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University fees reduction
| Partial university fees waiver
| Family reduction (VD)
| Semester leave
Partial university fees waiver
SASME examines applications for a partial waiver of course enrolment fees (students who are granted a waiver pay CHF 180 per semester instead of CHF 580) and refers them to UNIL’s Social Assistance Committee (Conseil des aides sociales) for a decision, provided the student fulfils the relevant conditions.
Requests for a waiver should be submitted using the fee waiver application form, which you can download below, accompanied by the relevant supporting evidence. Please send your request by email at affaires.sociales@unil.ch. You can also make an appointment to talk to one of our social counsellors or come into the office during working hours.
Before you apply, please read Rectorate Directive 3.5 to check the eligibility requirements and criteria for being granted a partial waiver of enrolment fees.
Fee waiver application form (207 KB)
Unlike a request for financial assistance, applications for a partial waiver from course enrolment fees must reach SASME by 25 September at the latest for the autumn semester or the academic year and 25 February for the spring semester.
After these dates, SASME won’t accept any application for a partial waiver of course enrolment fees.
Finally, students whose waiting period for their cantonal study grant application is longer than the usual deadline communicated by the Cantonal Office can submit a request for a partial waiver within the aforementioned deadlines.
Therefore, please note that students in receipt of a study grant from the canton are not entitled to apply for a partial waiver of course enrolment fees, since these are included in the amount of the cantonal grant.
Service des affaires sociales et de la mobilité étudiante (SASME)
Questions and request for waiver by email:
affaires.sociales@unil.ch. Please indicate your phone number.
Family reduction (VD)
Single students who are dependent on their parents and who live in the Canton of Vaud may qualify for the family reduction, which consists of a reduction in university fees of CHF 150. Registration fees are reduced for 2 or more children (including the student).
The family reduction is only granted to regular students (i.e. not to students on leave or those already benefiting from other reductions) in the first and second cycles (Bachelor's and Master's).
Applications for a family reduction must be made by completing the family reduction application form and returning it to the Admissions Office together with the supporting documents by the deadline (30 September for the autumn semester and 28 February for the spring semester).
The reduction cannot be granted retroactively, for past semesters, even if the conditions were met.
Semester leave
Students registered at the University of Lausanne may apply for a restricted or complete semester leave during their studies. A semester leave is a period of one or two semesters during which a student follows no teachings at the University of Lausanne but remains registered.
A semester leave may be granted in the following cases:
- attending courses at another Swiss or foreign university, outside of a mobility programme;
- completion of a practical placement;
- preparation for an examination;
- special commitment to the university community;
- military or civilian service;
- pregnancy, maternity or a duly certified medical reason.
Students on semester leave will be exempt from part of the course registration fee and the semester fee: they will only have to pay CHF 210 for restricted leave and CHF 130 for full leave.
For more information on applying for a semester leave, see the Admissions Office website.
