Rights and legal advice

In Switzerland, there is no general legal entitlement to admission or to a place at a higher education institution. Each institution decides independently on admission and sets its own admission requirements.  

Residence status is not, in principle, a requirement for admission. The decisive factors are your previous educational qualifications and the language requirements of the chosen degree programme. If the admission requirements are not met, the higher education institution may reject an application. 

Further information on admission can be found here. 

Once you have been admitted, the next important question is how to finance your studies. Further information on funding can be found here.

 

Social assistance 

Refugees may be eligible for social assistance if they are unable to cover their living expenses through their own income or other available resources. The type and amount of support they receive depend, among other things, on their residence status and canton of residence. 

Social assistance is intended to guarantee a minimum standard of living and enable people to maintain a modest standard of living. Many cantons base their policies on the guidelines issued by the Swiss Conference on Social Assistance (SKOS). However, these guidelines are not legally binding. The benefits provided may therefore vary depending on the canton and the individual’s circumstances. 

In principle, social assistance does not fund university studies. It is primarily intended to cover basic living costs, and rapid integration into the labour market is often given priority. These principles apply to everyone receiving social assistance, including Swiss nationals. Social assistance is therefore generally not obliged to finance university studies. 

If you wish to start a degree programme, you should discuss your plans with social services at an early stage. If you start a degree programme without consulting social services beforehand, this may affect your entitlement to social assistance. Depending on the circumstances, financial support may be reduced or withdrawn. 

You can request a written decision from the social welfare authority. A written decision can generally be appealed within the specified time limit, which is often 30 days. If you wish to challenge a decision, you should seek advice from a legal advice centre or a specialist organisation as soon as possible. 

If social services do not agree to fund your studies, you may be able to cover your living and study costs through other sources. If you can finance your living expenses and studies, for example through your own income, scholarships or grants from foundations, you may no longer need social assistance and can begin your studies independently. 

Further information on social assistance can be found in the chapter Social Assistance. 

 

Scholarships 

The awarding of cantonal scholarships is regulated by law. As each canton has its own regulations, the eligibility criteria for scholarships vary depending on the canton of residence. 

Further information can be found in the chapter Cantonal and municipal scholarship.

Swiss Refugee Aid (SFH) provides information on its website about the rights of refugees in various areas of life. The information is updated regularly. The document “Permits available under asylum law and key status rights” offers a good overview.  

SFH also offers a weekly telephone consultation service for general legal enquiries relating to the asylum system and the various residence statuses in Switzerland. However, individual advice on specific cases cannot be provided through this service. For advice on an individual case, you should contact a legal advice centre. 

Further information on the telephone consultation service and the relevant contact details as well as contacts in each canton can be found on the SFH website. 

Some universities also offer free legal advice to students. Please enquire about this directly with your university.