1 best universities in Lugano 2026

International recognition and competitiveness

The key universities of Lugano — the University of Italian Switzerland (USI) and the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI) — are among the leading educational institutions in Europe.

• USI, located in Lugano, is one of the world's top 150 universities under the age of 50 (QS World University Rankings), offering advanced programs in economics, computer science, biomedicine and communications.
• SUPSI focuses on applied sciences, offering students practical preparation and collaboration with leading companies.

International environment and accreditations

• Lugano attracts students from all over the world. More than 60% of USI students are foreigners; once here, students gain a unique and invaluable learning experience in a multicultural environment and gain connections and contacts all over the world.
• The university's programs have international accreditation and are recognized far beyond Switzerland.

A unique combination of theory and practice

The universities in Lugano actively cooperate with ETH Zurich, EPFL and other leading Swiss and world universities, allowing them to participate in international scientific projects. Internships and applied research are often immediately integrated into the educational process, which significantly increases the demand for graduates in the labor market.

High quality of life and safety

Lugano is located in one of the safest and most comfortable corners of Europe. Switzerland is known for its high quality of life, and Lugano is no exception: students will find mountains, lakes and beautiful mountain air, green parks, dozens of hiking trails, a rich cultural heritage imbued with the spirit of Northern Italy, not to mention such quality-enhancing things as European medicine, convenient infrastructure, low crime rate and a safe environment.

Affordable education

Compared to other regions (Geneva, Zurich or Neuchatel), the cost of living and studying in Lugano is lower, which makes local universities an excellent solution for foreigners.

Ideal conditions for outdoor activities

Lugano is surrounded by the Alps and on the lake shore, so students will find not only excellent study conditions, but also excellent recreation: sports activities, hiking, cycling and water sports will be an excellent addition to the learning process, allowing them to maintain a comfortable balance between learning and recreation.

Although studying at top universities in Lugano promises many advantages, there are also some special features that you should be aware of.

High cost of living

Despite the fact that studying at the universities of Lugano will probably be cheaper than in other major Swiss cities (for example, Zurich or Geneva), the cost of living in Switzerland is generally quite high.

Housing costs, food, transportation, and medical care are significantly more expensive here than in other European countries. For students, especially expats, this can be a serious financial burden.

Limited choice of programs in English

In Ticino, where Lugano is located, the main language of communication is Italian. Although most university teachers speak English, knowledge of Italian will be essential for everyday communication or when looking for a job in the city. This can create difficulties for students who do not speak Italian in terms of integration into the local community.

In addition, despite the fact that the universities of Lugano have English-language programs, the number of them is small compared to the universities of Zurich and Geneva, especially at the undergraduate level. So if you're only good at English, you might want to look at other universities.

Fewer opportunities in the key of interdisciplinary programs

The largest Swiss universities are increasingly betting on interdisciplinary programs — this allows them to obtain several specialties and combine different fields of knowledge.

At the universities of Lugano, the emphasis is usually on specialized courses, which in some cases promises less flexibility and possible difficulties in terms of translation.

Difficulties of finding a job

Lugano is a small town, while Ticino is a peripheral canton with a very modest labor market. This significantly narrows down the opportunities for students in terms of employment, internships or work in international corporations after graduation — all this will have to be sought in other cantons or abroad.

The largest universities in Lugano are the University of Italian Switzerland (USI — Università della Svizzera italiana) and the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI — Scuola universitaria professionale della Svizzera italiana).

USI

This relatively young university was founded in 1996. It offers over 30 programs in various fields, and the strongest are considered to be:

• Economics and Business,
• Information technology and AI,
• Biomedicine, bioengineering research,
• Marketing, mass media and communication technologies.

In addition, the USI structure includes the Academy of Architecture in Mendrisio, one of the strongest architectural universities in Central Europe. USI has more than 700 teachers and about 3,000 students, and at least 60% (2023) of them are foreigners.

The University is among the TOP 200 universities in the field of computer science and communication technologies according to QS Rankings, and it has partnered with more than fifty universities around the world.

USI is designed for those who seek to obtain an international business education, work in the field of technology or biomedicine and participate in innovative projects (USI's own research fund is 31.7 million SHF). Applications for the fall semester are accepted until mid-July.

SUPSI

It was founded in 1997. It offers a variety of programs in fields such as engineering, business, design and art, and social sciences, and is consistently ranked among the top 100 Swiss universities in the field of applied sciences.

Over 3,500 students study at the university in 32 bachelor's and master's degree programs (mostly in Italian, several master's programs are in English), and ~1,700 more take professional courses annually.

SUPSI has extensive opportunities in the field of internships and academic exchanges: 42 partner universities and over 300 national and international companies offer students unpaid and paid internships, participation in real research and applied projects, and opportunities for quick entry into the professional environment. Applications  are accepted until April-May.

Despite the fact that Swiss higher education is usually very expensive, the universities of Lugano offer 20-30% lower prices than at the corresponding programs of the universities of Geneva, Zurich and Bern. At the same time, the demand for programs in Italian is lower than in German and even more so in English.

In general, the price for the services of the universities of Lugano depends on the program, the level of study and the citizenship of the student. As for bachelor's degree programs, tuition for foreign students will cost 2,000-3,500 CHF per year, master's programs in Italian cost from 1,500 to 4,500 CHF, English—speaking ones are 20-30% more expensive. Doctoral studies at USI will cost 1,000-1,400 CHF per year.

The additional costs associated with studying are:

• Accommodation (on average, the cost of renting an apartment or studio ranges from 800 to 1,500 CHF per month, depending on the location and type of housing);
• Medical insurance (from 300 to 400 CHF annually) ,
• Food,
• Transportation,
• Educational and consumables, and other items (from 500 to 1,000 CHF monthly for a frugal life without frills).