What was MPs and SISA's reaction to the increase announcement?

The Movement for Socialism called the increase a 'political' rather than 'inevitable' choice, arguing that universities have shifted the cost of federal and cantonal cuts onto students. SISA noted that Ticino's tuition fees were already well above the Swiss average, fearing that the new amounts would become 'realistically unsustainable' for young trainees.

What are the concerns regarding Bilateral III?

MPs fears that the agreement between Switzerland and the EU will result in equalisation of tuition fees between European students and Swiss domiciliaries on the upside. This could cause further increases for resident students. MPs calls for a public discussion of these consequences, avoiding any parity achieved through increases for resident students.

What demands has the Movement for Socialism made?

MPs calls for the withdrawal of increases, the maintenance of strong public funding of USI and SUPSI, the renunciation of cantonal cuts under the 10% initiative, and a public discussion on the consequences of Bilateral III. MPs argues that public funding of education is a collective good and that alternatives to cuts exist.

How does Ticino compare with other cantons on university fees?

According to SISA, Ticino's tuition fees had long been well above the Swiss average before this increase. The announced increase further aggravates this geographical disparity, making Ticino less competitive for economic access to higher education.

What is the context of the cantonal cuts behind the tax increase?

The increases are part of the 10% initiative, linked to the implementation of sick cash subsidies at the cantonal level. According to MPs, the Canton of Ticino has chosen to pass on the costs of university education to students' families, instead of defending public funding or seeking new resources through more redistributive taxation.

MPs and SISA against the increase in university fees (cross-border guide)

Di Marco Ferrari · Published on 25 August 2026

Ticino students at USI campus in Lugano express concern over rising university tuition fees.

On August 25th, MPs and SISA protest against tax increases at USI and SUPSI. Ticino fees were already above the Swiss average; concern for Bilaterals III.

Context

In a nutshell

MPs and SISA dispute the increase in USE and SUPSI taxes (25 August 2026)
Ticino taxes were already above the Swiss average, points out SISA
MPs requests withdrawal and maintenance of public funding
Concern for Bilaterals III: could cause further increases

Key facts

What: Increase in tuition fees at USI and SUPSI
When: 25 August 2026
Where: Ticino (Lugano)
Who: Movement for Socialism (MPs), Independent Union of Student Apprentices (SISA)
Background: Cantonal cuts under the '10% initiative'
Concern: Bilateral III could lead to further increases
Request: Withdrawal of increases, public financing, bilateral discussions III

The announcement by USI and SUPSI about the increase in university fees sparked political protests in the Canton of Ticino. On August 25, 2026, the Movement for Socialism immediately protested, defining the choice as "political" and not "inevitable". According to MPs, universities have passed on the cost of federal and cantonal cuts directly to students and their families, rather than publicly contesting the cuts and claiming the resources needed for training.

The Independent Union of Students and Apprentices (SISA) added to the criticism, noting that "Ticino university fees have long been well above the Swiss average". Although universities promise “fair and inclusive access”, SISA fears that the new amounts

Operational details

The transfer of costs to students

The heart of the protest lies in the mechanism through which the Canton of Ticino faces the budget crisis. Rather than supporting public funding of university education, the cantonal and local administrations shifted the economic burden directly to students' families. The Movement for Socialism contests that this choice represents "the definition of public education". The MPs argues that there are "other ways": defending public funding, questioning cuts or "finding new resources through more redistributive taxation".

This transfer of costs is particularly significant considering that the cantonal cuts are part of the project called "10% initiative", linked to the implementation of sick cash subsidies (LAMal) at the cantonal level. In other words, federal social policy decisions end up directly impacting access to higher education at the regional level. According to the MPs, the universities "could have challenged the cuts and claimed the resources necessary for training, instead of intervening on the easier front"-that is, transferring the problem to family budgets.

Ticino taxes already high

SISA provided a critical figure: Ticino's tuition fees were already above the Swiss average before this increase. This means that students

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Key points

Concrete Consequences for Students and Families

Ticino students find themselves in a vulnerable position. An increase in university tuition is not an abstract matter of budgeting, but a reality that impacts concrete family decisions. For families just above the thresholds for access to cantonal subsidies (calculated using federal criteria similar to those of the LAMal), an annual increase of hundreds of francs per child in education entails difficult choices: postponing education, seeking work parallel to studies, or abandoning academic aspirations.

The Canton of Ticino remains a geographic exception in the Swiss landscape: university tuition was already high, and this increase makes it even less accessible. The impact does not only affect current students, but creates a ripple effect on participation in higher education in the coming years, with possible consequences for the region's professional competitiveness.

Political Divergences

The debate is deeply ideological. The Movement for Socialism argues that public funding of education is a collective good, and that the cuts represent a 'political choice' to downsize the welfare state. The cantonal administration (which approved the cuts) and university administrations (which implemented them through tuition increases) operate within real budget constraints, where every choice entails difficult trade-offs.

SISA does not directly oppose the right of universities to modify tuition, but calls for concrete guarantees that the promise of 'equitable and inclusive access' remains real and is concretized 'in support measures for students who cannot afford such amounts'. This represents an attempt to reconcile the financial sustainability of universities with the principle of equity.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What was MPs and SISA's reaction to the increase announcement?: The Movement for Socialism called the increase a 'political' rather than 'inevitable' choice, arguing that universities have shifted the cost of federal and cantonal cuts onto students. SISA noted that Ticino's tuition fees were already well above the Swiss average, fearing that the new amounts would become 'realistically unsustainable' for young trainees.
What are the concerns regarding Bilateral III?: MPs fears that the agreement between Switzerland and the EU will result in equalisation of tuition fees between European students and Swiss domiciliaries on the upside. This could cause further increases for resident students. MPs calls for a public discussion of these consequences, avoiding any parity achieved through increases for resident students.
What demands has the Movement for Socialism made?: MPs calls for the withdrawal of increases, the maintenance of strong public funding of USI and SUPSI, the renunciation of cantonal cuts under the 10% initiative, and a public discussion on the consequences of Bilateral III. MPs argues that public funding of education is a collective good and that alternatives to cuts exist.
How does Ticino compare with other cantons on university fees?: According to SISA, Ticino's tuition fees had long been well above the Swiss average before this increase. The announced increase further aggravates this geographical disparity, making Ticino less competitive for economic access to higher education.
What is the context of the cantonal cuts behind the tax increase?: The increases are part of the 10% initiative, linked to the implementation of sick cash subsidies at the cantonal level. According to MPs, the Canton of Ticino has chosen to pass on the costs of university education to students' families, instead of defending public funding or seeking new resources through more redistributive taxation.