Friborg Leads the Way, Offering Scholarships to Students with S and F Permits
FRIBOURG, SWITZERLAND – students in the canton of Friborg holding S (protection status) and F (provisional admission) permits are now eligible for study scholarships, a benefit unique among French-speaking cantons. The move, effective this academic year as universities and high schools reopen this Monday, aims to facilitate access to education and integration for individuals with these permits.
While Friborg extends scholarship eligibility to both S and F permit holders, other French-speaking cantons offer support with limitations. Vaud,Neuchâtel,and Valais provide scholarships only to those with F permits. Jura’s support is even more restricted, extending to only some F permit holders. Geneva requires five years of residency for aid eligibility, irrespective of permit type.
“I need this scholarship to buy books. It’s very expensive in Switzerland!” shared Anastasiia Fedorova, a Ukrainian student with an S permit attending the Haute Ecole de Travail social in Friborg, in a recent interview with RTS. Fedorova arrived in Switzerland two and a half years ago and is pursuing studies in social work as her prior university degrees are not currently recognized within the Swiss system.
Pierre Pillonel,head of the Friborg service of training subsidies,explained that Friborg’s decision aligns with the Swiss concordat requiring refugee access to study scholarships,but the canton chose to be more expansive in its support. “The objective of this decision is to integrate these people and to give access to the training,” Pillonel stated.
Authorities estimate approximately 100 individuals with S permits could benefit from the scholarships in 2024. the program is designed to reduce reliance on social assistance, as scholarships, unlike social aid, are not typically refundable, according to Etienne Guerry, coordinator at the Friborg Service of Social Action. “The aim of these training subsidies is to grant scholarships rather than social assistance,” Guerry confirmed.
Fedorova, like many students, hopes the scholarship will ease the financial burden of her studies and allow her to focus on her education.