Spend a semester in Switzerland and participate in the International Class at the St.Gallen University of Teacher Education (PHSG). Every spring, the PHSG welcomes pre-service teachers from around the world to discover Swiss culture, gain valuable teaching experience in local schools and connect with fellow students from diverse backgrounds. Improve your skills, broaden your perspectives, and explore the beauty of Eastern Switzerland – an unforgettable chapter in your academic journey.
The St.Gallen University of Teacher Education (PHSG) offers an International Class during the spring semester. The PHSG welcomes pre-service teachers from all over the world. The main aim of the International Class is to get to know Switzerland from the inside as a student of teacher education. Courses, teaching activities, excursions, interviews and tandem work are all designed to prepare future pre-primary, primary and secondary school teachers.
lnteract with local and international students, teachers and staff
Expand your knowledge and specialization in pedagogical studies
Strengthen your skills for teaching in English
Optionally acquire basic German language skills
Gain first-hand insight into teaching practices in the Swiss public school system
Unique combination of academic courses and practical activities (e,g, language teaching skills, course in basic German language skills, English literature, film studies, arts and design, and sports)
Weekly external day on topics such as Switzerland's official languages, industry around Lake Constance, Swiss culture and its natural environment
Participation in two intensive trans-curricular weeks together with PHSG students
Opportunity to complete a two-week internship at a local school
Completion of at least one year of university studies at the home institution
Commitment to stay for the full term (early February – end of May)
Good oral and written English skills (minimum level B2 of the Common European Reference of Languages described in the European Language Portfolio, which corresponds, for example, to the Cambridge First Certificate of English)
Submission of a formal application including a motivation letter in English
Personal portable computer required
Previous teaching experience is an advantage (but not mandatory)
The PHSG applies the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). One credit corresponds to 25–30 hours of workload. Over the course of the semester, students can accumulate up to 30 ECTS credits, depending on the number and type of courses they choose.
During your stay in the International Class at PHSG you should expect the following mandatory expenses.
| External days | 250 CHF |
| School books, materials and copies | 200 CHF |
| Travelling to internship school | 120 CHF |
| Accommodation (example: 550 - 600 CHF per month) | 2200 - 2400 CHF |
all amounts in Swiss Francs (CHF)
In addition, your personal living costs may vary depending on your lifestyle.
Typical expenses include:
| Food and groceries |
| Public transport and travelling |
| Leisure activities (cinema, sports, culture) |
| Personal items and groceries |
(This list is not complete and serves only as an orientation.)
PHSG students often share flats, and exchange students may be able to join one of these. Alternatively, private accommodation can be rented at an average cost of around CHF 600 (≈ EUR 600) per month. The International Office will be happy to assist you in finding suitable housing.
For international students coming to Switzerland, it is compulsory to have valid health insurance. Please make sure you are appropriately insured for the duration of your stay.
Further information on Swiss health insurance requirements can be found here:
The ESN Guide (Erasmus Student Network) is a practical handbook for exchange students in Switzerland. It provides useful information about daily life – from culture, food, and leisure activities to financial matters and local do’s and dont's.
Further information on studying and living in Switzerland can be found here:
Ready to start your Swiss teaching adventure? The program takes place every spring semester between calendar weeks 8 and 21.
Apply by 31 October (every year) to secure your place in the next International Class and make it a semester to remember.
The St.Gallen University of Teacher Education (PHSG) employs more than 300 lecturers and trains around 1,400 students to become pre-primary, primary, and secondary school teachers. With campuses in St.Gallen, Rorschach, and Gossau, the PHSG offers a unique learning atmosphere that combines modern facilities with historical buildings such as Mariaberg and Hadwig.
Bachelor of Arts in Primary Education
Bachelor-Master of Arts in Secondary Education
Bachelor-Master of Science in Secondary Education
Consecutive Master Degrees in Early Childhood, Curative Education and School Development
Our programmes emphasise the close link between theory and practice, with substantial classroom experience at local schools. In addition, the PHSG is home to one of Switzerland’s leading centres for research, development, and consulting in education.
You can find more information on our website:
The university's historic Mariaberg building is located in the town of Rorschach, around five minutes from the town centre and railway station. Rorschach, with a population of approximately 9,000, enjoys a privileged location directly on the shores of Lake Constance. People come from far and wide to visit the town and stroll along the lakeside promenade. Like other Swiss towns and cities, Rorschach has excellent public transport.
The Hadwig building is located in the city of St.Gallen's attractive museum neighbourhood. With museums, libraries, the theatre and the concert hall right on the periphery of the town centre, this location offers direct access to a wide variety of the arts and to the vibrant life of central St.Gallen. There is plenty on offer for lovers of culture, including the abbey library (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and cathedral of St.Gallen, as well as numerous galleries, restaurants, cafes and shops, St.Gallen is an economically important region and its renowned business school, the University of St.Gallen, enjoys an outstanding reputation far beyond the borders of Switzerland
For more information on regional tourism, please see the following link:
The surrounding region offers a virtually limitless range of leisure activities, including wonderful recreational areas on Lake Constance, the beautiful mountain scenery of Appenzell and the Graubünden Alps as well as the Alpstein/Säntis massif. The cities of Bregenz, Munich and Zurich are all within easy reach. With its four national languages and language-regions, Switzerland is home to a very unique and rich cultural diversity.
For any further questions or additional information, please contact our International Office. We look forward to supporting you with your application and your stay at the University of Teacher Education PHSG.
