Tuition fees

The Swiss Summer School is financed through participant’s fees.

There are two fees:

  1. Reduced fee: 700 Swiss Francs per weekly workshop for students. (Recommendation letter or proof of student status required; see below).
  2. Normal fee: 1100 Swiss Francs per weekly workshop for all others.

These fees include one of the optional preliminary workshops (two-day workshops preceding the Summer School). A preliminary workshop can be booked alone for 200 CHF.

You will receive a confirmation/invoice by e-mail (within two weeks from the date of registration).

Important: Your registration is conditional until the fee has been fully paid. Your payment is due within three weeks, after receiving the confirmation/invoice. If you fail to do so, your application will be canceled and your place offered to the first person on the waiting list.

If you apply late (July or later), make sure that the payment is made a week before the Summer School starts at the very latest. If you register late send a copy of the proof of payment to FORS or the Summer School director, to make sure that your payment is recorded without delay.

Reduced Fee

To qualify for the reduced fee, you are required to send a copy of an official document that certifies your current student status or a letter from your supervisor stating your actual position as a doctoral or postdoctoral student. Send this letter/document by e-mail to the Summer School director or by postal mail to Swiss Summer School, c/o FORS, University of Lausanne, Bâtiment Géopolis, CH-1015 Lausanne.

Grants, financial support

As the Summer School is exclusively financed by participant fees, it cannot offer any grant to participants. See below for some advice on how to get financial assistance.

Payment

Payment instructions for paying by bank transfer are found on your invoice/confirmation. (See below for alternatives)

Cancellation/refunding rules

Please note that if you cancel your registration for any reason, the following rules apply to refunding:

  1. Before May 1st: We will retain 50 CHF to cover our costs.
  2. Between May 1st and June 30, we will refund 50% of the paid fees.
  3. From July 1st: No refunds will be made.

As the Summer School is entirely financed by participant’s fees, we do not refund late cancellations for whatever reason. Depending upon your financial situation, a cancellation insurance might be advisable. Check if you already have one, as many travel insurances include cancellations.

Seeking financial assistance: Some advice

As the Summer School is financed through participant’s fees alone and has no funds of its own, it cannot offer any scholarship, grants or financial aid. Here’s some advice on how to seek financial assistance to cover the Summer School fees.

Students from Swiss Universities and research institutions

  • As the National Science Foundation stopped offering grants for attending Summer Schools and similar events, universities were asked to set aside funds specifically for this kind of training; enquire in your department, institute, faculty or university.

In addition:

  • Find out how continuous training is funded in your institutional setting.
  • (PhD) Students: check with your supervisor/program director if funds are available within your doctoral programme
  • Check within your institution: most universities and other academic institutions have special grants, prices etc; these are sometimes limited to students in specific disciplines/areas/themes etc. Most universities have an office/contact person who can help you to find out what is available. Note that these grants often require an early application.

Students from foreign universities

  • Check with your country’s national science foundation or equivalent. Many countries finance participation in Summer Schools.
  • In the past, Unesco has granted financial assistance for Summer Schools, especially for students from Eastern European and Non-European countries. [Info here]
  • Unesco publishes every year a worldwide guide to grants, subsidies etc. [Reference]
  • Please inquire at your own institution; most universities have a special office or a contact person who can help you to find out what is available.

How to pay the Summer School fees (options)

Payment details are also found on the invoice. Currently, it is not possible to pay by credit card.

How to pay

  • Bank transfer to the following bank account:
        Fors, University of Lausanne
        Bâtiment Géopolis, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
        Banque cantonale vaudoise, Lausanne, Switzerland, BIC/SWIFT: BCVLCH2LXXX
        Account number : 5169.98.42  IBAN CH70 0076 7000 C516 9984 2

    Make sure that your name and the invoice number are shown on the bank order (remark field).
    Important: Bank transfer charges must be paid by the sender.

  • By check: Send your check to:
    Swiss Summer School, c/o FORS
    University of Lausanne, Bâtiment Géopolis.
    CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
    Make sure to include your name and the invoice number; bank charges must be paid by the sender.
  • For payments within Switzerland: If you prefer you can also ask Mrs. Bloch at FORS to send you a postal payment order (“Einzahlungschein”/”Bulletin de Versement”). Make sure that your name and the invoice number appear on the payment slip.