Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
SWISS PRIVATE SCHOOLS & UNIVERSITIES
There are a number of private universities and educational institutions in Switzerland.
With 3 official languages (french, german and italian) Switzerland has a lot of international
schools. Switzerland in general has earned international acclaim for the excellence of
their private schools. Swiss private schools & universities offer language studies, a wide
variety of hospitality and service programs, as well as Commercial & Management
Courses for BBA, MBA, Executive MBA and DBA degrees.
[ Swiss Private Schools & Universities (FAQ) ]
HOUSING & ACCOMODATION IN SWITZERLAND
In
many
regions
of
Switzerland
it
is
extremely
difficult
to
find
affordable
accommodation.
In
larger
cities,
it
is
even
harder
to
find
unexpensive
apartments!
However,
rents
are
significantly
higher
in
cantons
such
as
Basel,
Geneva
and
Zurich,
since
demand
far
exceeds
what
is
available!
You
should
therefore
expect
to
use
a
large
part
of
your
income
for rental payments. Finding accommodation is equally very time consuming.
The
types
of
accommodation
you
might
be
looking
for
can
be
especially
expensive:
partly
or
fully-furnished
apartments
rented
at
short
notice
for
relatively
short
periods.
Nor
is
it
easy to find apartments for larger families at reasonable rents.
[ Housing & Accommodation (FAQ) ]
OFFICIAL ADMINISTRATION
What are the VISA requirements to enter Switzerland for the purpose of studying?
What are the PERMIT requirements in order to stay and study in Switzerland?
What is the difference between a VISA and a STUDY PERMIT?
Can my family accompany me to find a school or university in Switzerland?
How long does the whole VISA/PERMIT process take?
Cost of VISA/PERMIT process?
PRIVATE SCHOOLS & UNIVERSITIES IN SWITZERLAND
How to find the right private school or university in Switzerland?
What is the minimum English language requirement to study in Switzerland?
How to apply for studying at a private university in Switzerland?
What is accreditation?
What is the difference between accreditation and affiliation?
What are alumni associations?
Cost of studying in Switzerland?
HOUSING & ACCOMMODATION
Is it hard to find housing & accommodation in Switzerland?
How to find housing & accommodation in Switzerland?
What documents and official papers are required in order to rent housing in
Switzerland?
What are financial guarantees / refundable deposits?
What is a guarantor and who needs one?
What is an extract from the “Debt Collection Office”?
Cost of living in Switzerland?
SIEPS - INFORMATION SERVICES SWISS PRIVATE SCHOOLS & UNIVERSITIES
Why SIEPS?
How can SIEPS assist me with the VISA/PERMIT process?
How can SIEPS help me find the right private school or university in Switzerland?
How can SIEPS provide me with housing and accommodation?
I do not have financial guarantees in order to rent housing. Can SIEPS help?
HEALTH INSURANCE
Why Health Insurance?
How can SIEPS assist me with Health Insurance?
THIRD-PARTY LIABILITY INSURANCE
Why Third/Party Liability Insurance?
How can SIEPS assist me with Third/Party Liability Insurance?
Administration Links
Travel Links
Useful Links
Chemin des Bruyères 5
•
CH-1007 Lausanne
•
Switzerland
Tel: +41 (0) 21 616 00 11
•
•
Email:
The
Swiss
authorities
may
require
up
to
3
months
to
process
a
study
visa
application
from
the
date such application is submitted to the Swiss Embassy or Consulate.
Applicants
who
seek
to
enter
Switzerland
with
a
valid
passport
must
be
in
possession
of
a
STUDY
VISA
issued
by
a
Swiss
Embassy
or
Consulate
before
entering
Switzerland
for
the
purposes of studying only:
Applicants
from
all
countries
are
required
to
have
a
STUDENT
PERMIT
to
stay
in
Switzerland
for
the purpose of studying only.
A
TOURIST
VISA
does
NOT
satisfy
the
above
requirements
and
does
NOT
authorise
a
student
with a foreign passport to study in Switzerland.
European
or
non-European
students
who
have
just
arrived
in
Switzerland
must
apply
for
a
B
permit
within
a
maximum
of
8
days
after
their
arrival
in
Switzerland.
