Location and Access
The Institute is ideally located in a beautiful park on the shores of Lake Geneva, very close to numerous international organizations and NGOs as well as many multinational firms. Buildings are easily reached by public transportation.
Housing
Unfortunately, the Institute cannot offer on-campus housing.
The Housing Services of the University of Geneva will help students; however, they cannot guarantee accommodation.
Bureau des logements et restaurants universitaires
4, rue de Candolle - 1211 Genève 4
Tél.: +41-(0)22.379.77.20
Fax: +41-(0)22.379 77 85
Email
Visa
Depending on your country of origin, you will need a visa to enter/stay more than 3 months in Switzerland.
The Federal Office for Migration’swebsite provides a list with an overview of travel document and visa provisions for entry into Switzerland. You can also contact the main Swiss embassy or consulate in your country.
List of all Swiss representations abroad.
Don’t forget that those proceedings may take a certain amount of time; expect to wait for several weeks.
Costs for visa: can vary depending on country of origin, around 150 CHF.
Residence Permits
No matter which country you come from, you must declare your arrival to the Office Cantonal de la Population (OCP) within 8 days after your arrival in Switzerland and apply for a residence permit:
For all information:
Office cantonal de la population (OCP)
Service des étrangers
Rue David-Dufour 3
1211 Genève 8
Tél.: +41-(0)22 327 48 88
Fax: +41-(0)22 327 75 91
Email
Please note: If you are not citizen of an EU/EFTA country but do not need a visa for entering Switzerland, we recommend that you confirm your residence permit with the Office cantonal de la population before coming to Switzerland. Contact them at the above given address in order to make sure you know which documents you have to submit.
Cost of a residence permit: up to 150 CHF.
Insurance (health and accident, third party liability)
During their stay in Geneva, all students in exchange programmes must have a health care and accident insurance. They can be exempted if they can present either/or:
- a European health insurance card (can be obtained from the insurer) or, in the case of countries that don’t yet issue such a card, an E 128 form;
- a form to prove that you have equivalent coverage (“formulaire d’équivalence”).
This form can be obtained from:
Service de l'assurance-maladie
route de Frontenex 62
1207 Genève
Tél.: +41-(0)22 327.65.30
Fax: +41-(0)22 327 65 00
Email
The “Service de l'assurance-maladie” is also at your disposal in case of questions or problems related to your health care coverage in Switzerland.
If you do not have a health insurance scheme with equivalent coverage, you need to buy health insurance in Switzerland. There are companies which offer inexpensive insurance schemes for foreign students. A list of those companies can be obtained at:
Bureau universitaire d’information sociale (BUIS)
UNI-BASTIONS
4, rue de Candolle
1211 Genève 4
Tél.: +41-(0)22 379 77 79/18 (Secrétariat)
Fax: +41-(0)22 379 77 47
Email
Furthermore, when becoming a resident in Geneva, you must also buy third party liability insurance.
We also recommend you buy household insurance for your apartment.
