Bachelor's Students

The first year of your studies is highly challenging. You have to reorient yourself to a new environment and confront a lot of issues while at the same time being subject to a lot of academic pressure. You should be able to focus on your studies during this time. Have you chosen the right degree program? Are you able to make time to study on your own? Is your budget meeting your needs? Do you have a good balance between studying, working and leisure time?

To ensure that your Bachelor’s program is a success, you should make sure that your finances are in order. There are many paths available to you depending on the situation

Ideally, by the time you've chosen a degree program, you've already discussed everything thoroughly with your parents. Your parents can afford to provide financial support – perhaps even at a level where you can concentrate 100% on your studies. Support from your parents is a legal obligation but should not be taken for granted. Give your parents occasional updates on your studies and let them know what you're working on.

If it's compatible with your program, you could consider having part-time job. In the first year of your study program, however, you should fully focus on your studies if possible. Any job that you take on later should not significantly extend the duration of your study program.

Do your parents not have a lot of financial resources? Do you yourself have low earnings or little to no assets?

• Cantonal scholarships
  Swiss cantons provide students with financial support in the form of scholarships that do not need to be paid back. Some cantons also offer loans that have to be paid back after completing your degree or dropping out of the program.

  In some cantons, students need to apply for scholarships before starting their studies. Usually students have to apply at the scholarship office in their parents' canton of residence. Submitting your application too late can lead to the amount being reduced

  If you change your course of study, you should do so as early as possible. Switching your field or major can lead to loss of scholarships. We recommend reading the relevant scholarship laws and regulations of your parents’ canton of residence.
   

• UZH scholarships
  If you receive little to no cantonal scholarships and are reliant on financial support, you can also submit an application to our office. If your application is accepted, support is usually provided in the form of scholarships and sometimes as loans. We only provide support for your first Bachelor’s program (and any first Master’s programs).
  More about Applications & Deadlines

If you are coming to Switzerland to complete a Bachelor's degree and your parents live abroad, you need to calculate minimum costs per year of CHF 24,000 for studying and costs of living. If you come from a country that Switzerland requires a visa for, you will need to prove in advance that you have enough financial resources.

• Support from your country of origin

  You should check the student financing options offered by your country of origin. Sometimes private foundations and NGOs also provide support to students.
  Students from Germany can receive international BAföG funding, and students from France can receive CROUS funding. If you are only coming to Switzerland to study, you cannot receive cantonal scholarships.
   

• UZH scholarships
  Once you have successfully completed your first year of studies, equivalent to at least 55 ECTS credits, you will be eligible to submit an application to our office. Since we source money from endowments and foundations, we are not a replacement for obligatory government contributions. Your parents will need to continue supporting you insofar as that is objectively possible. Our support should therefore be considered supplementary. We only provide support for your first Bachelor’s program (and any first Master’s programs).
  
  If your grades at UZH are very good, you can already apply for support after your first semester. In some cases, a reduced form of support is an option.
  More about Applications & Deadlines

• Cantonal scholarships

  If you had to flee from your country of origin, you can apply for cantonal scholarships.
  If your parents live in Switzerland, you can submit your application to their canton of residence. If that is not the case, you should apply in the canton to which you were assigned.
   

• UZH scholarships
  If you receive little to no cantonal scholarships and are reliant on financial support, you can also submit an application to our office. If your application is accepted, support is usually provided in the form of scholarships and sometimes as loans.
  More about Applications & Deadlines

If you've read through everything thoroughly and still have questions, you should Contact us.