Franklin University Switzerland is a small, international university located in the southern Swiss city of Lugano. Founded in 1969, Franklin was among the first institutions to bring American Liberal Arts education to Europe. It is the only liberal arts university in the world accredited in the United States (MSCHE) and Switzerland. Following the Bologna Process guidelines, Franklin offers diploma supplements and transcripts reflecting European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits. It is the only university in Switzerland that offers a flexible, interdisciplinary, experiential-learning education, placing Academic Travel at the core of its curriculum.

Location: Franklin is located on a hillside above Lugano, the principal city of Switzerland’s southernmost Italian-speaking canton of Ticino.

Language of instruction: English.

Dual Accreditation

Franklin University Switzerland is accredited in the United States by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (1007 North Orange Street, 4th Floor, MB #166, Wilmington, DE 19801) and in Switzerland as University Institute by the Swiss Accreditation Council (Effingerstrasse 15, Postfach, 3001 Bern, Switzerland Tel.: +41 31 380 11 64)

The University has also been approved by the Chinese Ministry of Education 中华人民共和国教育部 as an accredited foreign university in China.

Find out more about Franklin's dual accreditation.

FALL 2023 CENSUS

The FUS faculty is a select group of accomplished scholars, respected researchers, and innovative thinkers. They obtained their PhDs at some of the most renown institutions worldwide such as: Princeton University / New York University / University of Chicago / University of St. Gallen / University of London / Université Paris

Meet our Faculty

Headcount: 413
Full-Time Equivalency: 400.8

On-campus: 341 (84%)
Off-campus: 64 (16%)

Freshmen graduation within 4 years: 58.2%
Freshmen graduation within 6 years: 63.6%

Countries Represented

North America (52%)
Canada / United States of America

Europe and Central Asia (33%)
Austria / Azerbaijan / Belgium / Bosnia / Bulgaria / Croatia / Cyprus / France / Georgia / Germany / Greece / Hungary / Italy / Kazakhstan / Kosovo / Latvia / Monaco / Norway / Poland / Portugal / Romania / Russia / Spain / Sweden / Switzerland / The Netherlands / Turkey / Ukraine / United Kingdom

Middle East and North Africa (6.5%)
Egypt / Iran / Jordan / Malta / Morocco / Oman / Saudi Arabia / Syria

Latin America and Caribbean (3.2%)
Argentina / Brazil / Cuba / Ecuador / Mexico / Panama / Peru / St. Kitts

Sub-Saharan Africa (1.9%)
Cameroon / Kenya / South Africa / Zimbabwe

East Asia and Pacific (1.3%)
China / Indonesia / Mongolia / South Korea / Taiwan

South Asia (1.1%)
India / Nepal / Pakistan

N.B. Students with dual nationality are counted twice in the percentage calculation.

Student Outcomes and Alumni Network

Outcomes and Alumni

Franklin University Switzerland graduates obtained full-time employment

75% 0-6 months after graduation
95% 0-12 months after graduation

Employers that have hired recent Franklin graduates

Al Faridah Publications / Arlen Group / Barclays PLC / Bloomberg LP / BMW / Boston Children’s Hospital / British Embassy / Dalma Capital Ltd. / Deloitte / Ernst & Young / Evernote / Fidelity Investments / Google / Hodgman Capital Partners / Houston Ind. School District / Human Rights Campaign / IBM / Leighton Broadcasting / Loro Piana / Milieu Law and Policy Consulting / Oasis500 / Peace Corps / Prince's Charity for Sustainable Development (UK) / Responsible Medial / Saudi Sanabel Company / US Department of State

Positions held by graduates within 1-3 years of graduation*

Account Manager / Analyst / CEO/CFO / Clinical Researcher / Communications Manager / Financial Consultant / Coordinator of Fundraising and Special Events / Director of Women’s Economic Empowerment / Financial Advisor / Global Health Specialist / Marketing Officer / Project Coordinator / Tax Consultant

Postgraduate university destinations (Masters/PhD)

