DISCOVER LUZERN

FIND YOUR STUDY PROGRAM IN LUZERN

LUZERN AT A GLANCE

Lucerne is a city in the central part of Switzerland, based on the Lake Lucerne. With over 80,000 people in a total area of 37 km2, Lucerne is considered the most populous city in the central part of Switzerland. Approximately ten percent of the city’s inhabitants are foreigners coming from around the world, but mostly from Germany, Italy, and Portugal. Round about eighty-seven percent of the city’s population speaks German as the first language, while Italian, English and Serbo-Croatian are the most commonly spoken languages in the city. The climate in Lucerne is considered oceanic with many rainfalls during the whole year. The summer is hot with temperatures in July and August up to 26 °C. In December and January, temperatures are below 0 and usually between -1 and -3 °C with snowfalls. Just like every city in Switzerland, in Lucerne, the public transportation network is extremely reliable. It consists of a trolleybus network, as well as buses and railway. Trolleybuses and buses connect every part of the city with the city center. Both trolleybuses and buses and run by the Verkehrsbetriebe Lucerne. Trains, however, are the most convenient way to travel within the country of Switzerland. There are regular trains leaving every forty minutes from Lucerne to Zurich, with a one-way journey taking a little more than half an hour. Students from Lucerne can benefit of city’s location at the heart of Europe and travel to amazing destinations such as Paris, for example, directly by train. This way, weekends and holidays can become pretty exciting!

Academic Year

Summer Semester: March – September / Winter Semester: October – February

Official Language

Swiss German

Higher Education Institutions

Population

81673

Living Costs

950 –1200 EUR

STUDYING IN LUZERN

Lucerne is a relatively small city but it does offer an excellent level of higher education. The University of Lucerne in the city is considered a research institution with a special focus on social, cultural and economic sciences. The university campus is modern and new, consisting of an impressive infrastructure with large lecture rooms and interesting social areas specially made for the students’ convenience. Ranging from Law, through Economics, to Criminology, at the University of Lucerne students have a wide spectrum of degree courses to choose from. The higher education institution is currently home to more than 3,000 students and fifteen percent of them are foreigners. Even though the main language of instruction at the university is German, numerous degree courses are also offered in English. When it comes to student accommodation in Lucerne, prospective students should decide whether they want to live in a student hall, also called student dormitory, or to share a flat with other students. Living in a student dormitory in Lucerne is the cheapest and most convenient option indeed. There are several student houses in the city and depending on the type of room, prices are between 380 and 450 EUR per month. However, it is advisable for students to apply as early as possible for the student halls because rooms are strictly limited. Private accommodation in the city is more expensive and depending on the location, it can be between 400 and 520 EUR per month for a single room in a shared flat, with all bills included.

LUZERN LIFESTYLE

Choosing the right university and the most-fitting degree course is important, but student life is not only about studying, attending lectures and writing academic papers. The city of Lucerne might be small but it does attract people from all around Central Switzerland to feel the atmosphere and the nightlife of Lucerne. There are dozens of different clubs, bars, and discos for almost every taste. Among the most famous ones are the Penthouse Roof Top Bar, located in the city center, and the Barrok Music Bar. They are always full, especially from Thursday through Saturday night, and since the city is not big, after a while everyone knows everyone. There are also some live music venues, as well as more casual student bars, such as the Bar 58 or Filou & Bengel which are always a good idea for a meeting place with friends.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN LUZERN

Not only that the city of Lucerne offers amazing opportunities in terms of higher education, but it also offers great employment opportunities through the many international Swiss companies situated in the city. The world-known insurer Suva is among the oldest insurance companies in Switzerland and has its headquarter not somewhere else but in Lucerne. The company provides many internships and full-time employment opportunities for business graduates. However, many students actually prefer to look for job opportunities outside the city after graduating from university. In fact, Basel is considered a pretty common choice among local students. Located fewer than eighty kilometers away from Lucerne, Basel offers more opportunities in terms of career options and on top, salaries are relatively higher.