I have a student permit B, which was renewed this year and is valid till October 2012. But I am going on an Internship to france in February for 6 months. I will vacate my home that I currently live in Switzerland and hence would not have an address in Switzerland.
I wanted to ask whether I can still keep my resident permit? Am asking this because I am still an enrolled student in Switzerland and a foreign internship is part of the curriculum. Does anyone have ideas regarding this ? What is the procedure for this? will my commune have to cancel my permit since i am leaving, albeit temporarily.

What is written on your permit about absence? I believe only 3 months is allowed, if you leave for 6 months your no longer resident.

If this is part of the curriculum, then the school is probably well-placed to advise you on the permit issue, too.