Basel University:
Focus on Life Sciences & Culture

Erich Thaler (Programme Coordinator) International Affairs at University of Basel tells Indo-Swiss Business Magazine about the uniqueness of Switzerland's oldest university, its spirit of universality and the global culture that it spreads through quality educatrion. Excerpts.

What are the unique features of your university that give the students a cutting-edge in a competitive world?
The University of Basel was founded in 1460. It is the oldest university in Switzerland. We pride ourselves on a tradition of over five hundred years of excellence in teaching, learning, and research, during which we have adopted a forward-looking approach to new developments in science to provide high-quality education and underpin our well-deserved reputation as a university capable of attracting staff and students from all over the world.
Located in the heart of Basel, and drawing on innovation anchored in tradition, the University of Basel is dynamic and innovative. We offer a broad range of attractive undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, access to reputable international research networks, and provide a wide range of services to students and the community. Most recently, we have undertaken a major review of our programmes to align these with the Bologna Declaration of the European Ministers of Education to enhance inter-disciplinarity, promote networked research, and increase the international scope and reputation of the University.
Research at the University of Basel focuses on “Life Sciences” and “Culture“. Both core areas comprise a wide range of projects, involving research staff and scientists committed to interdisciplinary work and a cross-faculty approach to advancing our knowledge of life and the workings of culture.
The University of Basel is committed to providing state-of-the-art education and to facilitating outstanding research. Our key strategic aim is to develop, enhance, and sponsor research which has acknowledged standards of excellence, and to provide an atmosphere and infrastructure commensurate with that objective.

How well are the students groomed during their course period so as to face the future in terms of career?
University Basel is a relatively small university with a little bit more than 10.000 students and 260 full professors + their staff of assistant teachers. This results in an excellent tutorship ratio for students and professors. Small groups also in world wide top ranked study fields as bio-technology, nanoscience or social science will rarely see more than 30 or 40 students per class. Thus, education is quality based. Apart from the student mobility office that helps students with all questions pertaining to their studies, senior students are available to help with more specific questions and also represent the first important contact for students from abroad. When leaving the university again, the Basel alumni Network offers the ideal platform for further contact, exchange of information and assistance to students that only enter the professional world. Students, by the way, from the research heavyweights in Basel are recruited already time before they end their studies.

How has campus life been made conducive to get the best out of each student? Are their any extra-curricular activities that can meet the creative needs of the students?

Basel University lies right in the center of Basel and is totally integrated into its life.
There is a number of associations driven by the University or by single institutes that take care of students that are interested in joining them. Activities are organized following their own schedule. Sports is an important option to get to know new friends. Excursions to lakes, mountains, diving, surfing, hiking and riding mountain bikes all these sports and more are available for every student and teacher at the University.

Could you give us an insight into courses available to the general public that constitute a distinctive feature of the university?
Uni Basel has created the so-called “Café Scientifique” and offers, once in a month, a university afternoon for children.
The Café Scientifique is for the general public that likes to receive more information on current research topics (like nanoscience) or to hear university staff speak about current topics (like climate change).
Uni Basel also goes outside the city and organizes, in smaller towns and villages, lectures for those who are not able to commute to the city itself.

Does a foreign student exchange programme exist here?
Uni Basel is very well integrated into the European student exchange programs. Though not being a member of the European Union university and student ties are very strong across borders. As for your reference you may visit www.eucor.org that associates five universities from Germany, France and Basel/Switzerland under one common name.
There are links and exchange programs with non-European universities. With the US, with Japan, Australia and some other countries. India is not yet presented too much. Researchers and institutes that would like to initiate joint programs are more than welcome to write or to visit. Students that look for master and doctorate programs in the designated areas are welcome to apply. All joint program initiatives are welcome!

Does the university provide the needy students the “earn while you learn” opportunity?
As a student, you have the opportunity, from the 2nd year of your stay on, to work during 15 hours per week. Fulltime during the vacation period. Pay is roughly 13.00 EUR per hour.

How affordable are the courses in general and especially for foreign students?
Uni Basel attaches a high importance on quality and excellence. Not the country counts, but best performance. For this, student fees are the same for Swiss and non-Swiss students. Roughly 450.00 EUR per semester.
Any message you would like to give to students…
Come to Switzerland and discover a highly innovative country with friendly people and lots of good weather (Basel is the city with the most sunny days in Switzerland!)
If you are a hard working person and if you strive for excellence in your profession and in your personal life Switzerland will be the right place for you. And Basel the most promising start.