Strategies for Remaining in Switzerland Post-University Graduation
Swiss Universities Are a Magnet for Foreign Students, But Can They Stay Post-Graduation?
Here's a lowdown on the international student scenario in Switzerland.
The academic year 2022/2023 marked a significant shift in enrollment figures, with over 76,000 foreign students in Swiss universities — a steep increase from a decade ago, when just about 53,000 foreign students attended. These numbers paint a clear picture: the Land of Chocolate and Cheese is an popular destination for higher education.
The two heavyweights in this realm are the ETH in Zurich and the EPFL in Lausanne, both polytechnic institutes. Here, foreigners account for about 35% of the 21,000 students at the ETH and nearly half of the EPFL's 13,000 students. It all boils down to these universities' stellar rankings in their respective fields (math, science, engineering, and technology). Add to that their pioneering research and innovation, and you've got a winning formula.
But where do these students go once they've donned their caps and gowns? Can they stick around and start a career, or do they need to pack their bags and head home? That all depends on their nationality.
Students from EU or EFTA (Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein) countries can hang around for 90 days post-graduation, looking for employment. Land a job within this window, and applying for a work or residency permit is a cinch; all you need is to register at a commune in your chosen canton and present an employment contract.
However, matters get a bit trickier for students hailing from outside the EU and EFTA borders. To outline the conditions, this article offers a comprehensive guide. In a nutshell, the legislation for third-country job-seekers mirrors that for other non-EU, EFTA workers.
Years back, plans were drafted to ease the stay-back rules for third-country students who earned degrees in fields in high demand and facing a skills shortage in the job market. However, these proposals have hit a few roadblocks, mainly because Switzerland lacks a legal basis that would allow foreigners subject to quotas to live here permanently, in line with their EU/EFTA counterparts.
This article expands on this topic.
But there's a glimmer of hope. Under the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals (FNA), foreign graduates may be admitted if their work is "of high academic or economic interest"[1]. In other words, their skills are needed in a field where Switzerland or the EU/EFTA can't provide the required talent. To be eligible for a temporary permit, applicants must have confirmation of degree completion from their university, along with proof of sufficient financial resources and lodging for six months[1]. If they don't manage to secure employment within that period, they'll need to hit the road, as these permits aren't renewable.
We'd love to hear your experiences moving on after graduation. How smooth or challenging was the process for you?
Data Source:1. Swiss Federal Act on Foreign Nationals (FNA)2. Swiss Federal Office for Migration (BFM)3. Swiss Confederation (SECO)4. State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI)
- The increase in foreign students in Swiss universities highlights the country's prominence in education-and-self-development, yet, post-graduation, the general-news concerning their stay-back is complex.
- For EU or EFTA students, the process to stay post-graduation in Switzerland for job hunting is relatively straightforward, but for third-country nationals, the rules can get intricate, as detailed in various general-news articles.
