The University of Fribourg is offering a preparatory year for refugees. Candidates who meet the admission requirements, except for the language proficiency level required for studies, are permitted to submit applications for the Hérodote programme. Candidates who have a university background, but do not meet the standard admission requirements, may apply for the Hérodote Plus programme, offered exclusively for Faculty of Humanities study projects.

Admission Requirements:

• Residency in Switzerland
• Permits F, B, N, or protection status S
• Intermediate proficiency in the language of study, French or German (level A2 to B1)
• Materials and financial support for the study project from a recognised integration official
• Hérodote: Candidates must meet the admission requirements for a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree at the University of Fribourg, apart from the stipulated language criteria.
• Hérodote Plus: Candidates are in possession of a university background, turn 25 years of age in the calendar year they begin their studies, and are participating in a study project in the Faculty of Humanities.

Applications are assessed and evaluated individually, and admission to the program depends largely on the feasibility of the study project. Meeting all the above criteria does not guarantee acceptance. The participation fee is CHF 3000 per semester.

Documents required for Application:

• Letter of motivation describing the study project, co-signed by the integration official or another person responsible for integration support.
• Photocopy of Swiss residence permit.
• Photocopy of the back and the front of either passport or valid identity document.
• A complete and up-to-date CV.
• A certificate of upper secondary education with a detailed list of subjects/courses taken and grades achieved over the last three years of upper secondary studies.
• Depending on the country of origin, proof of additional conditions as specified in CAGeo.
• In the event of the completion of a foreign university degree: submit a copy of your Bachelor or Master or equivalent degree certification, details of grades and/or credits attained during the university studies (list of marks/transcript of records), and, if available, a copy of your diploma supplement.

If original documents are not transcribed in the French, German, Italian, or English language then a certified translation, into French, German or English, must be provided.

The same application form is utilised for both the Hérodote and Hérodote Plus programmes. Placement into the most suitable programme is confirmed after a thorough evaluation of each application. Submission dates for applications are from 1 February to 30 April 2025.

Interested? Kindly contact us, before 15 April 2025, on the email herodote@unifr.ch to receive the application form link. In your email, briefly explain why you are a suitable candidate for admission to his programme. Include your place of residence, residence permit type, the name and contact details of the integration official supporting you, and confirmation of at least A2 language proficiency in the language you wish to study.