Hi all,

Im new to this forum. Chanced upon it while doing a google search, and was delighted to find a forum like such.

Anyway. I'll be going on a student exchange programme in the first half of 2012. And im considering Switzerland as my primary choice. (Was supposed to be France, but i was unsuccessful in my application)

Firstly, a little background about myself. Im from Singapore, and am a university undergraduate. Primary language is English and Mandarin. Though i am currently undertaking French lessons, mainly for my pending exchange.

So, i need help from all of you here at English Forum. I have 2 choices, University of Lausanne or University of Geneva.

What i would like to know mainly is how these two universities differ. And also, academics aside (not the most important factor in my decision), which city?!?! Lausanne or Geneva. Many factors will play a part, from culture, to lifestyle, and also given the fact that i will be looking to travel around Europe often during my exchange, convenience of transport, or any other factors you feel is important.

I have been to Switzerland on vacation before, but that was ages ago. Can't remember much And furthermore, it was only a 2 weeks trip. So i didnt really experience life living there.

Thank you all in advance for your help.

Nic

cant seem to edit my original post. i forgot to add. Im an economics major back here. However, i'll be looking to do courses mainly in history or the arts in Switzerland.

If you want to get to know the true French Swiss then go to Lausanne. Geneva has a huge expat population which could be a plus if you want a bit of variety.

hi Suisse2008.

Thanks for your reply. Well i would prefer to experience true French Swiss. So thats +1 for Lausanne.

Any other Pros/Cons for Lausanne or Geneva? Application has started and hope to get more first-hand feedback from members on here.

And also, which University is more reputable? University of Lausanne or University of Geneva?

If your going to the Lausanne engineering school (which I guess your not if your doing history or arts) than Lausanne is "ranked" higher* according to some list I saw recently, if not I believe Geneva is higher. No idea if that's important to you at all

Apart from that I don't know either city (other than the odd night out in Lausanne) so others will need to help you there.

Good luck in making your choice.

*There is an engineering university and the "normal" university

thanks Millso for your reply.

The schools i am talking about would be these two:

University of Lausanne: http://www.unil.ch/central/page2192_en.html

University of Geneva: http://www.unige.ch/index.html

anyone?

All I can add is that neither of them are the engineering schools but I guess you knew that already. Apart from that I have experience with neither, sorry.

Don't know either city terribly well, but based on wandering around Lausanne is definitely the more 'studenty' feeling of the two, a younger vibe, more accepting of individualism, etc. Geneva's very pretty, but always seems a bit 2-dimensional to me, as if it's a theme park for tourists and bankers. Lausanne's probably cheaper for accommodation, too.

Without going into ad infinum detail, I'd really suggest Lausanne, from all what I have read before in the previous threads.

Uni Lausanne is a very well-recognized higher learning institution. And much more diverse things to do in Lausanne than Geneva, and to get to from here to hither parts of Suisse simpler, or you save 45 mins in other words not having to get from Geneva to Lausanne by train.

Alors, Bonne chance

thank you all for the replies. really need it as application is closing soon, and despite scouring the web, ive hardly come up with any substantial answers.

tiny_tim: thanks that was a piece of extremely important information. just to confirm, what you're saying is basically, when i travel around Switzerland/Europe, i would find myself having to transfer at Lausanne (if im staying at Geneva) compared to having to the other way round?

what about taking flights within Europe? as i know that the 'main' airport is at Geneva.

thank you all for the replies, will thank appropriately once i hit 10 posts.

kodokan: yea, i definitely get that feeling too, from the reading ive been doing. It seems more 'urban' and more like a city compared to Lausanne, whereas Lausanne gives me the 'chill' feeling. which i would like when im there.

just an update. ive been accepted to go to the University of Geneva for my student exchange program next year.

I ended up choosing Geneva as there was module selection issues with Lausanne, as all the modules were only offered in French. My French definitely isnt up to academic standard.

But, i guess i will be spending much more time on this forum in the near future. Hope to learn some ropes here before i get there in January.

Hi Nictan,
I was just wondering whether you have started your exchange yet? I am also looking into the University of Geneva. I read on the website about the intensive french program with the english modules beign about subjects on geneva. Is this the program you are undertaking? My french is very minimal and therefore i dont think I would be up to this program. Can you just do the engligh subjects without the french?
Would love a reply!

Lausanne is one of the most beautiful cities I have seen and it is a student city with two big universities.

I second and third that! I hope that whatever choices you made, you started off well to the year (and btw, happy Chinese New year next week!).

I studied in Lausanne, and I would never trade it for any other place (I actually did an exchange at st. gallen and can't say I was happy with that, though it might have helped me in searching for jobs in CH).

Lausanne is warm, absolutely beautifuly, exciting, with a very large student population, and a lot more fun things to do than in Geneva. Geneva is highly international (too international if you want to get a glimpse of Switzerland) and it defintiely caters more to the business/UN crowd than to students. Nonetheless, the university there is very good, in particular if you'd like to focus on international studies.

In any case, the two cities are about 45 min apart by train

Good luck!