Holders of foreign tertiary-level degrees, whether academic or professional, that are recognized as equivalent to a HES Bachelor’s degree are eligible under the same conditions as holders of Swiss degrees. Please read the information below carefully.
Important:
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Only complete applications submitted within the deadlines will be considered. If one or more required documents are missing without justification, the application will not be processed.
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HES-SO Master reserves the right to request any additional documents not listed in order to decide on the candidate’s admission.
Nationals of a European Union or European Free Trade Association (EU/EFTA) country
Students coming from an EU/EFTA member country only need a residence permit (see below).
Nationals of a non-EU/EFTA country
Students from a country for which a visa is required to stay in Switzerland must apply approximately 4 months before the start of their stay at the nearest Swiss representation in their country of residence abroad.
The formalities to be completed are explained on the websites of the competent offices of the different cantons:
HES-SO Master does not intervene in the process of granting visas and/or residence permits. The only points of contact are the competent Swiss migration authorities (for visas: the Swiss representation in the country of residence; for residence permits: the competent office of the future canton of residence).
Visa application process
Obtaining a student visa may take up to 4 months or more. Therefore, visa procedures must be initiated as soon as the Master’s admission letter is received.
Students who require a visa to study in Switzerland must pay the tuition fee for the first semester (CHF 1,050) in full within 30 days of receiving the Master’s admission letter.
Once the payment has been received, HES-SO Master will issue both the admission certificate and the payment confirmation, which are required to begin the visa application process at the nearest Swiss representation in the student’s country of residence abroad.
Upon arrival in Switzerland and after obtaining the visa, students must submit the original of their qualifying degree for admission to the Master’s program to the HES-SO Master Secretariat. A certificate of enrollment will then be issued, allowing students to begin the procedures to obtain a residence permit (see paragraph below).
In the event that the visa is not granted, any decision regarding a possible refund of the tuition fee remains at the discretion of the HES-SO Master Finance Department.
Residence permit application process
After their arrival in Switzerland, all incoming students must register with the competent Cantonal Office within 14 days in order to apply for a residence permit. Enrollment at HES-SO Master must be finalized before starting the residence permit application process.
It usually takes a few weeks for the permit to be issued.
For more information regarding residence permits, please contact the competent office of the future canton of residence:
To cover basic expenses (food, housing, and transportation), students will need a minimum of CHF 1,500 per month.
This budget reflects the particularly high cost of living in Switzerland. In addition, students must pay the annual tuition fee and study contribution of CHF 2,600, as well as other expenses related to their studies.
Health insurance affiliation
Health insurance affiliation is mandatory for foreign students who wish to stay in Switzerland for more than three months. However, the requirements vary depending on nationality:
For nationals of a European Union (EU) or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) country, there are three possible options:
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Hold a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which exempts students from the mandatory Swiss health insurance requirement under the bilateral agreements between Switzerland and the EU (note: Bulgaria and Romania are not included).
More information: -
Have health coverage equivalent to Swiss health insurance. In this case, an exemption request must still be submitted to the competent cantonal authority.
More information: -
Take out Swiss health insurance.
For nationals of a non-EU/EFTA country, there is only one option: taking out Swiss health insurance.
Rent in Switzerland is generally quite expensive, although prices vary significantly from one region to another.
Student rooms can be rented in a building located near the HES-SO Master facilities. More information here.
It is also possible to book a room in a residence managed by the Fondation Maisons pour Étudiants Lausanne (FMEL).
You can also find shared housing with a senior. More information is available on elderli.ch, a project created by Kevin Kempter, a graduate of the Master in Social Work.
It is not possible for foreign students to obtain a scholarship in Switzerland. A few private foundations, most of them with a religious background, do provide scholarships for foreign students, but they generally require that the application be submitted before arrival in Switzerland. Swiss cantons reserve their financial support for students of Swiss nationality and for foreign nationals who have been established in Switzerland for several years.
HES-SO Master does not award any financial aid.
A student who is a national of a European Union (EU) or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) country may work up to 15 hours per week alongside their studies, provided they reside in Switzerland.
A student who is a national of a non-EU/EFTA country may also work up to 15 hours per week alongside their studies, provided they have been residing in Switzerland for at least 6 months.
However, it is challenging to combine employment with a Master’s program. Employment must in no way interfere with the successful completion of studies.