The
foreign
student
must
go
personally
to
the
“Contrôle
des
habitants”
of
their
town
of
residence
with
certain
documents.
The
permit
application
will
only
be
processed
when
a
complete
file
has
been
received.
It
is
important
to
note
that
Visas
are
used
for
entering
Switzerland
for
primarily
touristic
purposes.
Should
you
wish
to
study
or
work
in
Switzerland,
it
becomes
necessary
to
apply
for
a
study or work permit within 8 working days after arriving in Switzerland.
The
applicant
cannot
be
accompanied
by
other
members
of
his/her
family
while
studying
in
Switzerland.
Family
members
and/or
partners
are
not
included
in
a
study
visa
and
can
only
enter Switzerland with a Tourist Visa.
The
Swiss
authorities
may
require
up
to
3
months
to
process
a
Study
Visa
application
from
the
date such application is submitted to the Swiss Embassy or Consulate.
B
permit
(permis
de
séjour)
is
an
annual
residence
permit
.
It
gives
you
the
right
to
live
in
Switzerland
for
180
days
a
year
or
more
.
It
has
to
be
renewed
every
year.
European
or
non-
European
students
who
have
just
arrived
in
Switzerland
have
to
apply
for
a
B
permit
within
a
maximum of 8 days after their arrival in Switzerland.
As
soon
as
you
apply
for
a
B
permit,
it
will
take
approximately
4-6
weeks
to
receive
your
B
permit card.
Each Visa costs approximately CHF 50 in addition to any processing fees.
Finding the right private school or university is all about matching your educational background
and
professional
experience
with
your
future
goals
and
aspirations.
Meaning
that
you
need
to
consider
the
entrance
requirements
of
the
educational
institutions
you
have
selected,
the
degrees
they
can
provide
you,
the
time
it
takes
to
complete
any
of
the
mentioned
degrees,
the
accreditation
of
those
degrees
(hereby
their
validity
for
the
field
you
wish
to
work
in),
the
cost
of
the
program
which
interests
you,
and
perhaps
even
the
strength
of
the
institutions’
alumni
association.
Although
the
expected
level
of
command
of
English
may
vary
depending
on
the
school
and,
above
all,
the
study
program
or
course,
the
usual
average
English
language
requirement
you
will
be
required
to
have
to
study
in
Europe
is
550
points
(paper-based
TOEFL
test),
or
213
points
(computer-based
TOEFL
test),
or
79-80
points
(Internet-based
TOEFL
test),
or
5.5
-
6.5
score
in
the
IELTS
test.
If
you
have
not
taken
either
the
TOEFL
or
IELTS
tests
and
you
would
like
to
prove
your
level
of
knowledge
of
English
with
other
exams,
you
will
need
to
prove
you
have
a
level
of
command of English corresponding to the B1/B2 level (intermediate).
Whether
you
intend
to
join
a
bachelor
or
a
master
program
or
study
for
a
PhD
degree
in
Switzerland,
you
will
have
to
submit
your
application
to
the
university
or
college
of
your
choice.
Your
school
will
examine
your
application
and
if
you
are
eligible
will
issue
a
proof
of
registration.
Accreditation
is
a
type
of
voluntary
quality
assurance
process
under
which
educational
programs
are
evaluated
by
an
external
non-governmental
body
to
determine
if
applicable
standards are met. If this is the case, the agency grants an accredited status.
Accreditation
also
permits
an
evaluation
on
an
international
level
regarding
recognition
or
equivalency of the degree you receive.
The
SIEPS
Educational
Data
Base
includes
an
extensive
list
of
the
various
accreditation
agencies.
An affiliation is not an accreditation process, but merely an association with another entity.
Affiliation
bodies
can
also
include
a
select
alumni
group
of
dedicated
professionals
or
researchers
who
have
affiliates
in
the
educational
institution’s
area
of
interests
for
further
study
application.
The
term
alumnae/alumni
refers
to
the
graduates
of
a
university
or
a
similar
educational
institution.
The
alumni
constitute
a
valuable
professional
network
that
usually
spreads
across
the
entire
world,
particularly,
if
it
is
made
up
of
graduates
who
have
attended
an
international
educational institution.
