English which is one of the reasons that over 20 percent of all students are international ones. The city of Basel is basically divided into two parts by the Rhein river: the northern part, also called Kleinbasel, and the southern part which is called Grossbasel. Depending on their priorities, students have the chance to decide on which side they prefer to live. The majority of the students live in the northern one because of the attractive nightlife this part offers, as well as the lower rents. However, the southern part, Grossbasel, is closer to the university buildings. Part of the students from the University of Basel lives in a student hall of residence, also known as student dormitories, while others prefer to rent a room in shared flats or entire apartments. Prospective students or employees should keep in mind that apartments for rent in Basel usually are unfurnished. Single rooms in shared flats as well as studios cost between 1,000 CHF and 1,600 CHF per month.

BASEL LIFESTYLE

The city of Basel is a cultural hub with a vibrant atmosphere. There, people can enjoy many art galleries, museums, operas, as well as theaters. Basel has much to offer also in terms of nightlife. Depending on one’s taste, there are many dance clubs, cocktail bars and pubs in the city. The choice of leisure facilities available in Basel is endless and much greater than in other towns of similar size in the country. Even though Basel is known as an art destination, its culinary scene is no less impressive. Besides, getting to know one nation’s food helps in understanding the whole culture in general. The cuisine of Switzerland, in general, combines traditional food from Germany, Italy, and France. However, depending on the area of the city, styles vary. In Basel, the flour soup is the most traditional meal which is usually served during the carnival (Fasnacht) with some cheese and onion tart, as well as suuri Lääberli (sour liver strips). Mässmögge is a seasonal specialty of Basel. The Mässmogge season reaches its climax at the Basel Autumn Fair which takes place at the end of October every year. For all the food aficionados, Basel can offer many different options in terms of food and places to eat. The Mediterranean, European and Asian food can be found everywhere around the city. Even typical Balkan food can be found in some of the best restaurants in the city of Basel. Basel offers not only great restaurants and theater plays, but a beautiful botanical garden as well as a zoo, where people can spend some free time and explore the city’s beauties.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN BASEL

About one-third of all the inhabitants in Basel are expats. Moreover, since Basel is located close to Germany and France as well, many people from those countries also commute to work in the city, traveling back and forth every day. The city of Basel is famous for its pharmaceutical industries – the well-known La-Roche is located there. Besides the pharmaceutical industry that is highly developed in the city, exciting employment opportunities can be also found in biotechnology research companies and institutions. Other sectors that are important for the city include the finance, information technology, and design industry. The overall work environments in Basel is considered formal and even conservative. Swiss people in general really appreciate punctuality and a good time management as qualities when it comes the work environment within the companies. Organizations are mostly structured in the traditional manner, meaning that important decisions are always taken at the very top of the company hierarchy. Working hours usually range between 40 and 44. However, in some cases for particular professions, it goes up to 50 working hours per week. Everyone has by law 20 days of annual paid leave plus an additional 8 days for the national holidays. The salaries are relatively high in Basel – approximately four percent higher than the average for the country. However, Basel is among the most expensive cities in Switzerland.