Tuition Fees and Financial Aid

Tuition fees

  • Non-resident students: CHF 8,000 per year (CHF 4,000 per semester)
  • Resident students*: CHF 5,000 per year (CHF 2,500 per semester)

* A resident is a person holding a Swiss residence permit at the time of application and having paid taxes in Switzerland during that period. Foreign students will be asked to submit a copy of their residence permit; foreign and Swiss students may be asked to submit a copy of their tax declaration. Residents with a diplomatic status can submit a copy of their valid diplomatic residence permit ("carte de légitimation").

Students who are non-residents at the time of application, and who subsequently obtain a residence permit at the start of their studies, pay non-resident tuition fees for the duration of their degree studies.

MA students residing in Switzerland, who apply for PhD admission while enrolled, qualify for resident tuition fees for the duration of their PhD studies.

Swiss citizens residing outside of Switzerland at the time of application qualify for non-resident tuition fees for the duration of their degree studies. A Swiss income tax notification, covering the time of application, may be required to determine resident or non-resident status.
 

Cost of studies

  • Students must plan an annual budget of at least CHF 18,000 for living costs, to which tuition fees must be added (see budget estimate).
  • The annual cost of education is therefore approx. CHF 26,000 for a non-resident student and CHF 23,000 for a resident student.
     

Financial support

  • The Institute strives to support its students throughout the duration of their studies, to the extent of its ability. It does so through financial aid (below) and paid jobs (teaching assistantships, research assistantships and administrative positions). In 2017, nearly half of our students received direct or indirect financial support from the Institute.
     
  • In particular, the Institute makes extensive efforts to assist its doctoral students. We aim to make financial aid available to all first year doctoral students with documented financial need. In subsequent years, doctoral students may apply for a teaching or research assistantship. The option of applying for a scholarship also remains open during the four-year programme, particularly in the final year to help with the completion of the thesis.
     

Financial aid
 

The Institute invests considerable resources in financial aid, with the goal of attracting talented scholars from around the world, regardless of origin and financial ability. While other institutions generally offer only tuition reduction, the Institute also provides a large number of scholarships of CHF 20,000 each.

We expect all of our students to contribute toward the cost of their education. Therefore, and in a spirit of responsibility and solidarity, each recipient of a full tuition waiver is required to pay an annual tuition fee of CHF 1,000. 

Financial aid is awarded by the Scholarship Committee on the basis of a written application documenting financial need; by exception, a few merit-based scholarships are awarded each year on the basis of academic excellence.

Financial aid may take the following forms:

  • A full scholarship in the amount of CHF 20,000;
     
  • A partial scholarship in the amount of CHF 10,000;
     
  • A merit scholarship awarded on the basis of academic excellence; it may be associated with a paid position as a teaching assistant or with need-based tuition reduction. An annual tuition fee of CHF 1,000 is charged in all cases.

In addition, tuition reduction may be awarded on its own or in combination with all types of scholarships.

Scholarships and tuition fee reductions and/or waivers are awarded for one year and may be renewed on the basis of a documented application, in accordance with the resources available at the Institute. Full scholarships for Master degree students are generally renewed for a second year, following review of the student’s financial situation, provided that the s/he is in good academic standing and depending on the availability of financial resources.

More information:

Jobs outside the Graduate Institute
 

Degree programmes at the Institute are not compatible with full-time employment. Students may work part-time, but this may have an impact on their academic results.

After you enrol, you will receive regular updates about employment opportunities and internships from our Career Services.

According to Swiss legislation, students who hold a student residence permit can work at most 15 hours per week during term time (students can work full-time during vacations). Non-EU citizens are not permitted to work during their first six months of residence in Switzerland.

Other sources

  • Scholarships of the Swiss Confederation available to PhD candidates (note: procedure and deadlines vary depending on country of origin)
  • Affiliated loan programmes (UK, Canada): information sheet
  • Scholarships from your government to finance studies abroad: check the website of the Ministry of Education in your home country