Important information for international students studying a full degree programme at the HGK Basel.
Arriving in Switzerland
Depending on their country of origin, international students require a valid visa and a residence permit to enter Switzerland and to live here while studying. Visas are normally issued by the Swiss embassy or consulate in your home country and have to be applied for early on in person; applications generally take between one and three months to process.
Entry without a visa (EU and EFTA states)
If you are a citizen of one of the following EU and EFTA countries as well as Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Australia, Brunei and the United Kingdom, you are exempt from the visa requirement:
- EU countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.
- EFTA countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway
If you are a student from one of these countries, please follow the instructions below:
Although you do not need a visa to enter Switzerland, you will need a residence permit (see below), which you must apply for by law within 14 days of entering Switzerland at the relevant municipal authority (residents' registration office, residents' services) in your new place of residence in Switzerland.
- Canton of Basel-Stadt: Submit the requested documents in a PDF via the contact form.
- Canton of Basel-Landschaft: Send the requested documents in a PDF to amib@bl.ch.
Please note: The information on this page is for information purposes only and is non-binding. The underlying regulations may have changed since the last update. For binding information, please consult the website of the State Secretariat for Migration or contact the Swiss representation in your home country.
Entry with a visa (third countries)
If you are a citizen of a so-called third country (all countries except EU and EFTA states as well as Australia, Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom), you need a national type D visa to enter Switzerland (for long-term and regulated stays in Switzerland of more than 90 days).
Important
It is of the utmost importance that you do not enter Switzerland on a tourist visa. Please note that a tourist visa CAN NOT be converted into a residence permit after entry!
When to apply
Please submit your visa application in person to the relevant Swiss representation abroad (embassy or consulate general, not consulate) at your place of residence as early as possible but no later than 3 months before the planned date of entry. If the application is approved by the competent migration or immigration authorities, the requirements for entry and study-related stay are met.
Requirements
Students from third countries who wish to complete education or training in Switzerland can obtain a residence permit if:
- there is confirmation from the school management or the university that the training or further education programme can be taken up;
- suitable accommodation is available;
- the necessary financial means are available and have been confirmed by a bank recognised by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA);
- the return journey appears to be assured.
Documents
The documents to be submitted with a visa application and the procedure depend on the country of residence of the visa applicant. Information on the conditions for submitting a visa application can be found on the relevant country pages.
Please note that the absence of a single document can lead to considerable delays.
Decision
Your application for a student visa will be forwarded by the embassy or consulate general to the competent cantonal migration office in Switzerland, which will decide on your application. The migration office reserves the right to request additional documents and information.
Please note that the decision of the Migration Office will be made independently of your admission to the HGK Basel. The HGK Basel has no influence on this decision and is not informed about your visa application.
The HGK Basel cannot speed up the process. If you have submitted your visa application more than 6 weeks ago and have questions about your visa, please contact the responsible migration office directly.
Reasons for refusal
Please note that there is no guarantee that a visa will be issued and that the decision lies solely with the responsible migration office. As a rule, visa applications are rejected from students who already have a degree in the intended field of study, as well as from incomplete visa applications. Please check the financial requirements in particular.
Please note: The information on this page is for information purposes only and is non-binding. The underlying regulations may have changed since the last update. For binding information, please consult the website of the State Secretariat for Migration or contact the Swiss representation in your home country.
Housing
The Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNW does not offer housing options. International students are responsible for finding suitable accommodation in Basel or the surrounding area. You can find housing and rooming options on the following websites:
If you have not yet found an apartment before the start of your studies, we advise you to arrive a few weeks prior in order to find suitable accommodation.
Residence permit
You will in any case need a residence permit to study in Switzerland - regardless of whether you need a visa to enter the country. You must register with the residents' registration office at your new place of residence within 14 days of entering the country, and you will have to pay a fee for registration and the associated documents. Please note that the HGK does not cover the costs.
The residence permit for study purposes does not entitle you to gainful employment.
As soon as you have registered at the residents' registration office in your municipality of residence, the Office for Migration will be asked to issue your residence permit. Please prepare the following documents before travelling to Switzerland, which you must then present to the Residents' Registration Office or the Migration Office in Switzerland:
- a valid identity card / passport
- Confirmation of study
- Tenancy agreement
- Valid health insurance
- Proof of sufficient financial means: Proof is a bank statement or (for students from the EU/EFTA) a letter from your parents/guarantor resident in Switzerland confirming that you will receive financial support of CHF 1,750 per month.
- Cash to pay the fees:
- CHF 40 (confirmation of registration)
- CHF 70 (EU countries) / approx. CHF 250 (non-EU countries) (identity card fee)
The residence permit is usually issued for one year and can then be extended for longer periods of study. Please note that the extension of the residence permit is subject to a further financial contribution.
Health Insurance
Anyone studying in Switzerland for longer than three months is subject to the statutory health insurance obligation in Switzerland. For students from an EU or EFTA country, the European Health Insurance Card is sufficient.
EU / EFTA students
If you hold a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) you can apply to be exempt from Swiss compulsory health insurance as long as your policy offers equivalent coverage. Make sure you do this within 3 months of arriving in Switzerland. If you start working, you must take out Swiss health insurance.
Non - EU / EFTA students
You can also apply to be exempt from Swiss compulsory health insurance as long as you have private insurance coverage that is equivalent to that of a Swiss health insurer. If your private insurance does not qualify you must obtain coverage from an authorized Swiss health insurer.
You are free to choose your insurance company, one affordable option for foreign students is swisscare.
Social insurance
International students are exempt from paying into the AHV/IV/EO (social insurance scheme) providing they are only resident in Switzerland for the purpose of studying and do not have a domicile in the country under civil law.
Public transport
Switzerland has an excellent public transport network which can be used to get to virtually anywhere in the country. Swiss trains, buses, trams, ships etc. are famous for their punctuality
Costs
You must cover the cost of rent, living, books etc. yourself. You should allow for a budget of approximately CHF 1,800 to 2,000 per month.
Semester Fees
CHF 750 (CH); CHF 1.000 (EU); CHF 1.250 (Not-EU/EFTA)
Semester Plan / Module Descriptions
The semester schedule is sent to the students by the respective institute about 3 weeks before semester begin.
The current module descriptions can be found here.
