This is how Conan Doyle describes this impressive place: “A mountain stream swollen by melting snows plunges into a bottomless abyss, and spray rises from it like smoke from a burning building. The gorge into which the stream rushes is surrounded by glittering rocks, black as coal. Below, at an immeasurable depth, it narrows into a foaming, seething well that constantly overflows and with terrible force throws water back onto the jagged rocks around. The unceasing movement of green jets falling down with an incessant roar, the dense, agitated veil of water dust rising in a ceaseless vortex—all of this makes a person dizzy and deafens him with its unrelenting roar.”
Not far from the waterfall, in the town of Meiringen, spread on the shore of the beautiful Lake Brienz, there is still today a hotel where Conan Doyle housed his hero and his faithful friend Dr. Watson. And if in those days the hotel bore the name “England,” it has now acquired the name “Sherlock Holmes” and become one of the attractions with which Switzerland is so rich. Suffice it to recall Chillon Castle, surrounded by Lake Geneva, first mentioned in the 13th century and which became the setting for the events described by Byron in the poem “The Prisoner of Chillon.” The castle’s gloomy beauty fascinated and stirred the creative imagination of such diverse geniuses as Victor Hugo, Hans Christian Andersen, and Charles Dickens. One of the places of pilgrimage for tourists is also the park “Switzerland in Miniature” in Lugano, where one can see the most interesting, picturesque areas, cities, and monuments of art and architecture at a scale of 1:25.
World Record in... Laureates
The Alpine republic would never have achieved such material prosperity and weight on the world stage had it not been for the historical tradition of respect for the sciences and technical inventions. At the University of Basel, founded back in 1460 by Pope Pius II, Erasmus of Rotterdam, one of the greatest humanists of the late Middle Ages, taught. It was in Switzerland that the great Pestalozzi advanced pedagogical science, advocating for the introduction of universal education. This country became the birthplace of many inventions: as early as 1174, printing using movable wooden plates was known here. The Swiss also built the first road tunnel in the world, designed the stopwatch, gave the world wristwatches and contact lenses.
In Switzerland, education and science are among the main priorities. In a country whose population does not reach 7.5 million, there are approximately 1.1 million schoolchildren and students.
Switzerland ranks fourth in the world in the number of Nobel laureates, and in their number per capita it holds the absolute world record. Interestingly, of those who were awarded this prestigious prize, 20% were children of university professors, four people came from families of industrialists and businessmen. However, among the laureates there are also sons of a railway worker, a farmer, a mining foreman, a construction foreman, and a musician. All this suggests that all of them, at the very least, received a good education in their country.
City-Museum, Also the Capital
The capital of Switzerland, Bern, is one of the few medieval cities in the world that has survived to this day almost in its original form. It is not surprising that it is called a city-museum. On the old Kornhausplatz square, for example, there is one of the oldest (1516) and most original fountains in the world — Kinderfresserbrunnen (“Child Eater”). It represents a figure of a giant devouring little sinners, which was meant to serve as a warning to the younger generation.
Bern’s main attraction is the Zitgloggeturm tower (12th century), which once served as the western gate of the old city and was a defensive tower with walls three meters thick. Its eastern facade is adorned with the famous clock (1527-1530) by Kaspar Brunner, which shows not only the time but also the day of the week, the month, the zodiac sign, and the phases of the moon. For almost a century and a half, another Bern landmark has been the “bear pit” (Baerengraben) — an enclosure where bears and cubs frolic, invariably attracting many visitors, especially children. Having let his guard down, Professor Pleischner, one of the characters in the film “Seventeen Moments of Spring,” spent a few joyful minutes near this enclosure of the young bears shortly before his tragic death.
In Bern, on Kramgasse, one of the city’s most beautiful streets, Albert Einstein lived at the beginning of the 20th century. The Swiss assert that it was here that the great scientist created his theory of relativity, which revolutionized world physics. Madame de Staël was born in Bern; as early as the end of the 18th century, she advocated for equal rights for women and was considered one of the boldest minds of her time.
