The International Office supports international students upon their arrival in Switzerland and at the Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNW. The International Office assists with all organisational and administrative matters and helps students with their orientation and networking on site.
Together with the exchange students, international students are invited to the International Student Activities of the FHNW, where they learn about student life on campus and life in Switzerland.
International students from EU and EFTA countries need a valid passport or identity card to enter Switzerland. Transitional regulations apply to nationals of the new EU member states.
International Students with citizenship from non-EU and EFTA countries must apply for a national visa in person at the Swiss embassy or consulate in their own country / place of residency. Information on migration regulations can be obtained from the Swiss representations abroad.
Once you have entered Switzerland you will have 14 days to register at the local authorities to obtain a residence permit: Migrationsamt Basel-Stadt (Migration Office Canton BS) Amt für Migration Basel Landschaft (Migration Office Canton BL)
To register you must bring several documents with you, a list can be found on the respective migration office‘s website.
The Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNW does not offer housing options. International students are responsible for finding suitable accommodation in Basel or the surrounding area. You can find housing and rooming options on the following websites:
If you have not yet found an apartment before the start of your studies, we advise you to arrive a few weeks prior in order to find suitable accommodation.
Everyone staying in Switzerland for over 3 months is legally required to have health insurance coverage. If you do not get health insurance, the Swiss authorities will assign you a health insurance plan that can become very expensive, so make sure you do not miss the 3 month deadline! More about Swiss health insurance requirements can be found here.
Basic health insurance covers medical treatment in case of illness and accident.
EU / EFTA students If you hold a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) you can apply to be exempt from Swiss compulsory health insurance as long as your policy offers equivalent coverage. Make sure you do this within 3 months of arriving in Switzerland. If you start working, you must take out Swiss health insurance.
Non - EU / EFTA students You can also apply to be exempt from Swiss compulsory health insurance as long as you have private insurance coverage that is equivalent to that of a Swiss health insurer. If your private insurance does not qualify you must obtain coverage from an authorized Swiss health insurer.
You are free to choose your insurance company, one affordable option for foreign students is swisscare.
The semester schedule is sent to the students by the respective institute about 3 weeks before semester begin. The current course catalog can be found here.
