Financial aid

• You are in your first year of the Bachelor’s in Nursing program (and did not apply to another program at the time of enrollment), or in your second year (regardless of the program you initially applied for)

And you are in one of the following situations:

• The SBPE has denied your application or is not providing sufficient support 
• You are undergoing career transition and have been denied SBPE support or received insufficient support
• You have applied for assistance from another canton, or from France if you or one of your parents has cross-border worker status, and this support was denied or insufficient.

​​​​​​​All eligibility criteria are detailed in the Directive on supplementary financial aid for nursing studies at the HEdS Genève, which serves as the official reference.

• Fall semester: August 1 through September 30 for current students; September 3 through 30 for new students, after enrollment and activation of their AAI/EduID account
• Spring semester: January 15 through February 28

For cantonal procedures, information on application processing, and what to do if you are waiting for a response, see “Practical Steps.”

Reserved for HEM students. The University of Geneva’s Financial Aid Service can refer your application for one-time financial aid to this fund for housing assistance. This support can be combined with another type of emergency assistance.

Reserved for HEPIA students. Merit-based scholarship of up to 16,000 CHF per year, automatically assessed by the University of Geneva’s Financial Aid Service as part of your application for a monthly scholarship.

Eligibility:

• Have successfully completed, with distinction, the Federal Certificate of Competence (CFC) and the vocational baccalaureate in one of HEPIA’s fields of study, or have successfully completed the first year of a Bachelor’s program at HEPIA (a condition for scholarship disbursement, respectively, starting at the beginning of the first year or the beginning of the second year); or, for a Master’s program, have previously earned a Bachelor’s degree at HEPIA.
• Maintain a minimum annual GPA of 4.5 out of 6 throughout the academic program.
• Not engage in paid work for more than fifteen hours per week during the first two years of study.
• Submit an annual report on the experience and learning gained during the year to the Financial Aid Service at the University of Geneva in the form of a testimonial.

For any academic questions related to your application, please contact Mr. Tony Mangone, Head of Academic Coordination at HEPIA, by email.

The Ehrhardt-Hornung Foundation follows an independent application process. The process is handled by the HES-SO Genève Student Affairs Service (etu.hes@hesge.ch).

This fund supports deserving HES students up to the Master’s level whose financial situation is insufficient to undertake or continue their studies in Switzerland or abroad. It is intended for three categories of students:

• Students from Geneva or elsewhere in Switzerland who are permanently resident in Geneva
• Students whose parents have been domiciled or have been taxpayers in the canton of Geneva for at least one year
• Foreign students who were domiciled and taxpayers in Geneva for three years after turning 18 and before the start of their studies, provided they were continuously employed in a paid position for at least half-time during that period

Submit all your applications (monthly scholarships, emergency assistance, complementary mobility assistance, as well as nursing scholarships and private funds (except for the Ehrhardt-Hornung Foundation) using the same online form from the University of Geneva’s Financial Aid Service, with your AAI/EduID.

Access the form

For monthly scholarships from private funds or HES-SO Genève, nursing scholarships, and mobility grants, first check your eligibility for cantonal and state financial aid.

• If you receive a cantonal scholarship or are receiving social assistance, you are not eligible to receive a monthly scholarship.
• If you meet the criteria to apply for a cantonal scholarship, submit that application before or at the same time as your application to the University of Geneva’s Financial Aid Service, in accordance with the deadlines specified for each type of scholarship.

The University of Geneva’s Financial Aid Service processes only complete applications submitted by the deadline and does not accept any retroactive applications.

Submit the online form as soon as registration opens to receive a prompt response, as applications are processed in the order they are received!

The complete list of required documents depends on the type of application. It is available in the Guidelines: Financial Aid 2026-27. The University of Geneva’s Financial Aid Service may ask you to provide additional documents in order to assess your situation.

In any case, please provide:

• A letter explaining your situation
• A form of identification or a residence permit
• Your personal IBAN
• Your most recent tax assessment notice, and that of your parents or guarantors if you are under 25 and/or financially dependent
• Any income not listed on the tax assessment notice (e.g., donations, scholarships from other organizations, undeclared wages).

Other resources:

• Employment certificate
• AFC - tax assessment notice and income and wealth statement
• Opening a student bank account in Switzerland

Response times are often long, ranging from a few weeks to several months. Plan ahead! This timeframe applies to both HES-SO Genève scholarships and cantonal scholarships (SBPE or other cantons).

Haven’t heard back from the cantonal scholarship office yet? The University of Geneva’s Financial Aid Service will process your application immediately. If you are subsequently awarded a cantonal scholarship, you will be required to repay any amounts already disbursed.

Are you waiting for a response to your financial aid application and unable to pay your HES tuition? Request a payment extension at facturation.hes@hesge.ch, attaching proof of your financial aid application.

Starting at the beginning of the academic year, financial aid drop-in sessions will be available on several campuses, open to all HES students across all six schools. Staff members from the University of Geneva’s Financial Aid Service will answer your questions regarding eligibility criteria, required documents, and the application process.

• HEdS: Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, 12:30–1:30 p.m., Room 202A, 47 Avenue de Champel
• HEM: Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, 12:30–1:30 p.m., conference room, 2 Rue Général-Dufour, 4th floor
• HEG: Tuesday, Sept. 15, and Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026,12:30–1:30 p.m.
• HETS: Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, 12:30–1:30 p.m., Room E405, Building E, rue du Pré-Jérôme

Contact: Student Affairs HES-SO Genève: etu.hes@hesge.ch

The Financial Aid Service is also open at Uni Dufour, at the Vie de Campus desk (1st floor):

• Wednesdays 2:00–4:00 p.m. and Thursdays 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. (to be confirmed)
• Email: aides-financieres@unige.ch
• Phone hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m., 022 379 77 79

Check your eligibility for a cantonal grant under the Law on Student Grants and Loans (LBPE) of your home canton. Emergency assistance is an exception to this step.

In Geneva, contact the Service des bourses et prêts d’études (SPBE) and submit your application exclusively online, no earlier than the summer before the start of the academic year and no later than six months after the start of the program.

Are you starting a career change or a second degree program? Check whether you meet the eligibility requirements for career change grants under the Law on Student Grants and Loans (LBPE).

If you are not eligible, the Office of Student Affairs (etu.hes@hesge.ch) will inform you of the available alternatives.

As an HES student, you may be eligible to receive up to CHF 750 to fund continuing education, subject to certain conditions. The annual training voucher covers all or parts of a course lasting at least 40 hours. Review the eligibility requirements and application process.