Money
The currency in Switzerland is Swiss Francs (CHF), although many shops accept Euros. The cost of living in Switzerland is higher than in the rest of Europe. For basic expenses such as food, accommodation and transportation, students will need about CHF 1,500 per month (1400€).
It is almost impossible for foreign students to obtain a work permit in Switzerland, other than in exceptional cases during holidays.
Travelling
There are two international airports, one in Geneva and one in Zürich. Both airports have a direct train
connection so that students can easily get to Yverdon.
For further information on train schedules and reduced fare cards see: www.sbb.ch/en
If you plan on using the train to visit the country, it will be worth it to buy immediately a half-price annual card
and the Track 7 card, giving you unlimited travel before 5am and after 7pm. If you prefer to concentrate all your travels
on a short period, then the SwissPass will be a better option.
Insurance
Health care is very expensive in Switzerland. According to Swiss law, all students must have health and accident insurance. European students need a European insurance card and must submit a copy to HEIG-VD's International Office prior to arrival. For non-European exchange students, HEIG-VD's International Office takes out health insurance according to Swiss law to cover possible expenses. A part of the student grant will be used for this purpose. Students from North America and Japan have to send a copy of their health insurance coverage (in French or English) to HEIG-VD's International Office together with their application documents. With sufficient coverage according to Swiss law no new insurance is necessary.
Accommodation
We have a limited number of rooms in our student residences. In case, rooms are fully booked, the International Office can provide tips for cheap housing in Yverdon-les-Bains.
Sports
The school has numerous partnerships so that student can practice freely varied sports such as badminton, football, rugby,
squash, basketball...
In addition to this, the city of Yverdon offers a wide range of clubs, public beaches, swimming pools and parks. In winter, skiing and snowboarding are very popular.
Some of the slopes can be reached by public transport in less than an hour.
Grading system in Switzerland
In Switzerland, grades vary on a scale of 1 (worst) to 6 (best), with 4 being the minimum grade to acquire the credits.
Facilities for special needs students
School access for physically disabled students: The HEIG-VD has been designed to make it easier for students in wheelchairs to enter its various buildings. Parking spaces are especially reserved for physically disabled students. Where auditoriums, administrative offices, telephones, student lockers and cafeterias are not located on the ground level, access to these areas is possible via lifts.
Study facilities
Registered students may take out books from the HEIG-VD library and from other university libraries throughout Switzerland thanks to our national library network NEBIS.
Most students use their personal laptop. Internet access is available everywhere in the school, but only in some of the student accommodations.
Classrooms have electronic teaching and learning aids, such as overhead projectors, video beamers, etc., which are available to lecturers and students.
Getting around in Yverdon
As Yverdon is a small town, you can get around by bus, on foot or by bike. Students recieve a Donkey Republic bike pass giving
you access to bikes on the 2 campuses and all around town.
There are very few parking lots on the campuses, and one must buy a "macaron" or pay for the day, the use in Yverdon
is to come to the campus on foot, by bike or public transport.
Languages
Engineering courses at HEIG-VD are taught in French.
The business department offers a variety of courses in English
A French language course is given but not throughout the entire year. Otherwise, french language courses are available upon request from a number of private and public institutions in the vicinity. Students doing a study project can communicate in English with their professors.
Student associations
The students association aims to promote students interests and encourage exchanges between students from different departments. It also organizes social events such as sporting events, concerts, grill parties, etc. age.heig-vd.ch