SWITZERLAND

Switzerland is often associated with alpine ski resorts, fine clocks, chocolate and penknives, and for the world's "secretive" banks. But just as you don't judge London by its black cabs, Buckingham Palace and Big Ben, the real Switzerland is a fascinating, stimulating and challenging place to study. Switzerland is a complex and interesting country to study in. One should look very closely at the finances required to study here. It is an excellent study destination with a difference. It's excellent location in Europe, it's marked cultural, political and linguistic differences from Europe, make it unique. The winter sports scene and opportunities to travel during holidays can't be beaten with easy access to anywhere in Europe.

Geography

Switzerland, in central Europe, is the land of the Alps. Its tallest peak is the Dufourspitze at 15,203 ft (4,634 m) on the Swiss side of the Italian border, one of 10 summits of the Monte Rosa massif. The tallest peak in all of the Alps, Mont Blanc (15,771 ft; 4,807 m), is actually in France. Most of Switzerland is composed of a mountainous plateau bordered by the great bulk of the Alps on the south and by the Jura Mountains on the northwest. The country's largest lakes—Geneva, Constance (Bodensee), and Maggiore—straddle the French, German-Austrian, and Italian borders, respectively. The Rhine, navigable from Basel to the North Sea, is the principal inland waterway.

Demographics

The population of Switzerland (2006 estimate) is 7,523,934, with an overall population density of 189 persons per sq km (490 per sq mi). The population is unevenly distributed, with nearly 90 percent living on the Swiss Plateau. Some 67 percent of the population is classified as urban, but most people live in small towns. Swiss citizens account for about three-quarters of the total population. The remaining people are citizens of other countries, mainly Italy, Spain, Portugal, and France. The vast majority of noncitizens are guest workers and their families. Switzerland, like many industrialized countries, is experiencing a declining birth rate and an overall slowing of the rate of population growth. The estimated growth rate in 2006 was only 0.43 percent. Current projections suggest Switzerland’s population will begin declining in the first decades of the 21st century. The Swiss people, with an average life expectancy of 80.5 years, are among the world’s longest lived. The country’s infant mortality rate (the number of infants per 1,000 who die before the age of 1) is 4, one of the world’s lowest.

Economy Of Switzerland

Switzerland has a highly developed industrialized economy and one of the highest standards of living in the world. Gross domestic product (GDP) in 2004 totaled $357.5 billion. Services constitute the dominant sector of the Swiss economy, with banking, insurance, tourism, government administration, and other services accounting for 72 percent of all employment. Industry, primarily manufacturing and construction, employs 24 percent. Switzerland’s domestic market is small, and most Swiss manufacturing is geared to the production of high-quality goods for export. Key exports include machinery and electronics; chemicals and pharmaceuticals; and watches, musical instruments, and jewelry. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing employ 4 percent of Swiss workers.