The costs of a semester abroad depend on the destination, length of stay, organisational arrangement and personal situation. First, it must be clarified which tuition fees are payable to the home institution (Heimathochschule) and the host institution (Gasthochschule). In a partner exchange, the host institution may waive its fees, while charges at the home institution continue to apply. The exchange agreement and the fee information provided by both institutions are binding. The travel budget includes the journey there, the return journey and other necessary trips during the stay. The ongoing living budget includes accommodation, food, local transport and other necessary living costs in particular. A study-abroad budget should also include one-time expenses and a reserve for unforeseen costs. Funding programmes may cover part of the costs and require separate applications and supporting documents. Eligibility, the amount of funding and payment depend on the programme concerned and the responsible institution. Depending on the funding programme, additional support for documented additional costs may be requested in cases of particular individual need. The remaining funding gap can only be determined after confirmed funding has been subtracted from the realistically estimated total costs.
Funding a Mobility Semester During Studies in Switzerland
Mobility funding combines a personal study budget abroad with grants and the fee rules of the higher education institutions involved. An exchange scholarship or mobility grant does not automatically cover all costs and is only secure once a binding award has been confirmed. The budget should record regular expenses, one-time travel costs and possible additional costs separately.