Study in Switzerland from Sri Lanka · Switzerland Destination Guide · Free Counselling
ETH Zurich, EPFL Lausanne, and the world's best hospitality schools
ETH Zurich (#7 in the world, QS 2025) and EPFL Lausanne (#26) are tied for the strongest engineering and CS in continental Europe. Add EHL, Glion and Les Roches — the three top-ranked hospitality schools globally — and Switzerland punches far above its size. Costs are high (CHF 21,000+/year living), but ETH/EPFL tuition is just CHF 1,460/year.
Switzerland හි අධ්යාපනය, විශ්වවිද්යාල සහ පාඨමාලා තේරීම, වියදම් සහ Student Visa පිළිබඳ සියලු උපදෙස් සහ විශ්වාසනීය මඟපෙන්වීම අපගෙන්.
verified100% free for students. Universities pay us, not you. How?
Consultations are in person only, at any of our three offices · What to expect
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Why Choose Switzerland?
ETH Zurich + EPFL: World Top 30
ETH Zurich is #7 globally for engineering and CS; EPFL is #26. Both charge just CHF 1,460/year (~LKR 600k) in tuition for non-EU students — the cheapest world-top-30 universities anywhere.
World's Best Hospitality Schools
EHL Lausanne, Glion Institute and Les Roches dominate the QS Hospitality rankings — graduates routinely land roles at Marriott, Hilton, the Burj Al Arab, and Sri Lankan luxury resort groups.
High Wages, High Reciprocity
Swiss part-time wages are the highest in Europe (CHF 25–30/hour), partly offsetting living costs. Graduate jobs at Nestlé, Roche, Novartis, UBS and CERN pay 2–3× UK equivalents.
What it costs to study in Switzerland
Switzerland is the most expensive destination in continental Europe — but ETH/EPFL tuition at CHF 1,460/year is shockingly low. The cost lever is living expenses (Zurich, Geneva and Lausanne are global top-10 expensive cities). Plan for CHF 21,000+/year.
check_circle Lanka Scholar's counselling, applications and visa prep are free. Universities pay us a commission when you enrol — you pay tuition and visa fees to the institutions themselves.
Note on Exchange Rates
Figures use an indicative rate of CHF 1 ≈ LKR 340. Swiss Migration Authority requires CHF 21,000/year in proof of funds for the student visa. Public universities are cheap; private (EHL, Glion, Les Roches) cost CHF 35,000–CHF 50,000/year.
Average Annual Costs
Range reflects ETH/EPFL vs. private hospitality schools. Most Sri Lankan applicants at public universities budget LKR 8M–9M/year.
See the full LKR cost breakdown arrow_forwardThe National D Visa + B Permit — what you'll actually need
The four things every Sri Lankan applicant has to put together. We prepare and review every file before it goes in — refusals are rare when the application is properly prepared.
Letter of Admission
A formal admission letter from a recognised Swiss university or institution.
Proof of Funds
CHF 21,000/year in personal or sponsor bank account. Funds must be in a Swiss-recognised currency (USD, EUR, GBP, CHF).
Motivation Letter
Swiss consular officers read your motivation letter carefully — it must explain why Switzerland specifically, and your post-study plans clearly.
Permit B (after arrival)
Register at the local Migration Office within 14 days of arrival for your B-permit residence card. Required for banking, renting, and study.
What Sri Lankan students apply for in Switzerland
Hand-picked programs that Sri Lankan applicants are getting offers from this year.
BSc Computer Science
ETH Zurich
MSc in Computer Science
ETH Zurich
BSc (Hons) in International Hospitality Management
EHL Hospitality Business School (Lausanne)
Scholarships open to Sri Lankan applicants
Open right now. Eligibility varies — ask a counsellor at your office visit before assuming you don't qualify.
