Study in Geneve, Switzerland

About Geneve

Geneva (Genève in French) lies at the western end of Lake Geneva, in Romandie, the French-speaking region of Switzerland. French is the language of daily life, although English has gained ground in business and as a bridge between Switzerland's national languages, according to the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.

Few cities of its size are as international. Geneva is home to the United Nations, WTO, WHO and some 150 other international organisations, and CERN, where the World Wide Web was born, is also based there. It is a global financial centre as well. For students, this means study close to diplomacy, international law, trade and finance, in a city where many people work in English.

Studying in Geneva

Our directory lists three schools in Geneva: two universities and business schools and one language school. Teaching is mostly in English.

• The International Institute in Geneva (IIG) was founded in 1997 and offers bachelor's and master's programmes in international business and international relations. Its students come from more than 100 nationalities, and it has campuses in Geneva, Barcelona and Madrid. Bachelor's programmes take three years (180 ECTS credits), and the Master of International Relations & Diplomacy takes one year (60 ECTS). In 2026 the IIG announced a strategic collaboration with Geneva Business School.
• EU Business School Geneva is the Geneva campus of the EU Business School network and teaches business programmes in English at undergraduate and graduate level.
• Active Languages, on Boulevard Georges-Favon, offers language training for professionals and companies, in small groups or one-to-one.

Geneva is also home to the public Université de Genève (UNIGE), with faculties that include medicine, humanities, social sciences, economics and management, law and theology, and to the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, one of two university institutions supported by the federal government. All Swiss universities require a good knowledge of the language of instruction; most offer free language courses to enrolled international students.

Cost of living for students

Switzerland is not a cheap country to live in. The national portal study in switzerland+ gives a sample student budget of CHF 1,850 per month, including CHF 700 for accommodation, CHF 600 for food and CHF 90 for health insurance. It notes that costs vary by region. Tuition at Swiss public universities ranges from CHF 500 to CHF 4,000 per semester; private schools set their own fees.

Public transport in the canton is covered by a single fare system, unireso. In 2026 a monthly pass for zone 10 costs CHF 70 for adults and CHF 45 for young people aged 6 to 24, and a 60-minute ticket costs CHF 3.00. The Canton of Geneva pays the full annual or monthly pass for young students up to 24 who live in the canton, subject to conditions on training and income; those who live outside the canton but study in Geneva get 50% off.

Students may work up to 15 hours per week during term and full time in the semester breaks. Students from outside the EU/EFTA may start working only six months after their studies begin.

Getting around and daily life

Zone 10 of unireso covers the whole canton and combines trains (CFF), tpg buses and trams, and the Mouettes genevoises boats on the lake under one fare. Genève Aéroport has its own railway station in the terminal, and twelve tpg lines run directly to the airport.

Students from outside the EU/EFTA need a visa from the Swiss embassy or consulate before arrival; it takes at least eight weeks, and it is not possible to study on a tourist visa. EU/EFTA citizens must register with the cantonal authority within 14 days of arrival for stays longer than 90 days.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study in English in Geneva?

Yes. The International Institute in Geneva and EU Business School Geneva teach in English. At public universities the language depends on the programme, and master's programmes are more and more often taught in English.

How much does a month in Geneva cost for a student?

The national portal study in switzerland+ estimates a student budget of about CHF 1,850 per month for Switzerland, and notes that costs vary by region. A monthly unireso transport pass costs CHF 45 for people aged 6 to 24 in 2026.

Is Geneva a good place to learn French?

French is the language of daily life in Geneva, and most Swiss universities offer free language courses to their enrolled international students. Active Languages offers French courses for professionals.

Do I need a visa to study in Geneva?

Students from outside the EU/EFTA need a student visa before entering Switzerland, which takes at least eight weeks. EU/EFTA citizens register with the canton within 14 days of arrival.