DISCOVER FRIBOURG

FIND YOUR STUDY PROGRAM IN FRIBOURG

FRIBOURG AT A GLANCE

Fribourg is a city in Switzerland which is surrounded on three sides by the River Sarine. It is the biggest city in the Canton of Fribourg with a total area of 9.28 km2 and over 30,000 people who live, work or study there. Approximately sixty percent of the inhabitants in Fribourg speak French as their first language. The second most commonly spoken language is German while only four percent of the people speak Italian as a first language. The climate in Fribourg is temperate, with hot summers and cold winters. In July and August temperatures go up to 26°C while in December and January, it is between 0 and -3°C. Not only Fribourg is the largest city in the canton but it also is considered its transport hub. The public transportation network in the city consists of railway, a funicular railway, and trolleybuses. In fact, the funicular railway in Fribourg is one of the few remaining water-powered funiculars in the whole world but it is still unique as being the only one which is actually powered by sewage water. The trolleybus network connects each and every part of the city, while railway connects the city with the rest of the country, as well as with other neighboring countries, such as France, Germany, and Italy. In fact, a trip from Fribourg to Verona in Italy takes not more than six hours by train one way. Moreover, only an hour away from the city center of Fribourg is located the Bern-Belp Airport which offers direct flights to exotic places such as Palma de Mallorca or Menorca in Spain.

Academic Year

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

Official Language

French, German

Higher Education Institutions

Population

38358

Living Costs

1000 – 1200 EUR

STUDYING IN FRIBOURG

Despite the fact that it is quite a small city, Fribourg offers an excellent level of higher education. In fact, the city has the only bilingual higher education institution in Switzerland. The University of Fribourg is bilingual, which means that prospective students can choose to take courses in French, German or both languages at the same time. Those students who take a minimum of forty percent of the degree courses in a second language will then receive a diploma with an annotation “bilingual program of studies”. However, numerous of the degree courses are also offered in English for international and exchange students. Currently, the higher education institution is home to over 10,000 students and approximately eighteen percent of them are internationals, all coming from around the world to study full-time or to spend a semester there as exchange students. The university provides students with the opportunity to study whatever they want since it offers a wide range of degree courses. From Computer Science through Law and Psychology to Criminology. The University of Fribourg has something to offer to everyone. When it comes to student accommodation in Switzerland, only a few universities in the country offer the possibility to live directly on campus. In most of the cases, including in Fribourg, students can either live in student halls or share a flat with other students. The cheaper option is to live in the so-called student halls or student dormitories where prices are between 350 and 390 EUR per month. The number of rooms provided in the student dormitories in Fribourg, however, is limited and everyone who wants to get a room should apply as early as possible. Private accommodation is a little more expensive – the rent for a single room in a shared flat close to the city center comes at the price of 400 to 450 EUR monthly.

FRIBOURG LIFESTYLE

The city of Fribourg is cozy and beautiful. Its old city center is situated on a small rocky hill above the valley of the Sarine, offering a breathtaking view. But it is not only its beauty which makes it an attractive destination among students. Fribourg might be a small city but it definitely offers exciting student life, considering the fact that more than twenty-five percent of the city’s inhabitants are actually students. Moreover, clubbing in the city of Fribourg is really safe so students can enjoy going out without any trouble. From Thursday through Saturday, discos and clubs are all full.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN FRIBOURG

The city of Fribourg has a really low unemployment rate that equals to four percent. The majority of the people there are working in the IT sector, tourism, and restaurants, as well as in the food and luxury products production. Another important sector in the area is the education sector. Both local and international companies in the city welcome graduates from the university, as well as students who seek to do their internship placement there. However, some students, after graduating from the university, prefer to look for employment opportunities in Zurich instead, which is a bit over a hundred kilometers away from Fribourg. Holders of bilingual degree have doors open to many opportunities after graduation both within Switzerland and abroad. They can easily find jobs in Germany, France, or in Italy.