University city

Established side by side to the south-west of the greater urban area, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) and the University of Lausanne (UNIL) form a city of nearly 30'000 inhabitants during the day. They are situated near to the lake and benefit from good links to the m1 metro line.

Opening out onto the lake and enhanced with areas of greenery, Dorigny campus provides an exceptional setting. It is home not only to the buildings of the UNIL and EPFL, but also a number of research institutes, start-ups, bars, restaurants and a theatre. In addition to this, in 2010 the site gained a building that symbolises its taste for innovation: the Rolex Learning Center, a continuous undulating surface spread over an area of 20'000 square metres. Its structure is without equal and necessitated the use of new construction methods.

The two institutions have reception services to welcome students and teachers from all over the world. They will provide assistance with finding accommodation in particular. Numerous sporting and cultural activities are also on offer.

Dedicated to basic research, the Swiss federal institutes of technology concentrate on science and engineering, basic sciences, life sciences and architecture. They award degrees at bachelor, master and doctoral level in the same way as universities. There are just two of them (in Zurich and Lausanne) and they are placed under the sole responsibility of the Swiss Confederation, which guarantees their funding.

Switzerland has ten universities, all of which are the responsibility of the cantons. The University of Lausanne is financed by the canton of Vaud and by the Confederation. Registration fees are therefore modest compared to other countries. The UNIL numbers nine faculties. It fosters close links with the Vaudois University Hospital Centre (CHUV) and two renowned cancer research institutes (ISREC and the Ludwig Center). It offers courses in French for non-French speakers.