For all its beauty and uniqueness, the Swiss capital did not rank first in either size or population. The palm of supremacy was wrested from it by Zurich, the largest city in Switzerland, sprawling on both banks of the Limmat River, which flows into Lake Zurich. This city is a world financial center, the holy of holies of the “Zurich gnomes,” as Swiss bankers are called, who from time immemorial guard gold bars in bank vaults and stand guard over the secrecy of their clients’ deposits. Zurich ranks third in the world after Tokyo and New York in the volume of stock exchange transactions. The fashionable buildings of banks are located on Bahnhofstrasse, which is sometimes called the most beautiful street in Europe. It is so clean that writer James Joyce even claimed (true, this was a long time ago) that soup could be eaten there without plates, right off the pavement.
Zurich has more than 30 museums. It is one of the largest tourist centers; the number of its guests reaches one million a year. Richard Wagner, James Joyce, and Gottfried Keller lived here.
The Saddest Lion
Geneva is Switzerland's second largest and most cosmopolitan city, home to representatives of over 100 nationalities. Many world celebrities chose Geneva as their permanent residence: Charlie Chaplin, Georges Simenon, Audrey Hepburn, Charles Aznavour, Alain Delon, crowned heads and oil kings.
Geneva is home to the Palace of Nations, which is equal in area to the Palace of Versailles (it houses the UN headquarters), and hosts many international conferences, exhibitions and congresses. This is a city of roses - there are more than 40,000 rose bushes planted with money donated to the city by wealthy people. On one of the squares, Promenade du Lac, you can see Geneva's marvel - a floral clock five meters in diameter, for which 6,300 flowers are used. Geneva is located on the shore of Lake Geneva, the largest lake in the country and the largest reservoir of fresh water in Western Europe.
The city of Lucerne is called the pearl of Switzerland, whose symbol has long been the Kapellbruecke bridge spanning the Reuss River. Inspired by Lucerne, Schiller wrote the legend of William Tell. Goethe praised the city and its surroundings in his poems.
In Lucerne, wealthy merchants, pilgrims, diplomats, and missionaries rested from their long travels. That is why the hotel business began to develop here early. By 1450, there were already 400 hotels and restaurants. Many residents of Lucerne voluntarily went to defend King Louis XVI. Mark Twain called the stone sculpture of a dying lion on a cliff in Lucerne, created by the famous Danish sculptor Thorvaldsen in honor of the Swiss who died in the Battle of the Tuileries, 'the saddest lion in the world'.
Switzerland is a unique country: it is a meeting place of different cultures, political views, languages and natural conditions. The Alpine republic unites 26 cantons and half-cantons. Almost 60% of its territory (it borders Austria, Germany, Italy, France and the tiny principality of Liechtenstein) is occupied by mountains, where glaciers and ice streams are found at altitudes above 2,500 m. For example, the Great Aletsch Glacier has no equal in size in Central Europe. Almost the whole world goes to Switzerland to ski and snowboard. Grünwald, one of the most popular resorts in Switzerland, has all the conditions for grand competitions in which extreme sports enthusiasts from any country can take part. The World Snow Festival is also held there, with a competition for the best sculpture made of snow and ice. And at the Alpine resort of Obersaxen, another pastime is held annually - a massive snowball fight. Last winter, 2,473 people took part in it simultaneously, setting a world record. The resorts of Schwarzsee and Zermatt have been connected by a new cable car, and there was a grand opening of a snowboard park, which was assigned one of the highest difficulty categories in the world. And in Engelberg, in the very center of Switzerland, you can jump from a funicular cabin into the abyss on a 130-meter bungee. In general, every lover of winter recreation will find entertainment to their taste. For those who prefer it hotter, they just need to come down from the mountains: in Switzerland there are places where a truly Mediterranean climate prevails.
Swiss in the Web
The Alpine republic is advancing by leaps and bounds towards computerization. According to the latest statistical data, the number of Internet users in this country is steadily growing. In 1997, only 5% of the population went online daily. In 2003, already 38% plunged into the web every day. Interestingly, the vast majority of Swiss use the Internet at home, not at work. Among happy holders of university degrees, 80% regularly hang out online, while those with secondary education account for only 28%. The age of the main audience is 20-29 years (65.4%). Teenagers' interest in the World Wide Web has grown by about 54% over the past six years (in 1997, only 3.9% of the youth audience used the Net, now that number is no less than 60.7%). Representatives of the stronger sex make up 60% of the total number of users.
