Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz (FHNW) University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland

• Name: Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz (FHNW),
• Country: Switzerland,
• Founded: 2006,
• Founding cantons: Aargau, Basel Landschaft, Basel Stadt and Solothurn.

• Brugg-Windisch: business, computer science and information technology, education, engineering and environment,
• Dreispitz: business and computer science,
• Olten: applied psychology, business, education, social work and optometry.

FHNW offers different subject areas across several locations. Its Basel Academy of Art and Design, HGK Basel, maintains partnerships with universities in Switzerland and abroad.

HGK Basel offers CoCreate, a shared curriculum designed to encourage collaborative, interdisciplinary work and develop knowledge and skills in economics, culture, research, digitalization, communication, diversity and inclusion.

Students at the School of Business FHNW organize International Student Projects themselves. These include a weeklong seminar in Switzerland with lectures and discussions, followed by a two-week seminar abroad. Participants meet leaders of companies and organizations and connect with students from other countries.

Through partnerships with cultural institutions in Basel, students at the Basel Academy of Music FHNW can take part in a range of concert formats during their studies.

A student specializing in bioanalytics and cell biology at the School of Life Sciences FHNW completed her bachelor's thesis with an international research group at Harvard University in Boston.

FHNW comprises ten schools.

• The Muttenz campus houses the School of Architecture, Construction and Geomatics, School of Life Sciences, School of Education, School of Social Work and School of Engineering. The engineering school is represented here by its trinational mechatronics program,
• At HGK Basel, five institutes oversee bachelor's, master's and continuing education programs, conduct research and provide professional services.

FHNW pursues several strategic research priorities:

• Future Health — personalized medicine, digital healthcare, medical technology and artificial intelligence,
• New Work — new approaches to organizing work, creativity, resilience and digital ethics,
• Zero Emission — the circular economy, sustainable production, technologies that reduce climate impact and sustainable urban planning.

Research into the combined flow of gas and liquid, conducted with Endress+Hauser Flow, resulted in patents and a measuring device used worldwide. The university received the Swiss Industry 4.0 Award for its work in industrial digitalization.

An MSE graduate won the Best Poster Award by Popular Vote at the COMSOL Multiphysics Conference 2025 in Amsterdam. For his master's thesis, he used COMSOL Multiphysics to develop a complete model of the transfer molding process for large power semiconductor modules. The work was carried out with Hitachi Energy Semiconductor in Lenzburg.

The FHNW Muttenz campus has the CUBE restaurant, a cafeteria and the CUBE lounge. The restaurant is open to the public.

The FHNW Muttenz campus park offers students and staff opportunities for cultural and sports activities.

• At CIVIC within HGK Basel, participants independently organize exhibitions, workshops, art events and discussions,
• HGK Basel has presented graduating students' work in person and digitally through NEXT GENERATION,
• International student projects at the School of Business FHNW include Insight China, Focus India, connectUS and exploreASEAN.

Over the past few years, the university has consistently ranked in the top 20 of the best higher educational institutions in the country. Also Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz is included in the TOP of the best universities in the world.

Approximately 4500 people study, conduct research and work at the FHNW Muttenz campus. It has a library open to the public, and the building is equipped with video surveillance. The campus is a six-minute walk from Muttenz train station. Nearby parking includes 232 spaces for cars and more than 500 covered and uncovered bicycle spaces.

The Basel Academy of Music FHNW holds classes at Jazzcampus and Campus Musik-Akademie. Jazzcampus has its own concert halls, performance spaces and jazz club.

HGK Basel has CIVIC, a space for learning and experimentation for students, faculty, staff and the public. Its exhibition space der TANK presents projects by artists and students from all institutes. Workshops and laboratories include:

• Spaces for working with wood, metal and plastic,
• Digital Fabrication Lab, for digital manufacturing,
• Sculpture, screen printing and bookbinding workshops,
• Photography, video and audio laboratories, plus multimedia workstations,
• A sewing area.

Media Library Basel, the library of HGK Basel FHNW, offers printed and electronic materials, access to the SLSP courier system and space for research and study. Students, FHNW staff and interested members of the public can use it free of charge during opening hours.

• The application fee at HGK Basel FHNW is CHF 200 and includes the aptitude assessment and enrollment,
• The registration fee at the School of Life Sciences FHNW is CHF 200.

Semester charges at HGK Basel FHNW include the student organization contribution, materials and licensing costs. Excursions and literature may involve additional expenses. At the School of Life Sciences FHNW, students also need to budget for materials, books, project work and a required laptop. Both schools charge a diploma fee.

If HGK Basel FHNW does not receive notice of withdrawal within one week after the semester begins, the full semester payment is due.

At the Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNW (HGK Basel), enrollment begins after successful completion of the aptitude assessment.

Smapse specialists will support you at every stage of the admissions process.

After earning her bachelor's degree in bioanalytics and cell biology at the School of Life Sciences FHNW, one graduate secured a research position studying liposomes.

She planned to pursue a master's degree in virology at the University of Zurich as the next step in her education.

Admission to this university is annually carried out by a special selection committee, which in its decision is based on several indicators. The main one is the past performance of each applicant. Both local residents and international students can join the ranks of students on the same terms. Statistics show that about 80 percent of applicants enter the university with ease.

Each academic year in the educational institution is traditionally divided into two semesters. Considering the fact that the training of future bachelors and masters at this university is not cheap, the possibility of savings is provided. To receive financial aid from the university in the form of scholarships, students must demonstrate good academic performance. Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz students can choose the most convenient training system for themselves - full-time or distance.

Students facing financial hardship at HGK Basel FHNW may receive a waiver of semester charges. The director reviews requests separately for each semester. Scholarship opportunities are available both to international students coming to HGK and to its students planning to study abroad.

The School of Life Sciences FHNW lists the following sources of support:

• Albert von Rotz Foundation — a foundation associated with the FHNW Muttenz campus that supports equal educational opportunities and young professionals,
• Swiss Study Foundation — supplementary learning, individual mentoring, guidance and financial support for undergraduate and postgraduate students.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision