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Online Degree, Online Courses and Distance Learning in Switzerland

About Online Degree, Online Courses and Distance Learning in Switzerland

In the past decade, wider access to the Internet has brought major changes to education in Switzerland and around the world.  The ability to take online courses in the pursuit of one of many online degrees has allowed a number of different segments of the Swiss population, especially working adults, to advance their education in fields such as business and technology without having to be physically present at a “brick and mortar university.”  These online programs are now offered at most Swiss public universities, along with a slew of private schools, whose primary focus is distance education.

The education system in Switzerland is generally considered among the best in the world, and online education has only added value to this high-performing and heavily research-focused system.  In Switzerland, the majority of public universities (10 out of 12) are managed by 10 of the 26 Cantons—member states of Switzerland—and because each has its own constitution and government, education in this country is quite diverse.  This educational diversity, which includes programs that are offered in a number of different languages, enables both Swiss and foreign students alike the opportunity to excel through distance learning.    

As mentioned above, there are 12 public universities in Switzerland, 10 managed by the cantons and 2 governed by the Swiss federal state.  Through these schools, and the many private ones that exist throughout Switzerland, students are able to use distance learning to participate in degree programs ranging from computer programming and information systems, to hospitality management and communications, all without leaving the comfort of their home.

Below are just a few of the cantons where students can participate in online distance learning:

Bern

Located in west-central Switzerland, Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons.  This city/canton is rather unique in that there are 2 official languages—German and French—and almost 13% of the total population are foreigners.  This diversity of people and language requires an educational system, including distance learning programs, that are flexible enough to meet the needs of everyone—and on every single level, the city of Bern delivers.  Offering programs in French, German, Italian and even English, the schools in Bern are structured idyllically to help further the education of anyone who desires it.

Zurich

Located just to the north of the world famous Alps, the canton of Zurich, in which Zurich is the capital city, is a densely populated and extremely diverse area with scores of wonderful educational opportunities, including online degrees.  The official language in Zurich is German, but the city has a very large percentage of foreign residents who speak something other than German, which has prompted many of the private schools and universities in this large canton to offer German language courses, in addition to their usual academic offerings.

Geneva

Surrounded on almost all sides by France, Geneva is the capital of Switzerland and is generally considered one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world.  As you might guess, the official language of Geneva is French, and while the city is rather small by European or American standards, the number of cultural and academic opportunities it features definitely makes up for its size.  Online programs, especially in business and international relations, can be found here at both public and private universities.