Language Immersion Courses in Switzerland

Switzerland has four national languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh. According to the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), German is the main language of more than 60% of the population, French is the main language of the French-speaking region (Romandie), and Italian of Ticino and parts of Graubünden. Four cantons, Bern, Fribourg, Valais and Graubünden, are officially multilingual. For a student this means French or German, and to a lesser extent Italian, learned in a country where switching languages is part of daily life.

Language schools in Switzerland are private further-education providers, and many of them teach adults and professionals as well as young people on summer courses. Our directory lists three language schools in Switzerland, in Montreux on Lake Geneva, in Geneva and in Neuenhof near Zurich.

What the schools offer

Most courses are general language courses in small groups, booked by the week. At Alpadia in Montreux, for example, French courses start at 20 lessons a week, with intensive, premium, exam preparation and private options on top. Courses run for 1 to 48 weeks from beginner to advanced level (A1 to C1), start every Monday, and absolute beginners book at least two weeks on set dates. Classes have an average of 12 and a maximum of 17 students. Alpadia also runs French summer camps in Switzerland for young people aged 8 to 17.

Other schools focus on professionals. Active Languages in Geneva offers language training and coaching for people who need results at work, in small groups or one to one, combining online learning with live teaching.

A practical point for German learners: in the German-speaking part of the country the spoken language is mostly Swiss German, a group of dialects that differs notably from the written standard German taught in class. English is also widely used in business.

Exams and quality labels

• DELF and DALF: official diplomas of the French Ministry of Education, from A1 to B2 (DELF) and C1 to C2 (DALF); Alpadia Montreux runs four-week preparation courses for DELF/DALF and TCF.
• fide: short for "Français, Italiano, Deutsch in Switzerland", the Swiss programme for linguistic integration run by the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM). The test has an oral and a written part and is required for naturalisation and permit applications. Alpadia Montreux and Active Languages in Geneva are official fide exam centres; at Alpadia the full exam costs CHF 250.
• eduQua: the Swiss quality label for further-education providers, held by more than 1,000 schools, institutes and academies; many cantons require it for public funding.
• EAQUALS: an international accreditation for language teaching and course organisation, which Alpadia lists for its Swiss school.

Admission and visas

Language schools do not ask for academic qualifications: you choose a course and a start date. Adult courses at Alpadia are for students aged 16 and over. According to the State Secretariat for Migration, entry requirements depend on the purpose and length of the stay. EU/EFTA nationals need no authorisation for stays of up to 90 days in six months. Students from other countries should check the SEM's requirements for their nationality before booking, and note that you cannot follow a full study programme on a tourist visa.

If you plan to study at a Swiss university, a language school is not the only route: most universities offer free courses in the national languages and English to enrolled international students.

Costs

Switzerland is expensive. The official study in switzerland+ portal gives a sample student budget of CHF 1,850 a month, including CHF 700 for accommodation, and notes that costs vary by region. Course fees depend on the intensity and length of the course and are published by each school; exam fees come on top, for example CHF 280 for the full TCF exam at Alpadia Montreux. For accommodation, Alpadia, for example, offers a host family, with 7 or 14 meals a week, or a studio apartment.

How to choose

• Language and region: French around Lake Geneva, German in the north and east, Italian in Ticino
• Intensity: 20 lessons a week for general progress, more for rapid progress or exam goals
• Exam goal: DELF/DALF or TCF for French, fide for residence and naturalisation
• Target group: adult courses, professional training or summer camps for teenagers
• Quality labels such as eduQua or EAQUALS
• Accommodation and total budget, including living costs

Frequently asked questions

Where can I learn French in Switzerland?

In the French-speaking west of the country, the Romandie, which includes Geneva, Lausanne and Montreux. The language schools in our directory teach French in Montreux and Geneva.

Is the German spoken in Switzerland the same as in Germany?

Not quite. The written language is standard German, but in daily life most German-speaking Swiss speak Swiss German dialects, which differ notably from standard German.

What is the fide test?

fide is the Swiss programme for linguistic integration. Its test, with an oral and a written part, is used for residence permit and naturalisation applications, and some language schools are official fide exam centres.

How much does a month in Switzerland cost for a language student?

The official sample student budget is CHF 1,850 a month for living costs, including CHF 700 for accommodation, before course fees.