Thanks
to
these
associations
students
have
the
chance
to
stay
in
contact
with
their
university
and
with
former
fellow
students
as
well
as
to
make
use
of
the
offers
for
positions
in
full
paying
jobs
or
careers
provided
by
the
former
students
who
have
had
a
taste
of
the
professional
working world.
The
cost
of
studying
in
a
private
institution
in
Switzerland
varies
greatly
among
the
different
schools, programs, and degrees.
As a general guideline:
Private higher education: CHF12’000.00 – CHF40’000.00 per annum
International Baccalaureate: CHF10’000- CHF30’000.00 per annum
Competition
to
rent
Swiss
apartments
is
fierce,
and
it
can
be
hard
to
find
decent
accommodation
in
Switzerland.
The
saturated
Swiss
rental
markets
in
major
cities
means
competition
for
Swiss
rental
properties
is
hard
and
that
you
need
to
act
fast
if
you
wish
to
find
a
decent apartment to rent in Switzerland.
As
in
other
countries,
most
Swiss
properties
are
now
advertised
online.
However,
as
the
rental
markets
in
some
areas
are
hyper-competitive,
it’s
worth
taking
multiple
approaches
to
find
your new home.
•
Search online
•
Check the newspaper
•
Get to know estate agents
•
Tell everyone you know
•
Consider a sub-let
The
information
which
you
will
have
to
provide
to
the
Real
Estate
agency
from
which
you
wish
to
rent
housing,
is
defined
by
the
questions
in
the
rental
application
form.
All
documents
you
have
to
submit
with
the
rental
application
form,
are
also
listed
on
the
form
concerned,
which
normally are:
A
copy
of
your
passport
/
copy
of
your
Swiss
residential
permit
/
attestation
from
your
educational
institution
or
a
copy
of
your
employment
contract
together
with
the
salary
vouchers
of
the
past
3
months.
The
latter
documents
constitute
your
financial
proof.
Gross
monthly
earnings
should
usually
be
equal
to
the
rent
amount
for
3
months.
If
this
ratio
is
not
achieved, then you would require a guarantor.
A
financial
housing
guarantee
in
Switzerland
is
in
general
a
deposit
of
3
months’
worth
of
rent,
which
is
blocked
in
a
trust
account
until
the
end
of
the
rental
period,
and
can,
therefore,
not
be
used
to
compensate
for
outstanding
rent
payments
during
the
rental
period.
It
is
held
there
essentially
for
accidental
damage
caused
to
the
apartment
during
the
rental
period
which
is
not
covered
by
the
tenants’
insurance.
Once
the
tenant
has
left
the
apartment,
and,
if
applicable,
all
damage
has
been
repaired,
and
rent
payments
are
all
up
to
date,
the
agency
releases the entirety of the deposit back to the tenant.
If
you
came
to
Switzerland
to
study
and
you
do
not
earn
an
income
in
Switzerland,
then
most
Estate
agencies
would
require
a
Swiss
based
guarantor
to
apply
for
housing
on
your
behalf.
In
other
words:
the
rental
contract
would
be
drawn
up
in
the
guarantor’s
name
and
you
would
be
mentioned
in
the
rental
contract
as
occupying
the
housing
concerned.
The
guarantor
would
then
be
liable
for
all
financial
and
legal
responsibilities
stipulated
in
the
rental
contract.
Having
a
guarantor
would
not
waive
the
requirement
for
an
initial
payment
of
a
deposit,
equal
to
the
rent
for
three
months.
In
some
cases,
it
is
possible
to
take
out
an
insurance
(for
example
Swiss Caution), instead of paying the deposit.
A
legal
document
provided
by
the
“Debt
Collection
Office”
(Office
des
Poursuites)
of
the
district
in
which
you
are
registered
in
Switzerland,
proving
that
you
are
not
subject
to
any
debt
collection process.
Housing:
between
CHF800.00
and
CHF2900.00
per
month,
depending
essentially
on
the
size
of
the apartment and whether it is furnished or not.
Electricity
and
Internet
/
TV:
between
CHF60.00
and
CHF250.00
per
month,
depending
on
electricity consumption and Internet / TV contract.
