DISCOVER LUGANO

FIND YOUR STUDY PROGRAM IN LUGANO

LUGANO AT A GLANCE

Lugano is a beautiful city in southern Switzerland that lies directly on the Lugano Lake and is situated really close to the Italian border. Its total area of 75.93 km2 and its population that equals to over 60,000 people makes it the ninth-largest city in Switzerland. In fact, more than twenty-five percent of the city’s inhabitants are internationals coming from all around the globe, but mostly from Italy, Portugal and Germany. In the city of Lugano, the majority of the people, around eighty percent, speak Italian as their first language while the rest speak German and French as first and Italian as a second language. The climate in Lugano is considered oceanic, with relatively hot summers and cold winters. The hottest months of the year in Lugano are July and August when temperatures go up to 26-27° C. Often, they even go up to 30° C. From December until February temperatures are between -3 and 0°C with snowfalls. Lugano has an excellent and very reliable public transportation network. Trains and buses are always on time. The bus lines connect both the city neighborhoods and the suburban area with the city center. Trains regularly connect the city with northern Switzerland, as well as with Milan in Italy directly from the main train station of Lugano. Only four kilometers away from the city center is located the Lugano Airport. It offers direct flights to Zurich and other flights with some changes to exotic destinations such as Malta, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, and many others.

Academic Year

Summer Semester: February – August / Winter Semester: August/September – December/January

Official Language

German

Higher Education Institutions

Population

Living Costs

STUDYING IN LUGANO

Switzerland is famous for providing excellent higher education which attracts students from around the globe. In fact, there are ten higher education institutions in Switzerland which are part of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. In Lugano, there are several universities where students will gain important knowledge and skills required to build stable and successful careers in the future. Founded in 1995, the University of Lugano is considered the most international university in the country as well as the only Italian-speaking higher education institution in Switzerland. Currently, the University of Lugano is home to more than 3,000 students that come from both Switzerland and another 100 different countries from around the world. The university offers a wide variety of degree courses, including Computer Science, Architecture, Economics, Law and many others. In fact, this is the only higher education institution in the country that offers degree courses taught in both English and Italian language. When it comes to student accommodation, students in Lugano can either live in the so-called student halls of residences or to go for private accommodation instead. There are several student dormitories in the city and they all provide different type of rooms to students. Depending on the exact dormitory and the type of room, prices can vary between 500 and 650 EUR per month with all the bills included. However, rooms are strictly limited so the earlier one applies, the higher the chances are to get a room in the student halls. Finding rooms to rent in shared flats outside the student halls is a little more expensive than living in the dormitories. Prices start from 600 and go up to 850 EUR per person per month, depending on the location and the type of apartment.

LUGANO LIFESTYLE

The lakeside city of Lugano is a really beautiful place with unique architecture, relaxed atmosphere and at the same time, it provides endless opportunities for amazing student life. What could be better than having a drink while enjoying a breathtaking view? The beachfront restaurant called Al Lido is loved by both locals and tourists. This is the place where people can have a glass of Swiss red wine on the beach-terrace of the amazing Lugano Lake. For all the food aficionados who also enjoy meeting new people, the Auberge Bistrot-Gallery-Speakeasy will turn into a favorite place to visit in Lugano. Based in a beautiful, fifteenth-century building, Auberge is the ideal combination of gastronomy and entertainment with a touch of art as well. There, interesting people meet, share ideas while trying some delicious and one-of-a-kind meals. It will not be that easy to find the place but it will definitely worth it at the end.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN LUGANO

Students who graduate from a university in Switzerland receive internationally recognized diplomas which can open unlimited doors for them in terms of their future career life within the country and abroad, too. However, Lugano can also offer something to almost everyone. The city is not only a beautiful touristic place but is also considered the third-biggest and most important financial center in Switzerland. In fact, the majority of the people working in the city work in the financial sector. Until the end of 2017, there were a total of 54 banks running in the city. Moreover, tourism and industrial business are also among the most developed sectors in the region. There are both domestic and international companies operating in the tourism sector where graduates can find employment and internship positions with Italian, German, French, and English as their first language.