DISCOVER LAUSANNE

FIND YOUR STUDY PROGRAM IN LAUSANNE

LAUSANNE AT A GLANCE

Lausanne is a city in Switzerland, located on the shores of Geneva Lake. In Lausanne, there are over 130,000 people living studying and working in the city in a total area of 41.37 km2, which makes it the fourth-biggest city in the country of Switzerland. In fact, nowadays, over twenty percent of the people in Lausanne are internationals coming from different places but mostly from Portugal, France, Italy, and Spain. The city of Lausanne is located in the French-speaking part of the country and most of the people, approximately eighty percent of the city’s population, speak French, while German is the second most common language there. Since Italian is also among the country’s official languages and in addition, there are many Italians living in Lausanne, Italian can be often heard on the city’s streets as well. In Lausanne, approximately one-third of the year there is are rainfalls or snowfalls, with May being the wettest month. More than half of the month it rains in the city so everyone who is about to relocate to Lausanne should be prepared for lots of rainfalls in the spring. Summer in Lausanne is relatively warm with temperatures going up to 25-27 °C in July and August. December and January are cold and usually snowy, with temperatures between -1 and 2 °C. Just like every city in Switzerland, in Lausanne too, the public transportation network is extremely reliable. It consists of the subway, bus lines, trolleybuses, and an extensive railway network. In fact, trains are maybe the most common means of transportation in Switzerland. National and international trains depart and arrive every day at the main train station of Lausanne and connect the city with the rest of the country, as well as with some neighboring countries, such as Germany, Italy, and France. Lausanne is connected directly to the French capital, Paris, and students living in Lausanne can have a weekend getaway to the most romantic European city within less than four hours in exchange for twenty euros one way. Also, only six hours away from Lausanne’s city center by train is beautiful Milan.

Academic Year

Summer Semester: February – May/June / Winter Semester: August/September – January

Official Language

French

Higher Education Institutions

Population

139056

Living Costs

1000 – 1100 EUR

STUDYING IN LAUSANNE

The beautiful city of Lausanne is a perfect destination for every prospective student mostly due to the fact that one of the best universities in Switzerland is based exactly in Lausanne, namely the University of Lausanne. The University of Lausanne, called Université de Lausanne in French, is the biggest university in the city and currently is home to more than 13,000 students. The higher education institution offers to students more than twenty different degree courses in total, spread across seven faculties. From Medicine though Law to International Business and Management, the higher education institution provides a wide range of disciplines and sectors students can choose from. However, the University of Lausanne mainly focuses on the courses from the Biology and Medicine faculty, as well as on the business courses. Even though French is the official language spoken in the region, plenty of degree courses offered at the University of Lausanne are taught partly or entirely in English. This is one of the main reasons why the university is getting more and more popular as a study exchange destination. Nowadays, approximately twelve percent of the students at the University of Lausanne are foreigners coming from a hundred and twenty different countries. That number includes both full-time student and exchange ones who come to spend a semester or a year at the university. When it comes to student accommodation in Lausanne, prospective students can choose between living in a student residence and finding themselves a room to rent in a shared flat. In case some prefer to have more space, they can even rent a studio. However, the cheapest option is to live in a student dormitory, costing between 500 and 900 EUR per month per person. The price really depends on the dormitory itself, its location and the type of rooms offered there. Private accommodation is more expensive in Lausanne and students can find rooms for rent in exchange for 600 to 1,400 EUR, depending on the location of the flat and the size of the room. Rents for studios start from 1,000 EUR per month.

LAUSANNE LIFESTYLE

Located in the heart of Europe, Lausanne has landscapes that can take everyone’s breath away. But that is not all. The city can also offer exciting student life that includes welcome parties for new students, international dinners and culture days, as well as BBQs and many more interesting events that are organized by every university in the city. The nightlife is also an important part of students’ expectations in terms of their experience in a new place, the city of Lausanne will not disappoint them at all. Lausanne is a city full of students and the city offers the exact type of nightlife they enjoy. Everyone who is looking for a nice atmosphere combined with amazing cocktails, the Le Comptoir Cocktail Bar in Lausanne is the right place to go. The bistro-bar called Bleu Lezard is also a perfect spot for spending a relaxing evening during the week. It is a quiet place where students go to meet friends and chat since it is less crowded and offers not only amazing drinks but delicious meals, too.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN LAUSANNE

The local labor market of Lausanne is both competitive and diverse. If students have the required skills, finding employment in the city is definitely easy. The city of Lausanne is considered Switzerland’s administrative, as well as a tourist center. In general, the city’s economy is focused on manufacturing, construction, trade, as well as information and communication technology. Famous companies such as Philip Morris and Nestlé have their headquarters based in the city of Lausanne and offer many employment opportunities to both graduates and skilled workers. Moreover, it is a common thing for students to do their internship placements in those companies which can be the first step towards a successful career in the future.