Study in Switzerland

Choose Your Program

Study in Switzerland and choose whether you would like to live and attend school in a French-speaking or German-speaking area!

PROGRAM	DEPARTURE	RETURN	FULL TUITION
2025 Fall Year French	Early August	Late June	$17,995
2025 Fall Year German	Early August	Late June	$17,995

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Placement with a carefully selected host family
Enrollment in a local Swiss high school
Airport transfers
Domestic and international travel
All pre-departure and post-arrival orientations
Pre-program support by trained YFU staff
Support from a YFU Switzerland Area Representative while on program
Comprehensive insurance

As an exchange student in Switzerland, you will be enrolled in a Gymnasium/collège, which is a high school for university-bound students. As Swiss schools tend to be academically challenging, be prepared to work hard! The Swiss school system is quite decentralized, which means that your school experience may vary depending on where you are located. Some Swiss schools offer extracurricular activities and events to their students, and exchange students may have the opportunity to join in on many extracurricular events that may be happening in their community.

Students are encouraged to bring their laptops abroad with them as some schools require them.

All students applying for a year program must be available for a mandatory 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation*, which usually takes place in mid-July. This orientation is a required part of the program aimed at preparing students for their experience overseas.

*Due to COVID-19, the 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation described above may take place online, dependent upon recommended guidelines at the time of the event. YFU will continue to assess the situation as it develops.

There will be a one-week orientation camp a few weeks after your arrival. In January, you will participate in a mid-term orientation, which includes a four-day ski camp in the Alps. Before your return home, you will have a re-entry orientation with other year students in Switzerland. All orientation costs are included in program tuition.

Year program students will also usually have the option of participating in a number of educational trips and excursions during their stay at an additional cost.

Ski Camp: Students have the opportunity to attend a four- to five-day ski camp at a Swiss skiing resort in the famous Meiringen municipality. For over 40 years, this trip has been organized by YFU Switzerland. It includes room and board, a ski pass, and travel from the host family to the destination. Students may also choose to snowboard. Get your skis (or snowboard!) ready and join in on amazing winter fun!

2025 Fall Departures: Students born September 30, 2007 – July 30, 2010
Students who do not meet this age requirement or will graduate from high school before the start of their program will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis.

Romansch, Italian, German, and French. For French-speaking programs: 2 years of French language study is required. German-speaking program: No previous language skills are required. Students will take language training courses while on-program.

Swiss German vs. Standard German: While all written language and school studies are taught in standard German, this is not the spoken language of the people. Swiss German has some similarities but also varies considerably from standard German. YFU host families are asked to speak standard German with their students while at home; however, you will quickly become accustomed to the Swiss-German dialect in your area as everyone outside of school and your family will use the local dialect. This is a great way to learn more than one language during your time abroad!

Most host families are located in small cities or villages close to metropolitan areas. Swiss families usually eat dinner together. Dinnertime is the perfect opportunity to discuss what happened during the day, share ideas, and make plans for the weekend or holidays.

Students who have less than two years of language study in German-speaking Switzerland will be enrolled in an intensive four-week language training option included in tuition. Students are encouraged to start studying German immediately after they have been accepted to the program.

Students wishing to study abroad in French-speaking Switzerland must meet the two-year language requirement. Prior to departure, students will take a language test. Upon arrival, students may be required to take an intensive language course if they do not meet an A2 level of French.

Study Abroad Participants

What to Expect

Guten tag, bonjour, ciao! Switzerland is a land of many languages, so take your pick on how you’d like to say hello! The Swiss outdoors – with its breathtaking Alps, wildflowers, and crystal-blue lakes – seem to be straight out of a storybook. Hike along the country’s snow-peaked mountains in the summer and hear the sound of cowbells lining its quaint walking paths. Remember tales of Heidi and ancient, enchanted castles? You’ll find their settings intact in this beautiful country.

Most Swiss speak French or German, but Italian and Romansh are also national languages. Despite the various languages spoken, there is one language that all Swiss have in common: nature.

Connecting with nature is as much a part of the Swiss culture as is enjoying music, museums, and theaters. Other common activities include hiking, jogging, soccer, skiing, mountaineering, ice hockey, and cycling. The Swiss are generally so fit that even grandmothers are often seen hiking mountain paths!

Your Swiss host family will warmly welcome you. That being said, you should understand and respect the value the Swiss attach to family privacy. The Swiss also treasure cleanliness, harmony, and consensus. Being part of a Swiss family gives you the privilege of becoming part of a small, intimate group. As part of the family, you can expect to share time at lunch, often the larger, more important meal in Swiss households. You may also try some of the foods the Swiss are known for, such as delicious cheeses and chocolates!

Teenagers in Switzerland like to spend time with friends on weekends. Because cars and gas are much more expensive in Europe than in the United States, Swiss teenagers rely on bikes, buses, and trains to get around. Public transportation is very safe, clean, and efficient.

If you’d like to see a country that combines a rich history with nature, then Switzerland is surely the place for you!

YFU USA is proud to send over 200 American students on cultural exchange with a full or partial scholarship each year. Financial assistance may be in the form of a merit-based scholarship, need-based financial aid, or Legacy Grant for students previously involved in the YFU Community. Scholarships may vary in deadline, requirements, and eligibility. To learn more, please visit our Scholarships Page to find details on the following scholarships eligible for Switzerland:

YFU Legacy Grant
YFU Financial Aid Fund

Applications for tuition-based programs must be submitted by March 15 for fall departures. Applications submitted after this date will be considered on a case-by-case basis depending upon availability.

Visa Information
To travel to Switzerland, students must have a visa before they arrive. Information regarding visas and other immigration processes will be provided upon enrollment.

Additional Costs
Program tuition does not include personal spending money or school-related costs such as books and school trips.

Important Notice
In addition to the application documents, students applying for the French-speaking Swiss program must submit a host family letter written in French and a color copy of the first page of their passport. It is important to note that students who have previously studied abroad for a semester or year are ineligible for the French or German Switzerland program.

Once you see the breathtaking beauty of the Alps, lakes, and castles of Switzerland, you’ll realize why Swiss culture revolves around nature and the outdoors. Have a YFU exchange experience in one of the most ecologically aware countries in the world!

Have questions or want to learn more about YFU Study Abroad Programs?

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As an exchange student in Switzerland I could say that at the beginning the way of life for me was completely different but after some time getting settled in, you get used to the Swiss way. The first months you probably won’t miss too much from home because you are busy getting to know new people, places and a different culture.

– Samantha

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Study in Switzerland