There are 250,000 students in Switzerland, of which 15% are international. The majority of those international students are from neighbouring Germany and France who make up 29% and 16% of the international student population respectively.

Swiss students do not pay tuition fees, but international students do, averaging £3,400 for a non-specialist course, higher than many major European countries, but lower than the UK and Sweden.

According to Eurostudent, 42% of students in Switzerland live at home and only 2% in student halls. Student accommodation is not provided by the universities directly, but provided by companies connected with the university operating independently. While directed at students, this accommodation is often reserved for young people in general, as opposed to specifically for university students.

It is recognised that there is a shortage of housing in the Zurich area, especially that is available for students. The Zurich Student Housing Foundation in conjunction with ETH Zurich and private investors plan to provide new accommodation for 1,000 students in the near future.

In a 25-year plan, ETH Zurich also plan to release 7,500 square meters of residential accommodation currently used as office space.

The average student accommodation provision rate in Switzerland is 11%. The shortage in student housing is most acute in Bern (3%) and Basel (6%). Rents average €95, and are over €100 in Bern and Geneva.

Relatively high rents by European standards reflect strong demand and a higher cost of living in the country. Swiss cities rank high for investment potential on this basis.

Taken from
Spotlight: European Student Housing