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Field · Social Sciences · Switzerland

Social Sciences research in Switzerland

University of Zurich ranks first in Switzerland for Social Sciences research in 2022–2025 (#56 worldwide), followed by ETH Zurich and University of Lausanne.

Switzerland's world rank
#19
of 151 countries, 2022–2025
Works, 2022–2025
16k
Top-10% rate
22.5%
Ranked institutions
38

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 #5654.030.3%1,610
2ETH ZurichZurich #15342.640.4%676
3University of LausanneLausanne #20239.427.5%1,277
4University of GenevaGeneva #26336.424.2%1,114
5University of BernBern #31434.427.3%1,001
6University of FribourgFribourg #48529.420.0%569
7University of BaselBasel #64726.124.5%627
8University of St.GallenSaint Gallen #84623.026.4%434
9Amt für ArchäologieFrauenfeld #85323.010.6%94
10Università della Svizzera italianaLugano #1,03120.834.9%196
11Graduate Institute of International and Development StudiesGeneva #1,08720.225.0%462
12University of NeuchâtelNeuchâtel #1,17319.326.8%274
13HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western SwitzerlandDelémont #1,61515.727.3%134
14FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern SwitzerlandWindisch #1,76814.625.2%222
15École Polytechnique Fédérale de LausanneLausanne #1,79514.426.6%234
16University of LucerneLucerne #1,85714.117.0%324
17Zurich University of Teacher EducationZurich #2,00513.217.7%305
18World Health OrganizationGeneva #2,17612.243.7%105
19Bern University of Applied SciencesBern #2,19712.119.5%210
20ZHAW Zurich University of Applied SciencesWinterthur #2,26111.825.5%172
21University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern SwitzerlandManno #3,0798.323.0%95
22Pädagogische Hochschule BernBern #3,3537.323.7%103
23Haute École Pédagogique du Canton de VaudLausanne #3,5776.610.6%184
24Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and ArtsLucerne #3,6266.414.3%207
25FORS – Swiss Centre of Expertise in the Social SciencesLausanne #3,8205.836.9%61
26Victoria School of ManagementNeuchâtel #3,9315.519.3%98
27International Organization for MigrationGeneva #4,0115.313.5%147
28OST - Ostschweizer FachhochschuleRapperswil #4,2034.714.5%61
29EU Business School, GenevaGeneva #4,2924.511.7%164
30University of Teacher Education LucerneLucerne #4,6063.720.5%95
31International Labour OrganizationGeneva #4,6883.517.1%87
32Zurich University of Applied Sciences in Business AdministrationZurich #4,7123.411.0%119
33HES-SO GenèveGeneva #4,8863.012.5%89
34Département de la Santé et de l'Action SocialeLausanne #5,0282.77.3%172
35Musée d'Art et d'HistoireGeneva #5,777111.02.8%123
36Service de Santé de la JeunesseGeneva #6,05657.06.2%80
37Federal Supreme Court of SwitzerlandLausanne #6,31010.02.0%84
38Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (Switzerland)Basel #6,3591.00.7%70

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, Ernst Fehr and Peter Ulrich rank highest among researchers based in Switzerland.

  1. 1Frank Schimmelfennig#3,254 worldwide overall782 citations · 103 works
  2. 2Ernst Fehr#14,824 worldwide overall1.9k citations · 90 works
  3. 3Peter Ulrich#128,743 worldwide overall254 citations · 104 works
  4. 4Samantha Besson#134,327 worldwide overall125 citations · 111 works
  5. 5Mike S. Schäfer#138,988 worldwide overall264 citations · 81 works
  6. 6Bruno S. Frey#148,387 worldwide overall1.5k citations · 153 works
  7. 7Bernard Schneuwly#156,589 worldwide overall114 citations · 107 works
  8. 8Daniel Peraya#222,829 worldwide overall92 citations · 78 works
  9. 9Perfecto Andrés Ibáñez#282,296 worldwide overall5 citations · 85 works
  10. 10Rolf Becker#328,907 worldwide overall194 citations · 89 works
  11. 11Jean-Paul Bronckart#356,395 worldwide overall87 citations · 80 works
  12. 12Andreas Ladner#369,175 worldwide overall103 citations · 80 works
  13. 13Rolf Dubs#370,991 worldwide overall41 citations · 93 works
  14. 14Yanina Welp#378,115 worldwide overall51 citations · 82 works
  15. 15Wolfgang Wohlers#433,742 worldwide overall7 citations · 97 works

How Switzerland compares with other countries in Social Sciences