Swiss group aims to make studying abroad easier
Monday 19th October 2026 on 06:15 in
Switzerland
A new Swiss association is helping prospective students navigate applications and life at universities abroad, SRF reports. Swiss Students Abroad plans to share free information through a network of Swiss students overseas and links with universities.
The group was founded by young people in Basel. Its co-presidents are Emil Engler, who studies at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, and Moana Berberat. The association has launched a LinkedIn page and plans to create a website and Instagram account, as well as hold events in Switzerland with universities from abroad.
Applying to a university overseas can involve an unfamiliar and intensive selection process, Engler said. Applicants may need to explain the Swiss grading system or obtain a teacher’s recommendation. Extracurricular activities such as playing music can also strengthen an application by showing commitment.
Prospective students must also check visa requirements. Swiss men need to arrange their departure correctly in relation to compulsory military service, Engler said. He described his own experience abroad as enriching, saying he had met people from many countries and gained new perspectives.
The association hopes to promote what Engler called “brain circulation”: students gaining experience abroad and bringing it back to Switzerland, where many plan to return for work. About 25 current and former students have contacted the group, which is also in touch with the Conference of Swiss Upper Secondary School Principals.
Basel Green Liberal Party parliamentarian Katja Christ, a member of the National Council’s science, education and culture committee, praised the initiative. She said guidance for students considering a direct move from upper secondary school to a foreign university was lacking, and that studying abroad could be very expensive.
Swiss Students Abroad plans to hold its first event for interested pupils in 2027 and is seeking more supporters. The University of St Andrews has also praised the association’s work, according to the article.