OST has three sites: Rapperswil, St. Gallen and Buchs. (Additionally, some Master classes take place in Zurich.) Exchange students only choose one campus depending on their study program. You can find information about the location of each study program in the fact sheet (see Download area). 

• Campus Rapperswil:  Rapperswil with its Mediterranean holiday atmosphere is a beautiful town located on Lake Zurich, 30 minutes by train from Zurich. It is close to mountains and offers great possibilities for hiking and sports.
• Campus St.Gallen: St. Gallen with its picturesque old town and a rich historical heritage offers great cultural life and is close to Lake Constance.
• Campus Buchs: Buchs is wonderful for people who love mountains and the outdoors. Buchs is located in the border region between Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Austria.

In Rapperswil we offer rooms in the student dorm located 10 minutes by bus from campus and close to Lake Zurich (Oberseestrasse 99, Jona). You can apply for accommodation in your application if you are interested to stay at the student dorm.

For students staying in St.Gallen or Buchs the International Office can assist to find private housing.

Exchange students coming from partner universities do not pay tuition fees at OST. 

As a student from a European partner university, you will additionally receive a Swiss-European-Mobility Programme (SEMP) grant from us.    

The cost of living in Switzerland is high compared to its neighboring countries. You can find detailed information about living costs in Switzerland in the fact sheet.