Portrait FHNW

The hallmarks of the educational opportunities available at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) are diversity, practice-orientation, and market orientation. Our Diploma, Bachelor’s, and Master’s programmes, as well as our wide range of further education courses, convey the knowledge and skills that make our graduates much-sought-after professionals.

At its nine affiliated schools, FHNW delivers taught programmes in all fields of study as stipulated under federal law, with the exception of health and medicine. FHNW campuses are located in Aarau, Basel, Brugg-Windisch, Muttenz, Olten, and Solothurn. Over the next few years, four large-scale building projects will be undertaken to expand the existing sites with a view to creating a vibrant campus atmosphere providing a greater concentration of educational provision and resources.

Partnership and Cooperation

FHNW provides a total of 8’600 students (enrolled on undergraduate, graduate, and further education programmes) with access to Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes, applied research and development, services rendered to third parties, and a range of cooperations and collaborative arrangements with numerous universities and research institutes at home and abroad. At FHNW, our four key working areas are innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, national and international partnerships, and a cooperative atmosphere – for the benefit of our administrative staff, teaching faculty, and students alike.

We offer practice-oriented programmes, as full- or part-time options involving field training undertaken alongside academic coursework or as a combination of both formats. FHNW has been providing Bachelor’s programmes since 2005, and comprehensive Master’s programmes in all areas of study since 2009. We offer well-grounded and tailored further education opportunities, which provide outstanding possibilities for gaining qualifications designed to equip successful graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to rise to new professional challenges.

State-of-the-Art Research and Development

No university exists without research: here at FHNW, we attach great importance to applied research and development. Our nine affiliated schools cover a wide spectrum of scientific disciplines. Our research competencies and good infrastructure provide ideal conditions for exploring increasingly more complex questions in science, economics, politics, and society. Our staff and students offer their expert knowledge to the wider community through a range of customised services. 

Besides excellent intramural conditions, successful research also depends on well-developed regional, national, and international research networks. Examples include the numerous FHNW projects undertaken in conjunction with other universities, as well as our active involvement in European research programmes. FHNW research ventures emphasise the direct implementation of research findings and the strengthening of northwestern Switzerland as a vibrant hub of knowledge and industry.