Military service is compulsory for Swiss citizens (recruit school, refresher courses and civil protection).

As far as possible, military duties are completed before the start of studies so as not to disrupt students’ academic path. An absence of several months due to military service is interpreted as an interruption of studies.

However, if for academic reasons (e.g. annual courses or exams), military or civil service needs to be postponed, it is possible to submit an application.

Within each of the six schools of the HES-SO Genève, an advisor from the liaison office is responsible for making arrangements for studies and military or civil service.  For all travel or leave requests, it essential to give advance notice to the contact person :

• HEPIA : Anne-Catherine Rinckenberger, contact
• HEG : Alexandre Boder, contact  
• HEAD : Maeva Mourlan, contact 
• HEM : Joëlle-Anne Cavat, contact
• HEDS : Alessandra Catalani, contact
• HETS : Diane Christinaz, contact
   

Procedure for service travel requests (demande de déplacement de service - DDS)

Service travel requests should be submitted to the military authority in written form, along with all the necessary supporting documents. Responses from the Swiss army will also be sent in writing to the students.

As a general rule, requests should be made no later than 14 weeks before the start of service, even if the running order has not yet been received. In the event of forgetting or late submission, the unit commander has the authority to release the student on the day of entry into service.

The dates for recruit schools and refresher courses are listed on the army website and it is the student's responsibility to read them: https://www.vtg.admin.ch/fr/mon-service-militaire/conscrits/recrues.html

For all reasoned requests for service travel, the soldier concerned should complete the relevant form  available on the army website and submit it to the school’s liaison advisor: https://www.vtg.admin.ch/fr/mon-service-militaire/conscrits/recrues.html (in French).

After examining the request, the advisor will complete the student’s documents and send them to the liaison agency.

Regarding deferral requests for civil protection courses, students must duly complete and submit a course deferral request form specifically for UNIGE and HES students: https://www.geneve.ch/fr/demarches/ajournement-cours-protection-civile-etudiants (in French).