University of Geneva

About: 

The University of Geneva (UNIGE), founded in 1559, is the second largest university in Switzerland with more that 17 000 students from a wide range of backgrounds.  It has over 500 programmes and 343 continuation programmes, which cover a wide variety of disciplines. The university is known for its strong international representation, its high quality research and its excellent teaching.

Highlights: 

The university is located across several districts in the eastern part of Geneva and in the city Carouge (near landmarks such as the lake Léman and the Rhône). Lectures are given in six different locations.

The university has  a plethora of sporting activities which are available to students, including free sports lessons and the university sends teams to the Swiss university championships. The University's Cultural Services offers many ways  for students to get involved by hosting cultural events and activities such as concerts, screening, debates and more. 

Location: 

Geneva, Switzerland

Courses / Modules: 

Students are required to submit a preliminary study plan which should be based on the university's course programme. If the course name is given in French, it means the class is taught in French . If the course name is in English, it is taught in English. In general, master's classes are not open to bachelor students.

Credit (Full-time Load per semester): 

You must take a full credit load while on exchange.  The University of Geneva uses the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) to show credit values.  30 ECTS is the equivalent to 60 York credits, and 60 ECTS is the equivalent to 120 York credits.  

Teaching Periods: 

Semester 1: September- January

Semester 2: February- May

(Check the academic calendar  for specific teaching periods.)

Language: 

B2 French is required for most undergraduate courses. There may be opportunities for exchange students to take part in French classes - check with your department if you are able to take such courses for credit. 

Accommodation: 

In Geneva, accommodation is very limited so to apply for university managed accommodation you should complete the online forms that there are links to in your letter of acceptance.  Filling in the form does not mean that you will automatically get a room.  Check the academic exchange webpage for up to date deadlines.

BLOG, which is the university housing office, manages housing for students. They offer different types of accommodation, single rooms in residences with shared kitchens and bathrooms, single rooms in community apartments for 2-7 people or studios (or around 675 beds).  BLOG allows students to announce that they have a room to rent and provides this information to students. Check out the university residences on offer and the accommodation webpages for more information.

In terms of private accommodation, the University of Geneva urges students to take precautions before making payments.  Many of the announcements on the university website are not fact checked for accuracy so proceed with caution.  Check out the private accommodation webpage for guidelines on how to proceed.

Orientation / Welcome week:  

The welcome days offered by the University of Geneva allow students to prepare for their time at the University. They are designed to help you understand how teaching methods work, what services are available to you via UNIGE and to connect you with experienced students to ask them practical questions. Here is webpage that details one of the previous welcome days.

Support Services: 

The International Affairs Office is in charge of organising the exchange and reception of students and offers administrative assistance during the exchange. 

UNIGE provide additional information on their support for students with disabilities and health conditions  

Visas: 

You may need a visa to study in Switzerland.  If you are a UK National you must refer to the  Gov.uk Travel Advice page for Switzerland and its Living in Switzerland guide to check on any visa requirements, and raise any queries directly with the relevant embassy/consulate.   If you are not a UK national you should check equivalent advice for your home country.

Travel insurance:  

If you complete the Travel Authorisation process and are approved by the University of York to participate in this programme, you will be covered by the University's Travel Insurance Policy. This is a complimentary policy to cover you for the duration of your University of York mobility experience. Please refer to the Insurance website for all travel insurance queries.  You may be required to obtain health insurance valid during your exchange. 

Health insurance: 

Students travelling to Europe may be able to apply for a free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or in some circumstances a new UK-issued European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which gives the right to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in the EU. You are strongly recommended to obtain a GHIC / EHIC if eligible. To check your eligibility and find out how to apply if you are eligible, go to the NHS page on Applying for healthcare cover abroad (GHIC and EHIC).

Additional information about health insurance for international students is available from the University of Geneva.

 You can be the first student to share your experience of studying at the University of Geneva!

Have a look at some more student stories on the Global Opportunities website!

• Université de Genéve Website

• Universite de Geneve Fact Sheet

• Academic Exchange Webpages

• Foreign Travel Advice for Switzerland

• Numbeo - cost of living comparison site

• Expatistan - cost of living comparison site

If you find any broken links, please email us at global-opportunities@york.ac.uk

Global Opportunities - Drop in and see us at Derwent College D/A/023, Tuesdays-Thursdays 11-1pm

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Book a virtual appointment with one of our advisors: Emily or Stephanie, or email global-opportunities@york.ac.uk for further support.