Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a federal parliamentary republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. Switzerland's independence and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers. Switzerland is a peaceful, prosperous, and stable modern market economy with low unemployment.

The PhD is a doctoral degree, specifically called a "doctor of philosophy" degree. This is misleading because PhD holders are not necessarily philosophers (unless they earned their degree in philosophy!). That said, PhD recipients are able to engage in thought experiments, reason about problems, and solve problems in sophisticated ways.

Full time studies are studies that require a student to attend classes on a daily basis, usually for at least four hours a day. The main benefit of full time studies is that it allows students to complete their studies in a shorter period of time. This can be beneficial for those who are looking to graduate more quickly or enter the workforce sooner.