Insurance
costs
(Health
&
Accident
(compulsory
in
Switzerland)
/
Third-party
liability
insurance
/
Household
insurance
/
Insurance
against
the
effects
caused
by
fire
and
/
or
natural
disaster):
between
CHF1200.00
and
CHF4000.00
per
year,
depending
on
where
you
live
within
Switzerland,
your
age,
your
gender,
your
status
(student
or
other),
the
member’s
portion,
whether
you
opt
for
basic
insurance
plans
or
more
comprehensive
ones,
and
finally
the
insurance company.
TV
and
radio
reception
tax
(payable
per
household,
and
as
soon
as
you
have
at
least
one
computer
(portable
or
desktop)
in
the
household:
at
least
CHF170.00
per
month,
maximum
CHF280.00.
Food:
approx. CHF1000.00 per month, if you cook yourself.
Toiletry items and some recreational / entertainment costs:
approx. CHF500.00 per month
Transport costs
(public transport, locally): rough estimate CHF150.00 per month.
The above works out at between CHF2780.00 and CHF5415.00 per month.
SIEPS
represents
a
“one
stop
solution”
for
all
your
needs
associated
with
studying
and
living
in
Switzerland.
SIEPS
gives
advice
for
the
compiling
of
the
application,
or
you
may
request
SIEPS
to
take
care
of
the
entire
study
visa
&
permit
application
process.
In
such
case,
SIEPS
guides
you
through
the
process,
prepares
all
the
documents
and
liaises
with
the
educational
institution
concerned
where
required.
SIEPS
coordinates
your
various
educational
aspirations,
if
you
have
decided
on
more
than
one
option,
and
summarises
all
in
a
study
plan
which
meets
the
requirements
of
the
Swiss authorities.
SIEPS
offers
a
client
specific
service.
We
familiarise
ourselves
with
your
expectations,
but
also
with
your
educational
and,
where
applicable,
professional
background;
so
as
to
ensure
that
our
recommendations
with
regard
to
educational
institutions
and
programs
match
your
specific
profile.
SIEPS
handles
the
registration
and
administration
associated
with
your
new
educational
needs
in
Switzerland.
SIEPS
will,
on
your
behalf,
seek
out
the
best
educational
options
available
to
you and in relation to your requirements.
SIEPS
handles
the
registration
and
administration
associated
with
your
new
housing
needs
in
Switzerland.
SIEPS
will,
on
your
behalf,
seek
out
the
best
housing
options
available
to
you
and
in relation to your requirements.
SIEPS
will
stand
as
Guarantor,
if
the
candidate
fulfils
certain
criteria.
This
service
is
for
students
who
cannot
obtain
housing
in
their
own
name
or
their
parents’
name.
SIEPS
will
provide
corporate and personal financial guarantees for housing.
Health
and
accident
insurance
is
compulsory
in
Switzerland.
Students
coming
from
outside
Switzerland
may
check
with
the
Swiss
Embassy/Consulate
closest
to
their
place
of
residence
as
to
whether
their
local
health
and
accident
insurance
cover,
which
they
might
already
have,
is
accepted
in
Switzerland.
If
this
is
not
the
case,
then
please
contact
SIEPS
or
the
school
in
which
you are registered.
Real
Estate
Agencies
and
private
housing
owners
will
not
let
housing
to
candidates
who
do
not
have
a
third-party
liability
insurance.
This
is
a
kind
of
insurance
covers
the
cost
of
accidental
damage
to
goods
belonging
to
a
third
party
in
and
outside
your
home;
it
also
covers
accidental
bodily harm to a third party (but excluding bodily harm caused in a car accident)
SIEPS obtains quotations on the following insurances linked to housing:
•
Fire insurance: compulsory in most cases. if you live in the canton of Vaud.
•
Third party liability insurance: required by Real Estate agencies when renting housing.
•
Household
insurance:
covers
your
personal
goods
and
damages
to
your
home
in
the
event of burglary.
SIEPS obtains quotations on the following insurances linked to housing:
•
Fire insurance: compulsory in most cases. if you live in the canton of Vaud.
•
Third party liability insurance: required by Real Estate agencies when renting housing.
•
Household
insurance:
covers
your
personal
goods
and
damages
to
your
home
in
the
event of burglary.
