World-class academies and institutions in the Life Sciences field and related areas, excellent vocational schools

The Basel area is home to universities and institutions that lead in Life Sciences and correlated subjects. These include Basel university, the ETH Department of Biosystems and Engineering (D-BSSE), the FHNW School of Life Sciences in Muttenz and the Basel University Hospital. The canton’s excellent vocational schools and training academies for young professionals work hand-in-hand with corporations and universities alike.

The Basel area boasts three universities of worldwide renown for Life Sciences: The ETH Department of Biosystems and Engineering (D-BSSE) in Basel, Basel University in partnership with the University Hospital and its departments for biomedicine and biomedical engineering. In the field of Life Sciences, both universities rank among the best of the world. The FHNW School of Life Sciences in Muttenz also ranks among the leading institutions.

All three leading universities also offer degree programs and research opportunities in correlated areas of science. Furthermore, numerous other institutes and schools such as the Friedrich Miescher Institut (FMI), the Haute école spécialisée de la Suisse occidentale (HES-SO), the Swiss Nanoscience Institute (SNI), the Swiss Institute for Computer Assisted Surgery (SICAS) and the international centre for agriculture and biosciences CAB International (CABI) offer education and research facilities in those fields.

The canton’s excellent vocational schools and training academies for young professionals work hand-in-hand with corporations and universities alike. They include the schools of vocational, commercial and industrial training in Liestal and Muttenz, the vocational healthcare school run jointly with Basel-City and the vocational centres for agriculture and business administration. The aprentas project is exemplary for the close cooperation between the vocational schools and industry representatives. It was founded in October 2000 by Ciba (now BASF Schweiz AG), Novartis and Syngenta. Currently, aprentas schools some 600 young professionals in its 15 scientific, technical or commercial training programmes. Participants work at the founder firms Novartis or Syngenta or at one of the over 70 member companies. 

ETH Life Sciences Ranking

• Times Higher Education / Shanghai-Ranking 2018: Rank 14
• QS World University Ranking 2018: Rank 45

Basel University Life Sciences Ranking

• Times Higher Education / Shanghai-Ranking: Top 125
• QS World University Ranking: Rank 63