St.Gallen is situated between
the Swiss Alps and Lake Constance, surrounded by a picturesque landscape. The
beginnings of the settlement date back to the monk St Gallus. In 612, he
established a hermitage by the River Steinach, which after his death evolved
into a place of pilgrimage. In 719, the Alemannic monk Otmar founded a monastery
in honour of Gallus, and named it St.Gallen. The Abbey District with the
cathedral and the Abbey Library – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – can still be
visited today.
International fashion metropolis
The city’s economic boom began
during the Reformation with the growth of the textile industry. As
industrialisation progressed, the first embroidery machines were developed in
St.Gallen. At the beginning of the 20th century St.Gallen was the centre of the
high period of embroidery and became an international fashion metropolis. The
founding of the University of St.Gallen in 1898 as a trade academy occurred
during this time. In 1910, 50% of the world’s embroidered goods were produced
in St.Gallen. Textiles for haute couture are still produced in St.Gallen and
distributed throughout the world.
Traditional and modern
The narrow streets of the old
town provide an excellent place to wander, with numerous shops, restaurants and
cafes. The modern town of St.Gallen also has rich cultural offerings, with
theatres, museums and concert halls. St.Gallen has an excellent infrastructure
with good connections to the Swiss railway network and is located only an hour
from Zurich Airport.
St.Gallen is “young”
St.Gallen is very popular with
young people and is among the cities with the youngest population in
Switzerland. According to the 2011 Statistical Yearbook, St.Gallen, with 17.2%
of its population in the 20-29-year age bracket, is even the frontrunner in
this respect. With approx. 14% of the population in that age bracket bigger
cities like Zurich and Basel are clearly lagging behind!
Switzerland
As a federal republic with a
system of direct democracy, Switzerland enjoys a high level of political
stability. This allows for a productive economy and a high standard of living.
Location
Switzerland is situated in Western Europe. Due to its central location, the country represents an interface between different cultures and a centre of communication and transport between Northern and Southern Europe.
Culture
Swiss culture is influenced by
its geographic location, its multilingualism and its impressive diversity in
architecture, art, literature, film, music and traditions.
Politics
As a federal republic with a
system of direct democracy, Switzerland enjoys a high level of political
stability. Its position as a neutral country allows it to play a meaningful
role in international affairs and to act as an intermediary between conflicting
parties.
Economy
The Swiss economy is based on its
highly-skilled and well-educated workforce. Important areas of the economy
include microtechnology, high-tech fields, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and
expertise in the banking and insurance industries.
Visa
Depending on their country of
origin, international students will require a visa for their stay in
Switzerland. They must apply for a visa as soon as possible at the Swiss
Embassy in their home country.
Insurance
Students are required to
obtain Swiss health insurance unless their current policy is accepted by the
Swiss authorities. Policies are available with monthly premiums starting at CHF
100.
Facts and figures about Switzerland
- High percentage of international residents: 23.3% of Swiss residents are of foreign origin
- One of the highest GDP per capita levels in the world: CHF 74,010
- A very low unemployment rate: 3.3%
- The most competitive economy in the world
- Zurich is the city with the second best quality of life in the world
- First place in the Global Competitiveness Report 2012
- First place in the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2007/2011/2013
- Companies are increasingly relocating their European headquarters to Switzerland in order to take advantage of its favourable economic conditions and living standards
Sources: IMF, SECO/OECD, World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report, Mercer Human Resource Consulting’s Quality of Living Survey.