Questions (and Answers) about StudEx

1. General questions about StudEx
2. Criteria for admission and support
3. Looking for a placement: Signing up with StudEx
4. Looking for a placement: Application documents
5. Looking for a placement: Salary and accommodation
6. Application for a grant
7. During the placement
8. At the end of a placement

When was StudEx founded?
From 1991 to 1995, StudEx - at the time under the name of FORMITT (Formation in Media Information and Telecommunications Technologies) - placed students of information technologies and telecommunications in the framework of the programme COMETT which promoted the collaboration between universities and companies in the field of technology. In 1995 the European Union launched a new programme generation, including the vocational programme “Leonardo da Vinci”. Since then, StudEx has supported more than 1500 trainees.

How many trainees a year are supported by StudEx?
The number of trainees which can be placed and supported depends on our yearly budget. Since 2004 we have supported about 200 trainees a year (in 2007 204 trainees profited from a StudEx grant).

Who supplies StudEx with the money necessary to issue grants?
The Swiss State Secretariat of Education and Research (SER) mandated StudEx with the implementation of the „Leonardo da Vinci“-Programme.

What is the minimum and maximum duration of a placement?
The minimum duration for students is 3, for graduates and young worker 2 months. A traineeship can never last longer than 12 months.

I am planning to study at a University of Applied Sciences next year. In order to be admitted I need to complete a one-year work experience. Can StudEx support me?
StudEx can only support you if you begin your traineeship no more than twelve months after your graduation (professional A-levels; “Berufsmatura”).

I have just completed my A-levels (high school degree). Can I register for a placement?
No. The aim of the European vocational programme „Leonardo da Vinci“ is to give young people the opportunity to gain work experience abroad during or after their formation. This is why we can only place and support students, graduates and young workers who are already specialized in a certain field or profession.

I completed my studies / my apprenticeship two years ago. Can StudEx support me?
Unfortunately not. „Leonardo da Vinci“ helps young people to gain work experience abroad right after their formation. You should therefore complete your traineeship abroad either during your studies or after your graduation from university or your vocational school (the formation must be on the level tertiary A or B or secondary II). As a graduate please note that you cannot start your traineeship later than twelve months after your final exams

Can I benefit more than once from a Leonardo grant?
Yes. You can participate in the programme as a young worker once you have completed your apprenticeship and later on when you achieved your professional A-levels. Also, it is possible to complete one traineeship per study cycle (Bachelor, Master, PhD). Students may therefore complete up to three traineeships. Furthermore, as a Bachelor, Master and a PhD graduate you may undertake another traineeship, meaning that over the course of your studies a maximum of six traineeships can be completed. However, StudEx cannot support more than one traineeship per study cycle and after every graduation respectively. It is also not permitted to apply for Erasmus scholarships as well as for a traineeship grant at the same time.

I am studying at a University in the German-speaking part of Switzerland and I am looking for a placement in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. Can StudEx help me?
No. Interested candidates from the German-speaking part of Switzerland can only be placed abroad. For placements in Switzerland, please check our link list.

Can I apply for a placement outside of Europe?
No. The EU vocational programme „Leonardo da Vinci“ which StudEx implements for the German-speaking part and the Rhaeto-Romanic region of Switzerland , is restricted to the 27 EU member states, 3 EFTA/EWR countries and Turkey (please find the list of participating countries here, i.e. in order to be eligible to the programme your traineeship must take place in one these countries.

Are there organizations that place students outside of Europe and provide grants?
You can find other organizations providing placement opportunities and exchange programmes on our link list. As far as we know there is no other organization which issues grants for placements or other exchanges.

How can I register for a placement abroad / in the German-speaking part of Switzerland?
You can sign up online. After your registration we will check your entry and publish it anonymously in the trainee-pool on our website. At the same time we will ask you to send us your CV and letter of motivation by e-mail.

Students and graduates from the EU are required to send us a written confirmation that they are eligible to the Erasmus or Leonardo-Programme respectively as well as the signed form “University Confirmation”. Please contact the mobility office of your university and ask them to sign and send us these documents. As soon as we have received them, you will be asked to send us your cv and motivation letter by e-mail.

When should I register up for a placement abroad / in the German-speaking part of Switzerland?
Between three and five month before you wish to start your placement.

Do I have to send the „Request for a Leonardo-grant“ including the necessary forms when applying for a placement?
No. Swiss candidates can register online, candidates from the EU via mobility office of their university (see above). You may hand in the request for a grant once you found a placement with our help or by yourself.

I am a foreign student, graduate or young worker and I am looking for a placement in the French- or Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. Can StudEx help me?
In the French-speaking part of Switzerland, our partner office Swiss Occidental Leonardo is responsible for the placement of students, graduates and young workers. In the Italian-speaking part, Lingue e stage all’estero is implementing the Leonardo-Programme.

