The University of Liechtenstein is a public university that is both publicly and privately funded. For more than 50 years, it has been educating professionals for both the domestic and the international economy. The university’s academic focus is divided into the two areas of business economics and architecture & planning.
Beautiful Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein is the 6th smallest state in the world located in the heart of Europe right between Switzerland and Austria. Despite its size, its impact on European activities is remarkable. It can be proud of its prosperous economy and diverse industry with many small businesses. All in all there are around 37.000 citizens and this number Liechtenstein offers 35.000 employment opportunities, which is a huge amount.
Industry and business in Liechtenstein
High quality and significant development of industry may be a little surprising if we consider the lack of natural resources in this country. However, around 40 % of all citizens are employed in the industrial sector. What’s more, the country has one of the highest gross domestic products per capita worldwide. It is home to many start-ups as well as many well-known companies such as Hilti, Swarovski, ThyssenKrupp or Hoval. There are actually more registered companies in Liechtenstein than citizens. Even members of the royal family are successful entrepreneurs.
What can you study here?
The university is divided into two faculties and four institutes. You can choose from a variety of fields to study:
- Architecture
- Business Administration
Master’s degree:
- Architecture
- Entrepreneurship
- Finance
- Information Systems
Doctoral degree:
- Architecture and Planning
- Business Economics
The education system works similarly to other European institutions – you collect ECTS credits. Same as at other European universities you also get a chance here to spend one or two semesters abroad through the Erasmus exchange programme.
More information at www.uni.li
General information about the university
Another quality of Liechtenstein lies in its education system. So let’s get back to where we began – the University of Liechtenstein.
The university is located in the capital, in Vaduz. It is surrounded by the Upper Rhine Valley which provides the region with great nature. You can find students here from more than 40 countries so both the campus and the city itself are very cosmopolitan places. The easiest way to get there from abroad is via the nearest international airport which is Zurich. It takes about an hour to get to Vaduz from there.
Partnerships with around 80 universities worldwide ensure international network – the Master's degree programme in Information Systems is a good example for the degree of internationality. There are max. 35 students enrolled in this programme every year, currently of more than 20 different nations. With its two majors in Business Process Management and Data Science the programme offers two highly attractive specializations, which meets a huge demand in companies both in Liechtenstein and abroad. The programme is directed by the Hilti endowed Chair of Business Process Management, Prof. Dr. Jan vom Brocke. This setup assures both academic rigour and consideration of industry demands in the curriculum design.
Outside your education, the university also takes care of scientific training and a lot of research. Here are some examples: Data Science and Business Process Management at the Institute of Information Systems, Sustainable Planning and Building at the Institute of Architecture and Planning, Growth and Complexity at the Institute for Entrepreneurship and last but not least Wealth Management at the Institute for Finance Services.
A little to be considered before you apply
Although this all is extremely tempting, you have to think about a couple of facts before you apply. Naturally, there are certain requirements for applicants. Probably the most important one is the language. As the Bachelor programmes are taught only in German, German of C1 level and English of B2 level are required. But do not despair if your German doesn’t approach such qualities. You can still apply for Master’s programmes in Information Systems, Finance or Architecture as they are entirely taught in English. The required level of your English is B2. Another fact worth mentioning is the low tuition fees. They are the same for all programmes and all students regardless your nationality. The price is 850 Swiss francs, which is actually not so expensive compared to other European universities.
Student life
As we all know, university is not just about studying. First of all, the university helps its new students quite a lot. For example there are Facebook groups for newbies through which you can contact each other, discuss events, ask for help and so on. There are also organizations offering much more than this.
You should definitely get in touch with the one called Spinnerei. It is something similar to a student club or a student office. Every semester they arrange an introduction week when they show you around, introduce you to other freshmen and explain how it all works at your new school. During the rest of the semester they organize parties and excursions, sometimes a barbeque or a ball and they regularly gather people for sports and games. Spinnerei is also not the only one. You can join organizations such as Start or Aiesec, you can participate on events with the Trading Club or UniSport and later you can take part in the Buddy Programme too and provide help to new students yourself.
Marina Maschler works as an IT specialist at Hilti Cooperation in Schaan, Liechtenstein: „As part of my studies in Innsbruck I did an internship at Hilti, so I knew early on that I would be happy at this company. After my Bachelor I was accepted into the Hilti Fellowship program at the University of Liechtenstein.“ She noticed that more and more women are attracted to technical areas: „I have witnessed first-hand how the ratio of women in the IT sector is constantly rising. When I first started at Hilti, I was the only woman in my team and now there are four of us. “
How much does it all cost?
As mentioned before, the tuition fees are 850 Swiss francs per semester. If you decide to study here, you will logically need a place to live in, too. The university offers student dormitories – single or double rooms on-campus – which offer close contact with other students. Prices of such are between 350 and 560 Swiss francs per month. You can also decide to find your own accommodation. The rent is usually about 560 francs per month. You have to count on other expenses, too – food, books, sports, parties… - the average cost of living for students in Liechtenstein is approximately 1 300 francs per month. Be aware that this price depends a lot on you and therefore it may vary.
A great money saving option is actually living, shopping and going out in Austria. The nearest Austrian town, Feldkirch, is only 10 km from campus, so many students do that.
If you worry about the fees and high cost of living, you may appreciate that classes in some programmes, e.g. The MSc Information Systems, only take place on Thursdays and Fridays which gives you flexibility for a part-time work. With such a well-known university you won’t have a problem with employment anywhere near there. There is even 100 % employment rate for graduates at the Rhine Valley Region.
