Pursuing a PhD whilst working in Switzerland.
Switzerland awards doctoral degrees through the cantonal universities and the two Federal Institutes of Technology. For working professionals, the key factor is how closely a faculty supervises its doctoral programmes.
In Switzerland, doctoral degrees are awarded by the cantonal universities as well as ETH Zurich and EPFL. Universities of Applied Sciences and Teacher Training Colleges do not have their own right to award doctoral degrees and operate through collaborative arrangements. The doctoral level is organised more as a programme than in Germany, which is why course components, colloquia and language requirements need to be clarified at an early stage.
The landscape
Ten cantonal universities and two Federal Institutes of Technology award doctoral degrees. Universities of applied sciences and teacher training colleges collaborate with universities in Switzerland and abroad for this purpose; whilst this is a viable route for applied topics, it entails the usual need for double coordination.
The faculties regulate admission and procedures in their own doctoral regulations. These are the equivalent of the German doctoral regulations and are equally binding. Anyone with experience of the German system should not assume that things will be familiar: admission, course requirements and examination formats are regulated differently in some respects.
What is crucial for working professionals
The crucial point is the programme’s structure. Whether a doctoral programme includes lectures, colloquia and attendance requirements will determine whether the programme is compatible with a full-time job. Ask specific questions: How many sessions are compulsory, are they organised in blocks, and is remote participation possible?
For candidates from abroad
A Swiss doctoral degree is well recognised internationally. In Germany, thanks to equivalence agreements, it can generally be used without any indication of its country of origin. In other countries, classification is handled by the relevant recognition body; in Europe, this is done via the ENIC-NARIC network.
As is the case everywhere, two factors are decisive here: the recognition of the awarding university and a standard academic procedure. Both are undisputed at Swiss universities.
What Ascendius handles in Switzerland
We are a Swiss public limited company and are familiar with the regulations of local faculties. We assess which institutions are a good academic fit for your topic, which programme components you would need to undertake, and whether this is compatible with your schedule.
The university decides on admission and the award of the degree. What we ensure is that you reach this decision with a sound proposal and without any avoidable procedural errors.
Frequently asked questions.
Which higher education institutions in Switzerland award doctoral degrees?+
The cantonal universities, as well as ETH Zurich and EPFL. Universities of applied sciences do not have their own right to award doctorates and work through collaborative arrangements.
Are there tuition fees for doctoral programmes in Switzerland?+
Semester fees apply, the amount of which varies from one university to another. The relevant university’s fees regulations apply.
Can I do a PhD in English in Switzerland?+
In many subjects, yes. The language requirements are set out in the faculty’s doctoral regulations.
Is a Swiss doctoral degree recognised in Germany?+
Yes. Thanks to equivalence agreements, Swiss degrees can generally be used in Germany without any indication of their country of origin.
Is it possible to study for a PhD in Switzerland whilst working?+
Yes, provided the faculty permits it and the programme requirements are compatible with your schedule. This is precisely what needs to be clarified before applying.
What distinguishes the Swiss procedure from the German one?+
Doctoral programmes are more frequently organised as structured courses, with coursework components and fixed milestones. Independent external doctoral research is less common than in Germany.
Related topics.
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