Whether you are going abroad as part of a university exchange programme or an internship, and whether or not you plan to work alongside your academic activity, you may be eligible for grants to fund your stay in Switzerland.

• Scholarships granted by the French government
• Scholarships granted by the European Union
• Scholarships granted by the Swiss government
  • Movetia – Academic Exchange Grant
  • Movetia – internship grant

Scholarships granted by the French government

If you are travelling as part of an exchange programme, and if your parents live in France, we suggest you look into financial aid options available from the conseil départemental, the conseil régional or the mairie of your parents’ main place of residence. 

These grants might not cover the entire duration of your stay or all destinations, but they may be useful.

Please note that some regions and/or departments do not offer this type of mobility grant and/or that the amount of the financial aid available varies from one department or region to another.

For more information, please contact your conseil départemental or your conseil régional directly.

You are allowed to combine several grants when travelling abroad: don’t hesitate to do your own researches!

Scholarships granted by the European Union

Switzerland has been excluded from the ERASMUS+ programme in 2014. This means that no grants are awarded for any academic mobility to a Swiss institution that is a partner of ESSEC.

Switzerland’s return to the ERASMUS+ programme is currently under discussion within the European Union.

However, if you are undertaking an internship in Switzerland for at least 60 days, you are eligible for an ERASMUS+ grant, since it is offered to students undertaking an internship outside of France.

More information here: [ERASMUS+] STUDY and INTERNSHIP mobility grants - How does it work?

Scholarships granted by the Swiss government

To compensate for Switzerland’s exclusion from the ERASMUS+ programme, Movetia – the Swiss agency for the promotion of exchanges and mobility in the education system – offers various grants depending on the nature of your mobility. These are funded by the Swiss Programme for international exchanges.

Movetia – Academic Exchange Grant

Costs covered by the scholarship:

The total amount of the grant goes from CHF 1,430 to CHF 4,500, depending on the duration of your exchange.

These amounts include CHF 100 for eco-friendly travel. This CHF 100 is only paid if the outward and return journeys are made using environmentally friendly transport (train, bus or carpooling).

An additional amount of up to CHF 12,000 may be paid to cover the specific needs of students with disabilities or suffering from physical, mental or chronic illnesses (actual costs subject to the declaration of needs).

The grant is always paid via your Swiss host institution.

Application requirements:

• Be enrolled at a higher education institution,
• Undertake an exchange lasting a minimum of 60 days and a maximum of 12 months,
• ESSEC and your Swiss host institution must have a partnership agreement,
• The courses taken at the Swiss host institution must allow you to earn ECTS credits,
• The Swiss host institution must be officially recognised by the Swiss Confederation as a Swiss university or higher education institution offering tertiary education programmes. Click here to check. 

Application submission and timetable:

To obtain this grant, you must contact the International Relations Office at your Swiss host institution: the institution must first be accredited by Movetia, then submit an application for financial support on your behalf.

Deadlines and procedures vary from one institution to another: please contact your Swiss host institution for further information.

Useful links for further information:

Link to Movetia webpage about this academic exchange grant

Movetia – internship grant

Costs covered by the scholarship:

The monthly grant amount is CHF 440.

These amounts include CHF 100 for eco-friendly travel. This CHF 100 is only paid if the outward and return journeys are made using environmentally friendly transport (train, bus or carpooling).

An additional amount of up to CHF 12,000 may be paid to cover the specific needs of students with disabilities or suffering from physical, mental or chronic illnesses (actual costs subject to the declaration of needs).

The grant is always paid via a Swiss higher education institution. This means that if your placement is not taking place at a university or higher education institution, you must still find a Swiss higher education institution to coordinate your application for financial support.

Application requirements:

• Be enrolled at a higher education institution,
• Undertake an internship lasting a minimum of 60 days and a maximum of 12 months,
• As the scholarship is always channelled through a Swiss higher education institution, the latter must be officially recognised by the Swiss Confederation as a Swiss university or higher education institution offering tertiary-level courses. Click here to check.

The internship in Switzerland may take place at a higher education institution (e.g. a university laboratory), a company, an NGO or a private institute, etc.

Application submission and timetable:

To apply for this scholarship, you must contact the International Relations Office at your chosen Swiss higher education institution: the institution must first be accredited by Movetia and then submit an application for financial support on your behalf.

Deadlines and procedures vary from one institution to another: please contact the chosen Swiss host institution for further information.

Useful links for further information:

Link to Movetia webpage about the internship grant

Movetia – Echanges et mobilité

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4500 Soleure | Suisse