Hi,
I've been accepted to a uni in Switzerland to do my masters and in the handbook it sent me they said that I was supposed to apply for a residence permit. Even though I am non-EU I am exempted from having to apply for a student visa prior to arrival because a visa waiver agreement my home country has with the EU.

My question is how much money do I need to show on an account to qualify for the residence permit as a student ?

Also, it says that you are supposed to notify the foreign resident's office within 8 days of your arrival. What I am not clear on, does this notification mean applying for the permit the same time or can you just notify them that you have arrived with in the 8 day period and apply at a later date for the permit after?

When I was applying for my student residence permit (even I am from the EU8 I also had to do that) migration office required me to prove that I will have 1800 chf per month during my stay. I had a choice either to have the amount of money equal to 1800xmonth of MS program on my account or I could provide the paper issued by my the bank my mother has an account in that she will transfer 1800 chf to my account every month on date x.

Notification of arrival and permit application are different things, but at least in Basel you are doing it at the same time (the same building).

Welcome to Switzerland (soon)

HAve forgotten to say that 1800 chf per month was in Basel Stadt in 2008/2009 study year. It may differ from canton to canton

My program is a 2 year program. Do they take into account that a school year isn't the same as a full year ? Or do I need to have CHF X amount x 24 months in an account?

The letter stating that 1800 would be transfered..was it an official letter? Is this equivalent to the parental guarantee they requested?

Also do they keep your passport while the permit is being processed?

I think they will take 24 months as I they should issue you 2 year permit.

My letter was just simple confirmation letter from the bank (but I believe the requirements for the EU, even a new EU, countries are less drastic than for the 3rd countries.

About passport - no. You just have to provide them with a passport copy and show the original that's all.

But I honestly suggest you to call the Embassy of Switzerland in your country or even better the Federal Office for Migration of Switzerland (http://www.bfm.admin.ch/bfm/en/tools/kontakte.html) or
Service de la population
Division Etrangers
Av. de Beaulieu 19
1014 Lausanne
Switzerland
Tel : ++41 21 316 46 46
Fax : ++41 21 316 46 45
E-mail : info.etrangers(at)vd.ch

yes for our students it was enough a signed letter from the bank that either you or your sponsor has enough to
A. finance all the studies
B. support yourself for 24 months
C. Be able to support yourself in case of accident (valid insurance)

How come your school is not doing this for you?
When you start traveling make sure you have your acceptance letter with you at all times clearly stating begin and end date.
Place where you will live.

You will have to go to the local commune to sign in basically stating that you are a student resident (B permit for students). This will take a while before you get it.

Thanks you have been very helpful.

I wasn't aware that schools could do this. But in my case it seems as thought he onus lies on the student to get this sorted.

Hello, I would ask your school again as mine did all that for me when I came here and they will at least be able to answer your questions specific to your situation. My school didn't ask me to prove that I had money; however, it was only for one year and in St. Gallen four years ago and I had gotten a loan through them...

Hey!
I am dealing with the same issue, but I am EU-member. Here it says 21000 chf/ year (at least for EU):

http://www.int.uzh.ch/in/master/entry_en.html

...but I have sent an email to the registration office and they wrote me back, that a signed paper from my parents is also ok. In the document they need to specify, that they will support your costs during your university years in Switzerland.

I have still doubt about that one.
What master programme will you join?

Alice

I'm going to be doing my Msc in Actuarial Science at UNIL.

Good luck then! I was just curious

note from the rents is ok if you are EU if not it has to be from the bank. (it is ok if it is your parents account>)