Overview
Private schools, institutes and colleges have flourished in Switzerland for more than 100 years, and many are still owned by the families that founded them. An important question arises in this context: why do families choose to send their children to be educated in Switzerland rather than Britain, for example? There are many answers. Switzerland is among the countries able to maintain the confidentiality and privacy of its famous and wealthy visitors, who want to get away from the media and spend time preserving their privacy. It is also a completely safe country, a very important factor amid the violence and tensions we see daily around the world. Switzerland also lies at a crossroads in Europe, sharing borders with France, Italy, Austria and Germany, placing it at the heart of Europe. In addition, tolerance and the ability to interact and mix well with people from different cultures are fundamentals of life in Switzerland. The Swiss themselves belong to four languages and cultures, yet have coexisted with complete success for many years since the establishment of the state.
For all these reasons, Switzerland's private institutes, schools and universities welcome students from around the world, particularly as they offer internationally recognised study programmes—the same programmes offered by international schools. Whether students follow the British or American system or the International Baccalaureate, their final qualifications will open academic doors worldwide. The schools' locations amid mountains and lakes rich in natural beauty also provide many sporting and recreational activities for male and female students.
