Part-time Master

Part-time Master

Under certain conditions, a Master programme can be followed part-time. In this case, it corresponds to part-time studies (50%) over the total duration of the studies. It is not possible to change from full-time studies to part-time studies during a programme except in the case of a derogation granted by the Direction for justified reasons only during the first semester of study. The student must express and justify his intention to follow part-time studies when he applies to the master but no later than the Friday preceding the beginning of the courses of the first semester of registration. The semester fees for part-time studies are the same as those for full-time studies.

Reasons allowing to request part-time studies:

1. Medical reasons, if they are important and durable (handicap, disease or consequences of an accident); join a medical certificate attesting the situation.

2. Family reasons, if they are important and durable, such as, in particular, a person depending on you (child, sick or handicapped husband, wife or parents, etc); join a document attesting the situation: copy of the family record book, medical certificate, etc.

3. Professional reasons, when the candidate has to work (minimum of 30%, master training course or a position as an assistant student at UNIL not included); as soon as he is in possession of the documents attesting his employment - letter of the employer attesting the rate of engagement as well as the duration of the contract - the student forwards them to the Admissions Office. The documents attesting his employment has to cover at least the duration of the first year of studies. The faculty verifies at the time of the request and after the first two semesters that the student is in employment. If the student is not any more in employment before the end of the first year of studies, he resumes his studies full-time from the third semester on, as far as the semesterisation of teachings allows it. In this case the number of semesters studied part-time is divided by two to be counted in the total duration of full-time studies.

4. Personal project, for example an artistic cultural, associative, humanitarian, professional (off UNIL) or sportive (high level) project; join a file describing the project.

More information, see la Directive sur les bachelors et les masters à temps partiel (50%)

Grants / scholarships : in some cases scholarships are not granted for part-time studies (part-time Master). It is therefore advised to contact the authorities granting the scholarship.

The University of Lausanne requires from all candidates applying for part-time studies for professional reasons the proof of an employment of at least 30%, meaning a minimum of 12h00 per week.

Important information for foreign students : the federal rules mention that only a foreigner enrolled in an establishment offering full-time education is entitled to a student's permit. Are excluded from part-time studies in accordance with the rule imposed by the migation authority, students from third countries (non EU/EFTA) who come to Switzerland solely for education purposes.

Furthermore, according to the Ordonnance relative à l'admission au séjour et à l'exercice d'une activité lucrative (OASA), you are allowed to work during your studies but no more than 15 hours per week and with the authorisation of the Service de l'emploi cantonal. All information can be obtained from the Service de la population du Canton de Vaud.

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