Swiss education is highly valued throughout the world; it is high-quality, solid and attractive for its wide range of choices. That is why many foreigners come here to study. Their share of the total number of students is 5-20%, and in Geneva it reaches 33%. Incidentally, it was in this country that international schools and academic programs first appeared. Primary and secondary education are entirely under the jurisdiction of the cantons, while higher education is managed by both the cantons and the confederation. Russian schoolchildren and students who want to study in Switzerland should keep this in mind, since programs and admission requirements can differ from canton to canton.
Switzerland has four official languages - German, French, Italian and Romansh. 65% of the population speak the first language, 19% the second, and 12% the third. A foreigner can receive an education in any of these languages, as well as in English.
Matura, Everywhere
Compulsory schooling for the Swiss includes six years of primary school and three years of lower secondary school. The full secondary school course, which entitles pupils to the certificate of maturity (Matura), is designed for 12 years. Usually, children, for whom the educational marathon begins at age six, undergo two years of preschool preparation before entering the first grade.
There is no single, mandatory program for all schools, but control over the quality of education and the proper level of teaching is ensured everywhere: this is done by the Federal Office for Education and Science. To obtain a secondary education certificate, both a Swiss and a foreigner have several options: the Swiss federal program Matura, the German high school program Abitur, the French Baccalaureat, the Italian high school program Maturita, and the universal international program International Baccalaureate (IB). Along with the Swiss, German, French, and Italian programs, English-language ones are widespread, which, for example, offer the opportunity to obtain a British secondary education certificate A-level. It is important to know that ultimately every graduate will have a certificate from the country whose program they studied under.
State schools in Switzerland, as a rule, do not accept children from abroad, but one can enroll in one of 250 private schools. They usually have Anglo-American departments that are in high demand among foreigners. Many private schools were originally created for children of different nationalities and over their existence have accumulated rich experience working with foreign students. Moreover, the country has a well-developed boarding school system.
Most private schools are located in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. A year of study in the best of them costs $30,000 or more. However, there are also very small, family schools where prices are lower. Since programs and admission conditions differ across schools, it is best to get professional advice from educational agencies.
Private schools do not conduct exams as such, but they do check the general level of a potential student and their language preparation. As a rule, schools offer a written test to the child, which is usually conducted remotely, but sometimes it has to be taken on site in Switzerland. In addition, you may be asked to provide several references from school teachers and grades for the last year or two, as well as write a short essay about yourself in English. Due to differences in curricula, a child may be admitted to a Swiss school with the loss of a year.
What advantages await those who go to Switzerland specifically for knowledge? It is best to trust the opinion of an expert. We asked this question to Maria Kachinskaya, director of the Almanac-Tour company, who has extensive experience cooperating with Swiss educational institutions and has sent more than a hundred children there. Here is what she said: “Undoubtedly, the Alpine Republic has created conditions for educating children from abroad that not all other countries can boast of. One of the main advantages is that here in any school you can learn two foreign languages at once, and in some schools even three. Many parents also consider it important that Swiss schools are mostly small, homelike, designed for 45-120 students, and this ensures attention to every child, an individual approach, and supervision. Another advantage of Switzerland compared, for example, to England is that Swiss schools accept even young children for study, starting from the age of four. It is also useful to know that Switzerland is one of the safest and most environmentally friendly countries in the world. According to our company's experience, many children who have been to the Alpine Republic for language courses are later sent there by satisfied parents for the 'Academic Year' program.”
Hospitality as a Science
In Switzerland you can get a high-quality vocational education. 120 colleges, many of which have a high reputation worldwide, offer a wide range of specialties in demand on the labor market. Their graduates are recognized as first-class specialists in fields such as engineering, commerce, business administration, tourism, fine arts, and others.
It is believed that the world's best colleges of hotel management and tourism are located precisely in Switzerland. The first of them was opened more than a century ago. This is Ecole hoteliere de Lausanne, where currently about 800 students from 44 countries study at the same time.
A foreigner who enters such a college can count, after just one year, on receiving a certificate allowing them to work in this profession. After another year, they will hold a diploma of secondary specialized education. The full course lasts three or four years, upon completion of which they will be awarded a bachelor's degree.
Getting into a Swiss college is easier than into a university, so this path may be the most preferable for a domestic applicant wishing to subsequently continue their studies at a Swiss university. It is also important that no entrance exams are required. Depending on the program you are applying to, you only need to provide a certificate, teacher recommendations, and a resume. However, you will not be able to avoid taking a language exam, and you will need the appropriate certificate.
