Context

Petition against austerity measures in the education sector: Stop the doubling of tuition fees!

The Association of Swiss Student Bodies (VSS) is launching a petition against the federal government’s planned cost-cutting measures in the education sector. These measures not only jeopardise the quality of Swiss education, but also undermine equal opportunities and the future viability of our country.

Planned cost-cutting measures

Measure 1.5.1: Strengthening user financing in the ETH Domain

Description: As the owner of the ETH Domain, the Confederation bears a large part of the financing. The expert group recommends increasing tuition fees for domestic and foreign students. In concrete terms, this means doubling the tuition fees for all students in the ETH Domain.
Financial impact: The measure would lead to additional revenue of an estimated CHF 78 million. Of this, you as a domestic student would contribute around CHF 19 million and foreign students around CHF 59 million.
Relief for the federal government: The federal finances would be relieved by around CHF 78 million.

Measure 1.5.2: Strengthening user funding for cantonal universities

Description: Tuition fees at the cantonal universities and universities of applied sciences are to be increased. This means a doubling of fees for you as a domestic student and a quadrupling of fees for foreign students. At the same time, the federal government’s basic contributions to the universities are to be reduced.
Financial impact:
- Universities:
  - Current revenue: CHF 179 million with a foreign student share of 33.7%.
  - Additional income from fee increase: CHF 300 million (CHF 119 million from domestic students, CHF 181 million from foreign students).
  - Reduction in federal contributions: 20% of the potential additional income, i.e. CHF 60 million.
  - Current income: CHF 141 million with a foreign student share of 20.7%.
- Universities of Applied Sciences:
  - Additional income from fee increase: CHF 200 million (CHF 112 million from domestic students, CHF 88 million from foreign students).
  - Reduction in federal contributions: 30% of the potential additional income, i.e. CHF 60 million.

Measure 1.5.3: Strengthening user funding in the area of international mobility in education

Description: Financial support for student, pupil and apprentice exchange programmes is to be reduced by 10%. It will also be examined whether the lump sums for foreign students can be reduced more.
Relief for the Confederation: The measure aims to strengthen user financing without having a direct impact on the cantons.

Measure 2.9: Waiver of project-related contributions to cantonal universities

Description: The Confederation should waive project-related contributions to cantonal universities. To date, this funding has been channelled into specific projects at the universities, which are now to be discontinued in order to save federal funds.
Relief for the federal government: From 2026, this measure would lead to annual savings of around CHF 78 million.

Why you need to act

Education is our most valuable resource

In a country with no natural resources to speak of, education is our most important asset. It forms the basis for innovation, technological progress and economic growth. Any cutback in education is a cutback to your future and that of our country.

Short-term savings lead to long-term damage

The planned cost-cutting measures may bring financial relief in the short term, but they jeopardise the quality of education and Switzerland’s competitiveness in the long term. Investments in education pay off several times over: Studies show that every franc invested in education is returned up to five times over.

Worsening the shortage of skilled labour

Switzerland is already struggling with a significant shortage of skilled labour, which has increased by 24% in 2023. Higher tuition fees deter talented students like you and further exacerbate this problem. Students from socially disadvantaged families who can no longer afford to study are particularly affected.

Undermining equal opportunities

Education should not be a luxury good.An increase in tuition fees selects on the basis of financial background rather than talent and motivation.This leads to a social divide and an academic elite that offers hardly any access for people from lower and middle classes.

Weakening of Switzerland as a centre of innovation

International and innovative companies are dependent on highly qualified graduates. A reduction in student numbers and a possible exodus of talent jeopardise Switzerland’s position as a leading location for innovation.

Danger of an Anglo-American education system

The increase in tuition fees is a step towards the Anglo-American education system, in which high fees and student debt are the order of the day. This leads to social inequality and burdens graduates with high levels of debt.

Negative effects on international mobility

The reduction in funding for international exchange programmes impairs international networking and cultural exchange. In a globalised world, this is a step backwards and reduces the attractiveness of Swiss universities.

Additional financial burden on the cantons

The reduction in federal funding means that the cantons will have to close the financial gaps. This could lead to further cost-cutting measures or fee increases at cantonal level, which would exacerbate the problem.

Our Demands

To the National Council and Council of States:

Abandon the austerity measures in the education sector so as not to jeopardise quality and equal opportunities in the Swiss education system.

How you can help

Sign the petition: Take a stand against the austerity measures.
Share the petition: Draw attention to the issue in your network.
Contact your representatives: Write to your national and cantonal parliamentarians and share your concerns with them.

Timetable

End of September 2024: Presentation of the key figures of the savings programme
End of January 2025: Presentation of the proposal and start of the consultation process
End of March 2025: End of consultation.
June 2025: Parliamentary consultation.
24 June 2025 – 02 October 2025: Referendum period.
08 March 2026: Referendum vote.

Together for a strong education

The planned austerity measures jeopardise your future and that of Switzerland. Let’s work together to ensure that education remains accessible to all and that Switzerland remains a country of innovation and equal opportunities.