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Domain · Social Sciences · Switzerland

Social Sciences research in Switzerland

University of Zurich ranks first in Switzerland for Social Sciences research in 2022–2025 (#25 worldwide), followed by ETH Zurich and University of Lausanne.

Switzerland's world rank
#17
of 164 countries, 2022–2025
Works, 2022–2025
36k
Top-10% rate
21.3%
Ranked institutions
60

Research strength only: this says nothing about teaching, admissions or cost.

What is the best university for Social Sciences in Switzerland?

#InstitutionWorld rankScoreTop-10% rateWorks
1University of ZurichZurich #2565.228.0%3,656
2ETH ZurichZurich #14146.636.1%1,593
3University of LausanneLausanne #22441.624.0%2,628
4University of GenevaGeneva #24840.523.5%2,348
5University of BernBern #26939.623.6%2,374
6University of BaselBasel #37136.122.8%1,616
7University of FribourgFribourg #51132.719.2%1,355
8University of St.GallenSaint Gallen #58131.323.3%1,296
9University of NeuchâtelNeuchâtel #67529.725.5%626
10University of LucerneLucerne #94526.018.3%630
11Università della Svizzera italianaLugano #1,12224.229.4%499
12École Polytechnique Fédérale de LausanneLausanne #1,19123.524.5%620
13HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western SwitzerlandDelémont #1,23323.127.0%333
14Graduate Institute of International and Development StudiesGeneva #1,49121.125.4%678
15Bern University of Applied SciencesBern #1,61220.319.7%586
16World Health OrganizationGeneva #1,63520.143.0%238
17FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern SwitzerlandWindisch #1,64920.020.0%512
18Zurich University of Teacher EducationZurich #1,73919.419.9%579
19Amt für ArchäologieFrauenfeld #1,85918.713.2%172
20Swiss Finance InstituteZurich #2,20416.926.8%256
21ZHAW Zurich University of Applied SciencesWinterthur #2,33516.221.2%462
22Bank for International SettlementsBasel #2,55915.325.9%189
23OST - Ostschweizer FachhochschuleRapperswil #2,82114.212.8%156
24HES-SO GenèveGeneva #2,82914.215.5%169
25University Hospital of ZurichZurich #2,85514.125.5%167
26University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern SwitzerlandManno #3,25912.623.1%211
27University Hospital of GenevaGeneva #3,28212.627.3%127
28Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and ArtsLucerne #3,38412.212.8%601
29FORS – Swiss Centre of Expertise in the Social SciencesLausanne #3,50411.934.2%100
30University of Applied Sciences St. GallenSaint Gallen #3,72711.234.5%99
31HES-SO Valais-WallisSion #4,07910.229.1%86
32Swiss Federal University for Vocational Education and Training SFUVETZollikofen #4,2719.742.2%69
33EU Business School, GenevaGeneva #4,5519.112.0%366
34Human Computer Interaction (Switzerland)Zurich #4,5629.024.3%83
35Victoria School of ManagementNeuchâtel #4,5928.917.4%184
36Zurich University of Applied Sciences in Business AdministrationZurich #4,6908.77.8%367
37Business School LausanneChavannes #4,8368.429.4%87
38Pädagogische Hochschule BernBern #4,9838.120.2%172
39Haute École Pédagogique du Canton de VaudLausanne #4,9948.112.0%265
40St.Gallen University of Teacher EducationSaint Gallen #5,1597.729.1%98
41University Hospital of BernBern #5,1957.618.1%149
42Zurich University of the ArtsZurich #5,2387.514.1%185
43Département de la Santé et de l'Action SocialeLausanne #5,3567.37.0%230
44Roche (Switzerland)Basel #5,4947.017.1%102
45International Labour OrganizationGeneva #5,6316.822.2%137
46University Hospital of BaselBasel #5,6996.625.4%85
47GesundheitsdienstBern #5,8336.44.2%97
48International Committee of the Red CrossGeneva #5,9066.221.1%62
49International Organization for MigrationGeneva #6,1115.913.8%186
50University of Teacher Education in Special NeedsZurich #6,4365.323.4%75
51International Institute for Management DevelopmentLausanne #6,5065.216.5%137
52Centre universitaire de médecine générale et santé publique, LausanneLausanne #6,5215.217.8%78
53University of Teacher Education LucerneLucerne #6,8144.721.6%148
54World Trade OrganizationGeneva #6,8574.624.1%130
55Swiss School of Public HealthZurich #6,8884.624.8%91
56Union Bank of SwitzerlandZurich #7,0474.311.4%72
57University of Applied Sciences of the GrisonsChur #7,2224.19.5%86
58Swiss National BankBern #7,2814.020.4%72
59University Hospital of LausanneLausanne #7,4833.79.4%107
60Swiss ArchaeologyBasel #7,5143.68.3%122

Institutions in Switzerland above the floor of 40 fractional works in Social Sciences, ordered by their worldwide rank on research quality, 2022–2025.

Who are the top Social Sciences researchers in Switzerland?

Frank Schimmelfennig, Hyun Song Shin and Richard Baldwin rank highest among researchers based in Switzerland.

  1. 1Frank Schimmelfennig#3,254 worldwide overall782 citations · 117 works
  2. 2Hyun Song Shin#3,383 worldwide overall1.6k citations · 118 works
  3. 3Richard Baldwin#6,774 worldwide overall1.2k citations · 147 works
  4. 4Elisabeth Bronfen#10,685 worldwide overall268 citations · 168 works
  5. 5Ernst Fehr#14,824 worldwide overall1.9k citations · 166 works
  6. 6Jan‐Egbert Sturm#20,874 worldwide overall620 citations · 115 works
  7. 7Brian Vickers#61,713 worldwide overall148 citations · 125 works
  8. 8Willibald Ruch#90,835 worldwide overall575 citations · 124 works
  9. 9Oliver Gassmann#104,278 worldwide overall637 citations · 204 works
  10. 10Peter Ulrich#128,743 worldwide overall254 citations · 161 works
  11. 11Samantha Besson#134,327 worldwide overall125 citations · 128 works
  12. 12Bruno S. Frey#148,387 worldwide overall1.5k citations · 373 works
  13. 13Bernard Schneuwly#156,589 worldwide overall114 citations · 156 works
  14. 14Manfred Bruhn#158,855 worldwide overall705 citations · 386 works
  15. 15Andreas Maercker#234,630 worldwide overall463 citations · 137 works

How Switzerland compares with other countries in Social Sciences