Nursing Schools and Programs in Switzerland

Nursing Studies in Switzerland

Nursing in Switzerland is taught at the universities of applied sciences and arts, not at the traditional universities, and almost always in the language of the region. For an international student, this means that a degree in nursing requires a high level of German, French or Italian before the first day of class, because clinical placements take place in Swiss hospitals and care services.

Our directory currently lists one institution in Switzerland for this subject, the Hochschule Luzern (Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, HSLU). This page uses its programmes as the example.

How nursing education is organised

Switzerland has three types of higher education institution. According to the Study in Switzerland+ portal, some degree programmes, including various health sciences, are available only at the universities of applied sciences and arts. There are 9 of these institutions, with around 95,000 students in total. Their degrees combine academic study with professional practice.

Degrees follow the European structure. A bachelor's degree has 180 ECTS credits and takes three years of full-time study. A master's degree has 90 or 120 ECTS credits. Besides the universities, Switzerland has professional education and training colleges, which award a nursing diploma (known in German as "Pflegefachperson HF"). Holders of that diploma can later add a bachelor's degree.

The programmes at the Hochschule Luzern

The HSLU offers three nursing programmes:

• Bachelor of Science in Pflege, a full-time degree that started in autumn 2024
• Bachelor of Science in Pflege for qualified nurses, a part-time route for holders of a nursing diploma
• Master of Science in Pflege, which prepares for the advanced practice roles of Clinical Nurse Specialist and Nurse Practitioner

The bachelor's degrees are taught in German. The master's degree lists German and English as languages of instruction. Courses start in calendar week 38, in September. For the master's degree starting in autumn 2027, the application deadline is 30 April 2027.

Admission for international students

Switzerland does not have a centralised admission procedure, and universities of applied sciences and arts usually apply an aptitude test or their own criteria in health subjects. At the HSLU, the full-time bachelor's degree is open to holders of a Swiss vocational, specialised or academic baccalaureate (Maturität). Applicants without a health background complete a two-month nursing internship before starting. Applicants who did not finish school in a German-speaking region must prove German at CEFR level C1 with a recognised certificate.

The part-time bachelor's degree is for qualified nurses. According to the HSLU, people with a foreign nursing diploma must first have it recognised by the Swiss Red Cross (SRC). For the master's degree, applicants with a Bachelor of Science in nursing are admitted directly; the HSLU also asks for two years of professional experience, English at level B1 and, for non-native speakers, German at level C1.

Costs, visa and work

The HSLU lists a semester fee of CHF 800 for its nursing degrees, plus an additional CHF 500 per semester for foreign students who move to Switzerland to study (fees as published in October 2026). One-off costs include a CHF 130 fee for registration in the national register of health professions through the SRC.

Students from outside the EU and EFTA must apply for a visa at the Swiss embassy or consulate in their country of residence, and the Study in Switzerland+ portal states that issuing it takes at least eight weeks. Foreign students may work at most 15 hours per week during their studies; students from outside the EU and EFTA only after six months.

Recognition and careers

Nursing is a regulated profession. The SRC recognises and registers foreign healthcare qualifications: anyone trained abroad who wants to work in a regulated healthcare profession in Switzerland needs this recognition. In the other direction, Swiss graduates who want to work abroad can ask the SRC for a registration certificate. The State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) points out that it is up to the host country to decide whether to recognise a Swiss qualification.

According to the HSLU, graduates work in acute and long-term care, home care (Spitex), psychiatry and rehabilitation. The master's degree leads to advanced practice roles in hospitals, family doctor practices and outpatient care.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study nursing in English in Switzerland?

Not at bachelor's level at the Hochschule Luzern: its bachelor's degrees in nursing are taught in German and require level C1. Its master's degree lists German and English.

How long does a nursing degree take in Switzerland?

A bachelor's degree has 180 ECTS credits, which corresponds to three years of full-time study. A master's degree has 90 or 120 ECTS credits.

Can I work as a nurse in Switzerland with a foreign diploma?

Only after recognition. The Swiss Red Cross recognises and registers foreign qualifications in the healthcare sector.

How much does it cost to study nursing at the Hochschule Luzern?

The semester fee is CHF 800, and foreign students who come to Switzerland to study pay an additional CHF 500 per semester, according to the HSLU. Exam and service fees are extra.