About Switzerland

About

Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a sovereign state in Europe. It consists of 26 cantons, and the city of Bern is the seat of the federal authorities.The federal republic is situated in Western-Central Europe, and is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland is a landlocked country geographically divided between the Alps, the Swiss

Plateau and the Jura, spanning a total area of 41,285 km2 (15,940 sq mi) (land area 39,997 km2 (15,443 sq mi)). While the Alps occupy the greater part of the territory, the Swiss population of approximately eight million people is concentrated mostly on the plateau, where the largest cities are to be found: among them are the two global cities and economic centres Zürich and Geneva.

Some more info

Switzerland is a wealthy country with a high quality of life. The country is densely populated with an average of 207 people per square kilometer. Switzerland offers a unique experience from a winter sport activities in the snowy mountains to metropolitan city adventures - undertaking an education in Switzerland is a varied and exciting opportunity. With its central location, Switzerland is the perfect "home base" for those wanting to discover the rest of Europe.

With four official languages, you do not even have to leave Switzerland to get a taste of the different European cultures. A great reason to pursue your education in Switzerland is the broad spectrum of educational opportunities offered here. Read more about the different types of higher educational institutes available in Switzerland, how to apply and a few practical details you should consider during your preparations for studying in Switzerland. Or, if you're ready, search Swiss Degree Programs now.

Quick facts!

1. Coffee in Zurich is the most expensive in the world – costing an average CHF3.65 (USD 3.65) in the Coffee Price Index 2016, with Copenhagen, Basel, Bern and Geneva rounding out the top five respectively. Switzerland was also the origin of instant coffee when the Nestlé Company, started by Swiss businessman Henri Nestlé in 1867, created Nescafe in 1938.
2.In Switzerland citizens can challenge any law passed by Parliament – provided they can gather 50,000 signatures against the law within 100 days. If succesful, a national vote is held and voters decide by a simple majority whether to accept or reject the law.
3.Switzerland boasts some of the world's most famous inventions – they created Velcro, cellophane, the Swiss Army Knife, absinthe, the potato peeler, Helvetica font, LSD, muesli, edible chocolate gold and milk chocolate to name a few. They were also pioneers in introducing bobsleigh, tobogganing and luge as a competitive sport to the world. Swiss scientists are also leading research in using LSD to treat mental illness and pain. Switzerland continues to lead the world in innovation, topping the World Intellectual Property Organization's (WIPO) ranking in 2017 for the seventh year in a row, ahead of the US (4th) and UK (5th).