Studying | Healthcare | Accommodation | Travel | Visa | Student Voice
Swiss institutions operate largely on a system of exchange agreements with foreign schools. For a list of Swiss institutions of higher education check out The Swiss Education and Research Network, and then contact the university directly to obtain further information. As soon as a Swiss university is contacted by the university where the foreign student is registered, it will send the appropriate forms, including housing information, directly to the student. Switzerland does participate in the European Socrates Erasmus exchange program, and in most cases, Erasmus students pay the registration fees to their origin institution.
To facilitate mobility and academic recognition, most institutions within Switzerland have adopted the European Credit Transfer System.
In order to study in Switzerland, you are required to participate in a Swiss health insurance plan. However, for students participating in an exchange program like Erasmus or a bilateral agreement for a period not exceeding 12 months, it is possible to maintain health insurance from your place of origin, if it guarantees the same coverage. To benefit from this exception, you must contact the socio-cultural affairs office of the university and submit an attestation of foreign insurance. When covered by Swiss health insurance, all medical costs are reimbursed (not including dental costs).
Note: Students coming from countries where health risks exist may be asked to have a medical exam at the university medical centre.
Students can get information from the Bureau des Logements et Restaurants Universitaires (BLRU) which rent rooms, studios, and small apartments to students.
Alternative accommodation in the form of standard University style halls is available from the Cité Universitaire. Unlike British universities, priority is not given to first year students, and Swiss students also apply for such accommodation as it is so cheap. As such, you'll find yourself living with 3rd and 4th years and a lot of international students.
Tip: Write off early for application forms from the Cité as numbers are limited. Forms usually have to be received by midsummer.
The method of travel to and from your host destination will obviously depend on where you are travelling from. You may wish to take a train or coach if the distance is relatively small, though the majority of students prefer to fly out, especially at the beginning of the year, because it is easier.
The Swiss national railway is the CFF. Like many other things in Switzerland, train tickets are fairly expensive. However, investing in a demi-tariff (50% discount card), which is valid for 12 months, and also for use on trams, some cable cars and ferries, will help you save some money while exploring the delights of the country. See the CFF website for more information.
EU citizens do not need visas to enter Switzerland. However, after arriving, they must present themselves to the police department's services for foreigners in order to obtain a residency authorisation for students.
Student visas
These must be obtained for citizens of the following countries:
Europe: Cyprus, Malta, Turkey, and all Eastern countries
Africa: all countries
Asia: all countries except Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore
Oceania: all countries except New Zealand, Fiji, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands
The Americas: all countries except Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Do not begin your studies with a tourist visa or you will encounter serious difficulties for the remainder of your stay. All foreign students must present themselves within ten days of arrival to the appropriate authorities in the town where you will be living. After matriculating in the university, you must pay fees for the first semester. You will not be definitively registered until you have done this and received the receipt by post. With this receipt, you must visit the town authorities a second time to prove that you are officially registered in the university.
Residence Tax
All foreign students with B permits must pay a residence tax, without exception. All other students must pay around 7% of their monthly rent for residence tax, which includes a community tax of 6% and a cantonal tax of 1%, approximately. This applies to students who share an apartment with several others and to anyone else not living in the same apartment as the landlord. This amount is sometimes included in the rent.
Note: Student holders of Confederation scholarships, Conventions of European exchange and mobility (Socrates-Erasmus) are exempt from the residence tax upon presentation of an attestation from the Socio-cultural Affairs office.
Learn from the experiences of other students and share your experiences of going overseas at International Student Blogs and Forums.
