DISCOVER ZURICH

FIND YOUR STUDY PROGRAM IN ZURICH

ZURICH AT A GLANCE

Located in the very center of the country, Zurich, also called “Züri” in Swiss German, is the largest city in Switzerland with an area of 87.88 km2 and over 415, 000 inhabitants living in the city. However, factoring in the people living in the suburbs of Zurich, the amount raises up to over a million inhabitants. The official language in Zurich as well as the language used in newspapers and theaters is Swiss German but the spoken language in the city is called Zurich German, which is a type of dialect of the Swiss German language. Moreover, many people in Zurich speak also Italian, standard German language and even Spanish and Croatian. Approximately twenty percent of the people living in Zurich speak more than three languages. In general, the climate in the city of Zurich can be described as an oceanic climate. However, in the higher areas, it is more considered humid continental with warm summers and relatively cold winters. The amazing and cosmopolitan city is the perfect combination of urban atmosphere and green nature. Due to the sustainable and efficient public transport network, all city areas in Zurich are really well connected. The network includes the usage of trams, buses and even ferries. Moreover, connections to all other big Swiss cities are available from Zurich every thirty minutes and on top, express trains such as ICE trains link Zurich with the other neighbor countries, including France and Italy. That way, an amazing weekend getaway to Florence and Positano seems pretty possible. The biggest Swiss city is considered one of the cities with the highest standard of living in the world. Zurich really has attractive and green residential areas both in the city and in the suburbs. In fact, the famous Lake Zurich which runs through the city appeared at the end of the last Ice Age.

Academic Year

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

Official Language

German

Higher Education Institutions

Population

415215

Living Costs

1 600 – 2 000 EUR

STUDYING IN ZURICH

Some of the top-ranked universities in the world are located in the city of Zurich. Because of the degrees that are recognized in most of the countries around the globe, many international students choose Zurich as their “academic home”, while others choose to spend their study abroad program in Zurich. All the higher education institutions in the city offer excellent education and, of course, numerous career opportunities for the graduates. Zurich is home to seven higher education institutions – most of them are well-known for winning prizes at European and world conventions for their achievements in different areas such as technology and business. The main language of instruction in the higher education institutions in Zurich is German. However, half of the courses provided in the universities are also taught in English or even in both English and German. Choosing the right course is maybe the first and at the same time the most important step towards a successful career future. In Zurich, the most common courses chosen among the students are Marketing, Management and Business Studies, as well as humanities studies. Another important part for all the prospective students is finding a good and at the same time affordable accommodation. However, in big cities like Zurich, searching and finding a low-rent apartment can be a long procedure. Unfortunately, rooms in student halls of residence or so-called student dormitories are highly limited in number in Zurich. Most commonly, students in Zurich live in either shared flats with other people, with their parents (in case of local students) or in a rented studio flat which is in a relatively short distance from the university building by public transport, by bike or even by foot.

ZURICH LIFESTYLE

Active people will feel like in heaven in the amazing city of Zurich. The city’s location is an excellent opportunity for the hiking lovers to enjoy the sweet taste of the Swiss Alps, as well as for ski aficionados to hit the slopes. Zurich offers a huge variety of culture. There may be found art galleries, an impressive opera house, concert halls, and theaters. The city really is the center of every sector of culture, it is an international hub for the arts where traditions meet the latest trends. Zurich may be the best place for all the gourmets and food lovers. Whether it be in roof-top or rustic restaurants, or in the colorful and amazing food markets – Zurich’s food fits everyone’s taste and will make them fall in love with the country itself. Zurich’s most famous Geschnetzeltes with rösti is the very first thing that needs to be tried, it really is a must. Even the vegetarians will feel like home in the city since the oldest vegetarian restaurant in the world is located in Zurich and dates since 1898, the Hiltl restaurant. The nightlife in Zurich is also much better than people may expect. The famous Niederdorf area in the city has much to offer, including many casual bars, clubs, and pubs people can enjoy. Moreover, the Paradeplatz accomodates many lounges and fancy hotel bars for special occasions.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN ZURICH

In Zurich and in Switzerland in general, different rules apply to EU/EEA citizens as opposed to those from third countries. If one is an EU/EFTA citizen, it means that he or she can work in Switzerland without the need of having a visa but still needs to apply for a work permit. However, this is a quite fast and easy procedure. The economy in the city of Zurich is mainly centered around the financial sector – there are over 100 international banks located in Zurich. Moreover, Zurich is home to the fourth biggest stock exchange in the world. In fact, the financial sector in Zurich generates one-third of the wealth and a quarter of the jobs in the city. In addition, tourism and the insurance service is very well developed within the city. Considering all of the leading sectors, the city provides employment opportunities to over a million international workers in over 150,000 companies. Thus, most of the expats in the city work as accountants, business consultants or wealth managers. In Zurich, the average salary is between 95, 000 and 110, 000 CHF per year.