What is part of an application?
Normally, StudEx sends several applications to a company and leaves the recruitment decision to their human resources department. As there is usually no interview for a placement abroad, the application documents are very important. A complete dossier contains a CV, a motivation letter and the most important diplomas. The dossier should be in German. If you don’t have sufficient knowledge of German, you may write the dossier in English. Please send it to us by e-mail.

What should a CV look like?
The European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) suggests to use the „European Standard CV“ since it contains the relevant terms in the respective language. You can download the cv in five different languages from our website. A scanned color photograph additionally increases the value of your application.

What is a motivation letter?
A motivation letter is a general application which does not refer to a specific placement. Present yourself as well as your formation and describe your interests. Furthermore, explain why you would like to complete a traineeship and why you have chosen Switzerland as a host country. Indicate in which branches you would like to work and do mention if you have already gained experience in this sector. Please do not forget to indicate when and for how long you are available. StudEx will send you various offers and will only forward your application, once you confirmed your interest. At this point you will also have the opportunity to adapt the motivation letter, should you wish so.

Will my salary and grant cover my living expenses during the placement?
Most of the placements in Switzerland are paid. StudEx provides a grant the amount of which depends on the salary. Depending on the individual standard of living, the salary and the grant may be enough to cover the costs of living. However, StudEx cannot guarantee a sufficient cover. For more information on the living expenses in Switzerland, check the information of the Federal Office of Migration.

Do I need to look for accommodation on my own or is it provided?
Neither StudEx nor the companies (apart from some exceptions) organize accommodation. However, you can find a number of links to accommodation websites here. Additionally, we recommend trainees to ask their host company at the beginning of the placement to help them finding a suitable accommodation.

What are the deadlines that I need to respect when applying for a grant?
You may complete your traineeship either during your studies or after your graduation. Please note, however, that you cannot start your traineeship later than twelve months after your final exams. The application for a grant must be sent to us no later than 4 weeks after the beginning of a placement (the date stamp being relevant). Applications of students and graduates are processed in bimonthly application rounds. Please take note of the different entry dates. Should you be dependent on a grant, we recommend you to hand in your application in time.

May I apply for a grant before starting my traineeship?
Yes, as long as the application is complete, i.e. including the placement contract and the necessary forms signed by the host company. However, the application will only be treated in the respective application round.

How are the chances of receiving a grant?
The applications are evaluated by using a number of criteria, e.g. StudEx would like to consider as many host countries or countries of origin respectively as possible. Since each round consists of different applications, StudEx cannot judge the chances of your application before the evaluation.

Will StudEx pay the grant to a foreign bank account?
Since we would like to use the money we receive to support our trainees and not to cover expensive bank transactions, StudEx does not transfer the grant payments to foreign bank accounts. In Switzerland, you can open a bank or postal account free of charge with your student card.

I would prefer not to open a Swiss bank account as my placement in Switzerland lasts only three months. What other possibilities do I have?
If you have friends or relatives in Switzerland, we can transfer the grant payments on their accounts. Another possibility is to pay the grant to the account of your employer, provided that s/he has agreed to it beforehand. However, if the money does not reach you / is not forwarded to you, StudEx will not be able to reissue your grant.

I didn’t receive a placement contract from my company. Is it possible to hand in an application for a grant without a contract?
Yes, StudEx does not issue a grant without a placement contract. This is mainly for your protection, since we do not want to support traineeships for which the rights and obligations of both parties have not been discussed and agreed upon beforehand.. As an exception, we can accept a traineeship confirmation instead of a contract.

Can I attend a language course in which another than the local language is taught?
No. The partial reimbursement of a language courses (up to CHF 300.-) has the purpose of encouraging the integration of the trainees in their host countries. It is therefore only possible to attend a language course in the relevant local language. This is why, a French language course in the German-speaking part of Switzerland, for example, cannot be supported.

Can I extend my placement?
An extension of the placement with the same company is possible, as long the total duration of the placement does not exceed 12 months. In order to continue your grant payments / to extend your grant, we require you to send us the signed form “Change of the Placement’s duration”. However, a new placement with another company cannot be supported.

Will I receive a grant if I plan to interrupt my placement?
If the first part of your traineeship amounts to at least three months (for students) or two months respectively (graduates and young workers), StudEx will issue a grant for this period. However, we will not be able to support you after a break.

I don’t like my current placement. Is it possible to break off the traineeship and start another one with a new company?
Since StudEx cannot support two different placements, a change is not possible.

I travelled by car to my host country. Are these costs reimbursed as well?
If you travelled to the host country on your own by car, we reimburse you the costs of a train ticket, second class, for a journey to the host country and back. A confirmation about the price can be obtained at the ticket counter at any train station.

I lost my train ticket. Will I still be reimbursed?
Yes, as long as you send us a confirmation of your travel costs. You can ask for such a confirmation at any railway counter.