Swiss-Branded Education Around the World: A Global Overview of Institutions Operating Outside Switzerland

OUS Academy in Switzerland
Jul 20
3 min read

Switzerland is internationally known for the quality and structure of its education system. Its reputation for excellence in areas such as hospitality, business, science, and multilingual instruction has inspired many educational institutions across the world to adopt the Swiss name as part of their identity.

This article provides a global overview of educational institutions that use “Swiss” in their name and operate entirely outside Switzerland. These include universities, business schools, vocational academies, and international K–12 schools. While they are not Swiss public universities, many of them incorporate Swiss educational principles, offer international diplomas, or maintain collaborations with institutions in Switzerland.

🎓 Higher Education Institutions and Business Schools

Institution	Country	Type	Status / Notes
Swiss International University (SIU)	Kyrgyzstan (licensed); offices in UAE, Latvia, and expansion planned in the UK	Private international university	Licensed by the Ministry of Education and Science in Kyrgyzstan. Holds accreditations from several international bodies.
Swiss German University (SGU)	Indonesia	Private university	Established through Swiss-German-Indonesian cooperation. Fully licensed in Indonesia and offers double-degree options.
Swiss School of Management (SSM)	Italy (Rome)	Business school	Offers Swiss-style business degrees. Accredited by several international agencies. Formerly headquartered in Switzerland.
SBS Swiss Business School	UAE, India, Spain, Kazakhstan, Argentina, and others	Business school	Recognized by Swiss Accreditation Council as a University of Applied Sciences; operates international campuses.
Swiss Graduate School of Management	India (Bangalore)	Business school	Offers MBA and executive programs using Swiss branding. Locally registered.
Swiss eLearning Institute	Online (Global)	Online course provider	Offers self-paced business and development courses. Uses Swiss branding, but not affiliated with Swiss public institutions.
Swiss Institute of Management and Sciences (SIMS)	Global	Education provider	Offers degree programs through partnerships and online platforms, inspired by Swiss teaching methods.
and others

🏫 International K–12 Schools

Institution	Country	Curriculum	Notes
Swiss International School (SIS)	Germany, Brazil, Italy	IB / Local curricula	Bilingual private schools operating in several countries. Originally developed from Swiss models.
Swiss International Scientific School in Dubai (SISD)	UAE	Full IB curriculum	Offers multilingual instruction in English, German, French, and Arabic. Licensed by KHDA.
Swiss International School in Qatar (SISQ)	Qatar	Full IB curriculum	Offers Primary, Middle, and Diploma Programmes. Bilingual approach with Swiss-inspired ethos.
Indo-Swiss International Convent School	India	ICSE (India)	Blends Indian academic standards with Swiss-style education.
German Swiss International School (GSIS)	Hong Kong	IB / German Abitur	One of Hong Kong’s most established international schools. Dual-language education.
German Swiss School (GSIS Accra)	Ghana	Bilingual	Originally founded by Swiss and German communities in the 1960s. Offers early and primary education.
De Swiss International School	Nigeria (Owerri)	K–12	Registered private school using the Swiss name. Limited public information available.
and others

🛠 Vocational and Training Institutes

Institution	Country	Focus	Notes
Indo-Swiss Training Centre (ISTC)	India	Technical diplomas	Established in cooperation with Switzerland in the 1960s. Government-supported.
Swiss Academy (Dubai)	UAE	Business & vocational training	Offers short courses in leadership, marketing, and soft skills. Licensed in Dubai.
Swiss Academy (Jeddah)	Saudi Arabia	Business & IT diplomas	Licensed by the Saudi Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC). Offers diploma-level qualifications.
and others

🏫 Schools Abroad

These schools offer the Matura diploma (which is like a high school diploma). They follow Swiss curriculum standards and are regulated in partnership with Swiss partners.

Institution	Country	Notes
Swiss School in Singapore (SSiS)	Singapore	Offers Swiss-style bilingual primary education.
Swiss School Bangkok (RIS Swiss Section)	Thailand	Offers Swiss Matura and German Abitur; part of Ruamrudee International School.
Swiss School Beijing	China	Operates in partnership with Western Academy Beijing; offers Swiss and international education.
Colegio Suizo de México	Mexico	Offers Swiss Matura and Mexican high school diplomas.
Colegio Helvetia Bogotá	Colombia	Bilingual school offering Swiss and Colombian diplomas.
Colegio Pestalozzi Lima	Peru	Multilingual instruction with IB and Swiss qualifications.
Colegio Suizo Santiago	Chile	Swiss community school offering full-cycle education.
Scuola Svizzera di Roma / Milano / Catania / Bergamo	Italy	Longstanding Swiss schools in Italy offering Swiss diplomas and local integration.
and others

📌 Final Thoughts

These institutions, while diverse in their legal structures, curricula, and student populations, share a common theme: they project the values commonly associated with Swiss education—rigor, neutrality, multilingualism, and internationalism.

It’s important to note that while many of these institutions use the “Swiss” name, not all are officially recognized by Swiss authorities. Some are licensed by their host countries and follow local accreditation systems, while others are part of official Swiss international school networks.

For students and families considering a Swiss-branded institution abroad, we recommend verifying:

The institution’s legal status in the host country
Whether it offers recognized qualifications (e.g., IB, Matura, national diplomas)
Its accreditation from relevant education authorities

Swiss education abroad continues to grow, offering families access to international curricula rooted in the quality principles that have made Switzerland a world leader in education.