Bocconi University / Boston University / Brandeis University / Columbia University / Diplomatic Academy, Vienna / ETH, Zurich / Franklin University Switzerland / Georgetown University / George Washington University / Harvard University / Hebrew University Jerusalem / IDC in Herzlia Israel / Johns Hopkins University / London School of Economics / McGill University / Moscow State University / New York University / Oxford University / San Diego State University / Simon Fraser University / Stanford University / Trinity University (Ireland) / Université de la Sorbonne / University College London / University of Illinois / University of Miami / University of San Diego / University of Southern California / University of St. Gallen / University of Texas at Austin / University of Waterloo / Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

Where Our Graduates Go

Meet the FUS top management. Office of the President, Board of Trustees, and President's Cabinet.

We are FUS. Discover the FUS story, the milestones, the mission, the vision, and the first 50 years of international academic excellence.

Expand your world with FUS. Choose an immersive environment of cross-cultural and multinational perspectives while earning a dual accredited academic degree.

WHAT MAKES UP FUS. LEARN HOW WE STRIVE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE THROUGH THE IDENTITY, PRINCIPLES, AND ETHICS OF OUR UNIVERSITY.

Start at FUS. Learn everywhere. Choose your international and interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts (BA) or of Science (BS) degree.

Discover also our:

Sharpen your skills. Become a responsible leader. Choose your international and interdisciplinary Master of Science in International Management (MSIM) degree.

Discover FUS and Switzerland. Choose your study abroad or visiting program and engage in an international educational learning adventure while exploring Europe.

Explore the FUS Academic Divisions. Choose from a diverse array of interdisciplinary curriculums, courses and programs taught by FUS international faculty.

INTRODUCING THE FUS FACULTY. RENOWNED ACADEMIC PROFESSIONALS COMING FROM A WIDE RANGE OF DISCIPLINARY AND MULTICULTURAL BACKGROUNDS.

Introducing the FUS Admissions team. Find your counselor, join FUS virtual information sessions and explore FUS college fair dates.

Join the FUS community. Discover all about how to apply to FUS through a seamless enrollment procedure supported by our Admissions representatives.

FUS financial policies. Take a look at FUS tuition, payment policies and options in both Swiss Francs and US Dollars.

FUS financial aid. FUS is commited to encouraging your dreams and studies. Learn if you are eligible to request a scholarship or financial support.

FUS Admissions and Covid-19. All you need to know for an agile enrollment and a well-prepared start of classes.

Consumer Information at Franklin University Switzerland. Essential knowledge for informed decision-making and optimized educational experience.

FUS sweet home. Discover every corner of our cozy but international and multicultural campus in the heart of Europe.

MAXIMIZE YOUR FUS EXPERIENCE IN A SAFE LIVING AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. EXPLORE LUGANO AND JOIN THE MANY STUDENT ACTIVITIES.

Introducing the Office of Student Life team. The FUS community is always by your side. Discover OSL's main informational, cultural, and social activities and services.

The Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

The FUS Green Office

INNOVATION IN THE ARTS AND SCIENCES. TAKE A TOUR OF FRANKLIN’S ONGOING PROGRAMS

FUS living and eating options. Discover the seven unique residence halls and the two savory dining offers on the FUS campus.

Feed your mind at FUS. Visit the David R. Grace library for an immersive learning environment or purchase a FUS publication or memory from the bookstore.

Fuel your learning journey at FUS! Explore the bookstore for essential course textbooks, pick up some basic stationery, or purchase a piece of FUS merchandise to keep the Franklin spirit alive.

Get in FUS shape. FUS promotes indoor and outdoor physical fitness through the Tone Athletic Center and several external sport activities.

Learn more about the people and resources available to help students be healthy at Franklin.

Academic support and training. Improve your learning and writing skills with workshops and tutoring at the FUS Writing Learning Center.

The Office of the Registrar provides registration and transcript services to students and alumni, as well as maintaining and verifying academic data for every student that has studied at Franklin.

Going the distance after FUS. Participate in hands-on career planning and workshops to prepare for a bright and challenging future after life at FUS.

Basic Facts and Figures

Dual Accreditation

FALL 2023 CENSUS

Countries Represented

Student Outcomes and Alumni Network