In Search of Swiss Gold
The country has 12 state universities, where more than 90,000 people study. Swiss diplomas in economics, law, banking, management, linguistics, physics, chemistry, mathematics, and biology are highly valued worldwide.
The first Swiss university was founded in 1460 in Basel. Then universities appeared in Geneva, Lucerne, Bern, and Zurich. Their main advantages are the volume and quality of scientific research, a high level of teaching, and excellent research infrastructure.
The universities of Basel, Bern, Lucerne, St. Gallen, and both Zurich higher education institutions are located in the German-speaking part of the country. In Lausanne, Neuchâtel, and Geneva, instruction is in French. At the University of Fribourg, both languages are officially recognized. One institution, the University of Lugano, is for Italian-speaking students.
Conventionally, universities in this country can be divided into several groups: large universities with about 10,000 students (Geneva, Zurich, Bern, Basel, Lausanne), small ones (Neuchâtel, St. Gallen, Lugano, and the university college in Lucerne), and higher technical schools (Eidgenoessische Technische Hochschule Zuerich, ETHZ, and Ecole Politechnique federale de Lausanne, EPFL). A special place is occupied by private paid universities like European University.
Education lasts four to six years depending on the chosen specialty. Upon graduation, graduates are awarded the degree of licentiate (Lizentiat) or diploma (Diploma). These degrees correspond to a master's degree. To obtain a doctoral degree, one must study for another three years.
Admission rules depend on the canton and the prestige of the university. For example, to enter the French-speaking universities of Geneva, Lausanne, and Neuchâtel, an applicant only needs to present a secondary education certificate with good grades and pass a special unified exam for foreigners. Moreover, holders of a DALF language certificate may be completely exempted from this exam. German-speaking universities, on the other hand, require that the applicant have, in addition to secondary school, two years of study at a domestic university.
As a rule, for foreigners, admission to Swiss universities is accompanied by preparatory courses and passing an exam at the University of Fribourg. The unified entrance exam is held in September-October. Five subjects must be taken: three compulsory (foreign language, mathematics, and history) and two optional (a second foreign language, geography, physics, chemistry, biology).
Almost all universities require the same documents from foreign applicants: an application for enrollment, a copy of the secondary school certificate or diploma, a list of studied subjects indicating the number of hours and grades received, a reference, and a detailed autobiography. The application for admission includes a clause on financial guarantees, implying the presence of at least $20,000 in a bank account, or a guarantee from an individual or company that they will ensure payment of the amount necessary for study and living.
Language schools to choose from
In Switzerland, one can successfully learn French, German, Italian, and even English. It is believed that in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, the French language is pure, without any admixtures. It is recommended to study it here at least because French is spoken somewhat more slowly in this country than in France itself, making it easier for foreigners to understand.
In Switzerland, there are language schools that are part of international linguistic associations (Eurocentres, Inlingua, Berlitz, etc.), as well as its own large language centers (C&L Study Centre in Montreux, Oekos-Schule in Zurich, etc.). Along with traditional language courses, they also offer specialized ones - language for secretarial work, commerce, hotel management, and tourism. Some schools operate only in the summer, based at universities or colleges.
Scholarships and grants
Elite private educational institutions in Switzerland are quite expensive. At the same time, a foreigner can find a program at a public university that will cost 600-1,400 Swiss francs per semester.
But in any case, when entering a university, one can try to obtain financial aid. There is, for example, a Swiss government scholarship of 1,650 Swiss francs. However, it is intended only for young specialists under 35 years of age with a higher education, and only about 20 scholarships are allocated for 15 Eastern European countries. Financial support (primarily for graduate students) can be provided by some Swiss foundations.
During the academic year, one can work 15 hours per week on a student visa (and during holidays, without restrictions). It is usually possible to earn 15-20 francs per hour, but finding temporary work is quite difficult. Third- and fourth-year students have the opportunity to work as assistants, that is, to help professors. The financial well-being of graduate students and researchers is much higher - their salary allows them to live in Switzerland even with a family.
...Once, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain said during her visit to the Alpine republic: "Switzerland is a paradise." Even if we consider this an exaggeration, one thing is indisputable: this small country has unique opportunities. And it is only natural for us to take advantage of them.