Foreign students

First check whether or not you need an entry visa for Switzerland. This depends on your country of residence:

Students from EU/EFTA countries

All you need is a valid travel document (ID card or passport) issued by your home country.

Students from Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore

There is no visa requirement. However, before entering Switzerland or within 14 days of arrival, you must contact the immigration authorities and submit the same documents as students who do need visas.

Students from non-EU/EFTA countries (staying for longer than 90 days)

ID and visa requirements apply to students from non-EU/EFTA countries. Before entering Switzerland, you must apply for a Type D national visa from the Swiss embassy or consulate in your country of residence. If your planned period of study is longer than 90 days, you may not enter Switzerland on a Type C Schengen visa (tourist, visitor).

Within 14 days of arrival in Switzerland and before beginning their studies, foreign students must register with the relevant municipal authority in Switzerland.

Exchange students

Depending on the local authority, exchange students attending Bern University of Applied Sciences must submit the following documents for registration:

• Copy of a valid travel document (passport or ID card)
• Confirmation of university admission or Erasmus/SEMP programme confirmation
• Passport photo(s)
• Copy of marriage certificate (if married)
• Proof of adequate financial means (does NOT apply to Erasmus/SEMP students)
• Lease/sublease (only required for students from non-EU/EFTA countries)
• Copy of visa authorisation (only for students from countries requiring a visa)

Exchange students in the city of Bern

Exchange students at Bern University of Applied Sciences who are going to live in the city of Bern during their stay must submit the registration documents by post within 14 days. The completed registration form and the documents listed on the registration form must be sent to the following address:

Einwohnerdienste, Migration und Fremdenpolizei der Stadt Bern
Predigergasse 5
Postfach
3000 Bern 7

Full degree students

Depending on the local authority, if you are planning on completing an entire degree programme at Bern University of Applied Sciences, you must submit the following documents for registration:

Registration for EU/EFTA-nationals

• Confirmation of admission to Bern University of Applied Sciences
• Personal application
• Proof of adequate financial means (at least CHF 1,500.00 per month)
• Valid travel document (copy of passport or ID card) issued by your home country
• Up-to-date passport photos
• Copy of lease or, if subletting, sublease with copy of main lease (optional)
• Copy of marriage/civil partnership certificate (if married/in a civil partnership)
• Form ‘Anmeldung Studienaufenthalt ausländische Personen EU/EFTA (Zuzug Ausland) Ausbildung’ (registration of EU/EFTA nationals moving from abroad to study). This form only applies to the city of Bern

Registration for non-EU/EFTA nationals (non-member states)

Because the visa application has already been checked by the immigration authorities and students are in possession of a visa or a visa confirmation, students must register in person with the relevant municipal authority within 14 days of arrival. You must bring a valid travel document issued by your home country, with the affixed visa and the documents you submitted in order to obtain the visa.

Fees

The costs vary depending on the local authority. EU/EFTA students pay around CHF 100 for registration and residence permit, non-EU/EFTA nationals pay around CHF 270 for the visa authorisation, registration and residence permit plus the collection of biometric data.

Local authorities

Contact the relevant local authority to find out exactly which documents you will need to present and what fees you will have to pay.

For different places of residence, contact the relevant authority’s residence services/residents’ registration office.

Courses at Bern University of Applied Sciences are generally taught in German. In many of our degree programmes, lectures are also held in French and/or English. To be admitted to the university and benefit from your studies in Switzerland, you must be proficient in the study language.

Bern University of Applied Sciences offers German courses for its international students in collaboration with the University of Bern. These German courses, which begin at level A1, are run by the German as a Foreign Language unit (DaF).

Your language level will be assessed when you register for a course with DaF.

We also recommend that exchange students take the integration course shortly before the semester starts. The courses cost between CHF 200 and 400. BFH will meet the course costs for Erasmus/SEMP students. Interested students should contact their BFH department’s International Office for details.

Other courses

Bern University of Applied Sciences occasionally offers further courses in German and other languages. Contact your BFH department’s International Office to find out more about courses run by BFH or other institutions.

Funding

Erasmus/SEMP students can apply to their BFH department’s International Office for part-payment of the course costs before commencing a language course. If the application is approved, up to 80% of the course costs (max. CHF 1,500) will be reimbursed.

Language skills

The study languages at BFH are German and French. Some individual (master’s) degree programmes are taught in English.

Bern University of Applied Sciences’ various sites are located in the heart of Switzerland – in the idyllic canton of Bern. BFH is not a campus university as such and only has a limited supply of student accommodation. Students are responsible for their own accommodation.

Fees vary per degree programme and division.

How many hours am I allowed to work?

EU/EFTA nationals

As a student, you are permitted to work part-time for up to 15 hours a week from the first day of your residence in Switzerland. Your employer is required to report this to the authority responsible for issuing IDs. Make sure that your employer does this.
During the semester, the time you spend working must not exceed 15 hours a week. You may work full-time during the semester break, provided your employer reports this.
In the case of EU nationals from Romania and Bulgaria, your employer must submit an application before you may begin work.

Other nationalities

Students may begin working part-time no earlier than six months after starting their education, provided:

• The Head of Degree Programme confirms that this work is compatible with your degree programme and will not delay your studies;
• Your weekly work schedule (except during semester breaks) does not exceed 15 hours;
• An employer’s application has been submitted, as required by article 18b of the Swiss Aliens Act;
• Your wages and working conditions meet article 22 of the Swiss Aliens Act.

Your employer must submit an application before you begin work.

What insurance is covered by my employment contract?

When you take a job in Switzerland, your employer automatically provides adequate professional liability and accident insurance cover. If your contract specifies a set wage, note that the total shown is a gross payment and that social security contributions will be deducted from this. These deductions consist of:

• Old age and survivors’ insurance (AHV), disability insurance (IV) and income compensation (EO)
• Unemployment insurance (ALV)
• Occupational pension (BVG)
• Occupational and non-occupational accident insurance (BUV/NBUV)

Am I proficient enough in the local language?

A good knowledge of the local language is always important! If you are looking for work in a German-speaking area, first learn standard German. This will give you a sound basis for understanding Swiss German later. Depending on the job, it may be enough if you understand the language and are able to speak a little. More demanding roles will require better language skills. Check what level of language skills your potential employer is expecting.

What sort of job am I looking for?

Think about what kind of work you are prepared to do in Switzerland. Are you looking for a job that ties in with your degree programme or are you more interested in boosting your bank balance by taking other work? Looking for work isn’t always easy, especially if you are only available for fixed-term employment, so it is important to be flexible and consider work that may not match your professional interests or skill set.

Do my application documents meet Swiss standards?

Find out how to apply for a job in Switzerland.