The system established at the beginning of the 2022 academic year, in addition to the new measures planned for the 2023-24 academic year, are in line with the following decisions:

• The plea made by swissuniversities on 27 February 2022, strongly condemning Russia's military intervention in Ukraine;
• The Federal Council decision of 11 March 2022 on the activation of S Protection Status for persons displaced by the war who were domiciled in Ukraine before 24 February 2022 and the decision made on 9 November 2022 providing for the extension of the S protection status until March 2024;
• The 17.03.2022 decisions of the HES-SO Rectorate on the reduction of tuition fees and on hosting students registered in Ukrainian universities or without prior university education in Ukraine;
• The 17.03.2022 decisions of the HES-SO Rectorate on the suspension of all cooperation with Russian universities;
• The 06.12.2022 decisions of the HES-SO Rectorate on the acceptance of students registered in Ukrainian universities for the 2023-24 school year.

HES-SO Geneva supports students who are already attending its higher education institutions, far from their country, who may be facing administrative issues (difficulties in obtaining money transfers from their country of origin, extensions to scholarships, etc.) or who may be suffering psychologically due to the international situation. In order to respond to this emergency two types of support have been activated in collaboration with the University of Geneva:

Financial aid: simplified access to one-time aid, through a relaxation of requirements and the possibility of cumulative aid until the end of the semester, as necessary.

Psychological support: access to and assumption of the costs (in the form of one-time aid) of psychological consultations offered by the Mental Health Department of the University of Geneva.

Contact: etu.hes@hesge.ch

In order to allow a smooth return to study, students who were in training in Ukraine who have obtained protection status (S permit) and are seeking temporary protection in Switzerland may again enroll within the framework of incoming international mobility for the academic year 2023-24.

The six HES-SO Geneva higher education institutions offer twenty-eight Bachelor’s degree programmes, mainly in French, with the exception of the Bachelor’s in International Business Management, taught entirely in English. They also offer twenty Master’s training programmes.

Requirements:

In order to be eligible, students must already be enrolled in a similar course at a recognised Ukrainian university and must meet the language requirements necessary to successfully attend HES education. Mobility has a duration of one year maximum (2 semesters of study).

After one year of training under mobility status, an analysis of each individual circumstances will determine the possibility of exceptionally extending their mobility status, provided that a resumption of studies in Ukraine is unthinkable, even remotely. A minimum of 3 months professional experience is still required.

Benefits:

Incoming students who have fled Ukraine have access to three types of support which have been activated in collaboration with the University of Geneva:

• Financial aid: simplified access to one-time aid, through a relaxation of requirements as well as the possibility of cumulating aid.
• Psychological support: access to and assumption of the costs (in the form of one-time aid) for psychological consultations offered by the Mental Health Department of the University of Geneva.
• French classes: free access to support classes offered by the Languages Department of the University of Geneva throughout the academic year.

They may also access the various non-academic services offered to the The HES-SO Genève student community (social support, cultural and sports activities, housing, etc.).

Contact:

For further information on the various training programmes offered by The HES-SO Genève universities, the special requirements and the support available, contact Student Affairs by email at: etu.hes@hesge.ch 

The HES-SO Genève officially collaborates with the Horizon Académique programme, launched in 2016 at the University of Geneva, to promote the academic and social integration of persons with a history of migration (N, F, B refugee or C refugee permits) who were forced to interrupt a university course in their country and/or who have already completed one or more courses of study.

In the context of the Ukrainian conflict, this scheme has been extended to holders of an S permit. Thus, HES education candidates are given the opportunity to benefit from special measures aimed at improving their chances of success and integration.

Contact:

For information on Horizon Académique, contact the programme by email: horizonacademique@unige.ch