UNIVERSITY OF GENEVA

The University of Geneve offers a wide range of scholarships, student grants, and loans to international students, including EU students who pay international tuition fees. These financial supports come with specific terms and conditions to qualify, and one of the most important requirements is having a good knowledge of either the German or French language. In many cases, scholarships are usually awarded to international students after completing their first year of studies, and eligibility is often based on academic performance. Click here to learn more about student grants and scholarships available for Bachelor’s and Master’s programs as an international student.

As an international student, finding a part-time job while studying in Switzerland is a great opportunity to earn extra money, meet new people, and build professional skills. However, to be eligible to work, you must be on an international student visa, and you must have already started your full-time studies and completed at least six months at your university. Students are only allowed to take on part-time jobs, meaning you are not permitted to own a company, work full-time, or engage in professional sports. Students usually gets casual (no fixed hours) and part-time work.Many of the part-time or casual jobs (with no fixed hours) available to students can be found either within the university itself or in sectors that typically employ part-time workers such as hospitality and retail. Even if you're working on a casual basis, you are still entitled to the same rights and responsibilities as other employees in Switzerland, including social insurance (AVS-Address Verification Service), unemployment contributions, insurance, and paid vacation.

Please note, if you’re a part-time student, you can’t work.

For full-time students, you are allowed to work up to 15 hours per week during term time if you're enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate program, while those in diploma programs are limited to 10 hours per week during term time and 45-60hrs per week outside of term time. Working part-time is a great way to support yourself financially, gain relevant experience, and learn more about working life in Switzerland. However, your academic commitments should always come first. Taking on too much work could interfere with your study time, increase stress, and negatively impact your attendance or performance. That’s why it’s advisable to speak with your university’s employment team, international student officer, or academic advisor to help you strike the right balance between work and study. Learn more...