ETH Excellence Scholarship and Opportunity Programme
ETH Zürich
EPFL Excellence Fellowships
EPFL (École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne)
Graduate Institute Geneva (IHEID) Scholarship
Geneva Graduate Institute (IHEID)
When to apply for 2026/27
Start your application 6–9 months before the intake you're targeting. Below are this academic year's windows for Switzerland.
Autumn Semester (Primary)
The main intake at ETH, EPFL and every Swiss public university. Most Master's programs only start in September.
Spring Semester
Limited intakes at EPFL and some Master's programs. Most hospitality schools run intakes in this window.
Hospitality School Intakes
EHL runs February and September; Glion and Les Roches run February, July and October. Quarterly is common.
Common questions about studying in Switzerland
Don't see your question? Book a free office visit and ask a Switzerland counsellor face to face.
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Can a Sri Lankan student really afford Switzerland? expand_more
At ETH Zurich or EPFL, yes — tuition is CHF 1,460/year. The challenge is living costs (CHF 21,000+/year). Many Sri Lankan students offset with high part-time wages (CHF 25–30/hour) and university hardship scholarships. -
How is the visa different from EU countries? expand_more
Switzerland is not in the EU but is in Schengen. You apply for a national long-stay visa (D-visa) at the Swiss Embassy in New Delhi (no consular service in Colombo). After arrival, you collect a B-permit residence card from your canton's Migration Office. -
Do I need German, French or Italian? expand_more
Not for English-taught programs — ETH, EPFL and most Master's programs run entirely in English. For German-speaking cantons (Zurich, Basel, Bern) A2 German helps with daily life. For French Switzerland (Geneva, Lausanne) basic French is similarly useful. -
Can I stay and work after graduation? expand_more
Yes — you get a 6-month post-study job-search residence permit. Once you find a graduate-level job, you switch to a work permit (B-permit for employment). Switzerland prioritises non-EU graduates in shortage fields (engineering, healthcare, finance). -
Are the hospitality schools worth the CHF 35,000+ tuition? expand_more
For students targeting the global luxury hospitality sector, yes — EHL, Glion and Les Roches have the strongest industry pipelines into Marriott, Four Seasons, Burj Al Arab, and the Sri Lankan luxury market. Talk to a counsellor about scholarships and outcomes.
More reading on Switzerland
Guides from our counsellor team on applying to Switzerland from Sri Lanka.
- University Guides·8 min read
Study in Switzerland from Sri Lanka: ETH, EPFL, cost & work rights
ETH Zurich and EPFL for Sri Lankan students: low tuition but high living costs, the CHF 21,000 proof of funds, work rights and staying on after graduation.
Read the guide arrow_forward - University Guides·8 min read
Hospitality & tourism management abroad: a Sri Lankan student's guide
Where Sri Lankan students should study hospitality and tourism abroad, what it costs, and how paid internships in Switzerland and Australia work.
Read the guide arrow_forward
Ready to plan your Switzerland study?
Book a visit to any of our three offices and sit down with a counsellor who will map out your timeline, shortlist 3–5 universities, and tell you what the realistic LKR budget looks like. Free for students — universities pay us, not you.
අපගේ කාර්යාල හතරෙන් එකකට පැමිණ ඔබේ විදේශ අධ්යාපන සිහිනයට පියවරක් තබන්න. සිසුන් සඳහා සේවාව සම්පූර්ණයෙන්ම නොමිලේ.
Book your free office visit event_available- check_circle Free for students — universities pay us, not you
- check_circle Consultations are face to face — no phone or online sessions
- check_circle Rajagiriya, Jaffna or Matara — pick your branch
Book your office visit
verified100% free for students. Universities pay us, not you. How?
Every consultation happens face to face with a counsellor. We don't do phone or online consultations — pick a branch, day and time that suits you.
- location_on Rajagiriya (head office) 8th Floor, Jana Jaya City Mall, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka
- location_on Jaffna 158 Hospital Road, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
- location_on Matara No. 474 New Tangalle Road, Matara, Sri Lanka
schedule Mon – Fri: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM · Sat: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Choose a date & time event_available