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Cost of a year
What will a year really cost?
From the country guide: tuition, living costs and the visa fee, plus the money you must show. The part you lose if the visa is refused is marked.
In short: a first year in Switzerland costs about EUR 29,100 to 32,000: tuition, twelve months of living costs and the visa fee. The visa also asks you to show EUR 22,700 before it is decided.
Last checked: 26 September 2026, against the official sources linked below.
A year in Switzerland
| In CHF as published | In EUR | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition, one year | CHF 1,640 to 4,380 | EUR 1,780 to 4,740 Public university, international student |
| Living costs, twelve months | CHF 25,200 | EUR 27,300 |
| Visa or permit feeNot refunded if the visa is refused | CHF 0 | EUR 0 |
| First year, all in | EUR 29,070 to 32,040 | |
| Money you must show for the visa | CHF 21,000 | EUR 22,750 Held in your account before you apply; most of it then pays your living costs |
If the exchange rate moves. Today 1 CHF = 1.08 EUR (rate of 13 November 2026). A 10% move either way changes this first year by about EUR 3,060, and a whole three to four-year degree by roughly EUR 9,170 to EUR 12,220. Plan with a margin, and pay large sums when the rate suits you.
Worth knowing. Funds and permit fees are set by each canton, and students cannot work at all in their first six months.
The full Switzerland guide, with every source →
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Switzerland: what a year costs next to
Tuition, living costs and the visa fee side by side, in your currency.
Leaves out flights, deposits and insurance unless the guide includes them. Currency: Rates by Exchange Rate API, 13 November 2026.
Questions
How much does it cost to study in Switzerland for a year?
a first year in Switzerland costs about EUR 29,100 to 32,000: tuition, twelve months of living costs and the visa fee. The visa also asks you to show EUR 22,700 before it is decided.
How much money do I need to show for a student visa in Switzerland?
CHF 21,000 a year (about EUR 22,700), from the official source in the Switzerland guide.