Track B - University of Geneva Enrollment 

Step 2: Submit University Enrollment (Spring students only) - Due August 31st 

FOR TRACK B STUDENTS ONLY

IMPORTANT: Prior to enrolling on the University website (first step for your visa invitation), you need to:

1. Take a French Placement Test (for more information on the Test and levels and for resources to prepare for it, click here) 

2. Get your Plan of Study approved by revising it with your academic advisor abroad, G. Piron, during 1:1 sessions on TBD.

Your French placement test is an important part of your application.  Please, register here (you must enter your email address twice), validate and pay, and then take the test. It should not take more than 40 minutes. It is divided into parts (grammar and vocab, written understanding, and oral understanding), and you will see that it is growing more and more difficult at each session in each part. Don't worry if you have to drop: it is intended to become increasingly difficult up to a native speaker's level! Just do your best.  At the end, you should click on the button on the top left which proposes to send you the result (A2-B1, B1-B2, maybe B2-C1 if you are very strong). 

Don't worry about the test, it may be imprecise and you will all take French courses to support your integration. However, note that some courses (Psychology, Science) are open only to students with a B2 level. 

The price is CHF 24.- (to be paid with a credit card). It will be reimbursed by Smith College (in cash when you arrive in Geneva).

Please upload the result of your test when you register online for your mobility – AND send it to the academic director Geneviève Piron by email. Please, address the program director for any questions you may have.

Step 2.B

1. Check your emails and open the message Université de Genève- online registration sent to you by Claire.Giordano@unige.ch around August 13. (you may have to check in your spam folder).

2. You will need to create an account with the University of Geneva. You can consult the University Instructions and Guidelines attached in the email, however, it is important that you refer to a more thorough users’ guide by following the explanations below.

3. The University of Geneva (UNIGE) is responsible for providing visas and other legal documents allowing your stay. You need to check your UNIGE email account and are responsible for respecting their deadlines.

4. Smith College cannot be accountable for missing steps in the visa and the University’s registration process. In case of problems or questions, please refer to the pre-departure info session on April 9 (in case you cannot/couldn't join, please inform gpiron@smith.edu).

5. Complete the  University of Geneva Enrollment online form. You can switch it to English if you prefer.

Note: You will need to be prepared to upload the following:

•  a photo (.jpg)

•  a copy of your passport

•  a copy of your unofficial transcript

•  a French test

•  an essay – motivation statement (you can use the application essay you created for your Smith in Geneva application

6. A Plan of study: you need to prepare your Plan of Study by following the step-by-step guidelines here and to get this Plan approved during a 1:1 advising session with Madame Piron on August 18-20. A CORRECT PLAN OF STUDY IS REQUIRED BY THE UNIVERSITY TO GET YOUR VISA APPLICATION SENT!

University of Geneva Registration Notes

Step 2: Register Your data is not saved until you have reached the confirmation step at the end of the registration form and clicked on “confirm”. Once you submit your form, you cannot go back and make changes.

Registration Step 1.2 Field of Study: Your major or the field that corresponds to what you want first and foremost to study in Geneva. (restrictions apply)

Registration Step 1.4 Mobility timetable: DON’T MAKE A MISTAKE HERE! THE DATES YOU INDICATE WILL BE THE DATES ON YOUR VISA!

§   Spring students starting date 20.01.2026 / end date 30.06.2026

Registration Step 1.5 Main hosting faculty at University of Geneva: Please, enter the hosting faculté (department) of the courses of your major and of the courses that you intend to take at the University of Geneva (in case of doubts, submit them during your 1.1 advising session): you will be allowed to take courses in another department, but only in one other department (apart from French courses). SDS = Government, GSI = International Studies, GSEM = Economics, Lettres = Humanities;

IMPORTANT: choose Bachelor  (mandatory)

Registration Step 2.1 Study Plan: Indicate a minimum of five 6 ECTS  classes. Although you will most probably take French at the Smith Center and will take less credits than that (Smith College requires 24 ECTS credits, i.e. 16 SC credits), it is required by the University to get the status of invited students. 

IMPORTANT: The University of Geneva is a French-speaking institution. Classes in English are a minority. Here is a list of interesting courses students have taken in the past.

Registration Step 2.2 French Test: Please note that even if your courses are fully or partially in English (or another language), it is important for the University to check that you have a certain level of understanding in  French.

You will attach your French test (see above) on step 5.2

Registration Step 3 Additional information: (N° SIUS and N° AVS): Leave blank 

Registration Step 4 Accommodation:

4.1.: Enter your home address (or address on Smith College campus)  

4.2.: Give the Smith Center address:  

c/o: Smith College  

Street: 16, bd Georges-Favon  

Postal number: 1204  

City: Geneva  

Country: Switzerland

Fixed phone number: +41.22.328.50.72  

Mobile phone number: +1 ….Be careful that this number may be used by UNIGE after your arrival as a duo authentication!  

4.3.: Accommodation: Don’t tick the box (you don’t need the accommodation from the University,  the Smith College Program will make the reservations for you.

Last step: Confirmation  

Attention: once you have confirmed, your application is final. You will only be able to view it, no further changes are possible.

Please, reread the checklist, then check the small box that confirms that you have not missed a  step, then click on “confirm”.  

DONE!!! ;) 

Please, address the program director for any questions you may have: gpiron@smith.edu.

ATTENTION

• Your data is not saved until you have reached the confirmation step at the end of the registration form and clicked on “confirm”. 

• Once you submit your form, you cannot go back and make changes.

*Université de Genève- online registration : example of the message sent by Claire Giordano on August 24th last year:

"You have been nominated by your home institution for an exchange at the University of Geneva.

To validate it, please register online by  September 10, 2024

 Please follow the steps 1 to 5:                      

1.    Draw up your study plan with the help of the attached “Guide Study Plan”; you will have to provide your study plan during your registration. To get the list of courses in English only, please tick the option “langue d’enseignement” as described in the guide.

2.    Prepare the documents you will need to upload (respect the format):

3. Please read the attached guide “Registration for mobility”, and then

4. Create your Orisis account and register, following the intructions given in the guide: https://wwwo.unige.ch/RiMobIn/faces/login

       5. Read our website to know more about your future exchange: www.unige.ch/geneva

Your acceptance letter and visa information will be sent by the end of October, provided that you have completed the registration correctly.

It is sent to the e-mail you used for the ORISIS account. Please always use this email to contact us.

Looking forward to welcoming you soon in Geneva,
Kind regards,
Claire Giordano
International Exchange Coordinator"