Welcome Centre
The Welcome Centre acts as a coordination platform for the various administrative departments and Faculties responsible for welcoming new arrivals, providing useful information on administrative procedures, accommodation in Lausanne and practical help on life in the region.
Whether you are a researcher, a professor, a visiting professor (invited by UNIL institutes or Faculties for a limited period - i.e. not registered or employed at UNIL) or a member of staff from abroad assigned to a permanent post, we are here to help you with the administrative formalities prior to your arrival in Switzerland and during your stay.
Checklist for new arrivals
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Checklist for new arrivals (521KB, .pdf)
Please have a look at the checklist for new arrivals, which provides information on administrative arrangements before, on and after your arrival.
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Living and working in Switzerland (662KB, .pdf)
Checklist and tips for moving to Switzerland
Our range of services
Target groups
The Welcome Centre provides advice and information to support:
- Researchers and professors invited by UNIL institutes or Faculties for a limited period (people who neither registered nor employed at UNIL)
- Staff members from abroad assigned to a permanent post
Services
The Welcome Centre can offer you support in the following areas:
- Assistance with external administrative procedures (obtaining a visa, registering with the relevant authorities, etc.)
- Assistance with internal administrative procedures in relation to UNIL's Human Resources Department
- Assistance in finding accommodation
- Practical information about UNIL, Lausanne and the region
- Information about French language courses within and outside UNIL
- Support for dual-career couples
We also organise social events to help new arrivals integrate into the UNIL community.
Moving to Switzerland
Welcome to Switzerland and the Canton of Vaud. We look forward to welcoming you to our team and will do everything we can to help you settle in and work in the best possible conditions.
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Settling in
Moving to Lausanne.
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Administrative procedures
From insurance to finance and registering as a resident: all the things you need to do before and when you arrive to get off to a smooth start.
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Arriving with a partner
From job hunting to French courses and networking – we'll help your partner explore the career opportunities available to them.
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Arriving with your family
Useful information for those moving to Lausanne with their family on financial support, childcare solutions and schooling.
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Living in Lausanne
Transport options, sporting and cultural activities, special features and more: everything you need to know to settle in and integrate easily into Lausanne.
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Departure from Switzerland
What to do before leaving Switzerland.
Accommodation in Lausanne
The property market in Lausanne is relatively tight. Finding suitable, affordable accommodation takes time and can be difficult. It is important to start your search as soon as possible, even before you arrive in Lausanne.
UNIL induction process
The typical induction process for a new employee is as follows:
- Welcome by one of the seven Faculties, where colleagues and the secretarial office will support the new employee in the various actions that need to be taken
- Ad hoc support depending on the status of your contract:
- Employees with a UNIL contract are supported by the Human Resources Department on all questions related to their recruitment (taxes, work permits, pay, social security contributions, family allowances, etc.)
- Visitors who do not have a contract with UNIL are supported by the Welcome Centre in the administrative actions they need to take.
The Welcome Centre provides extensive information and multiple resources on its website. It is always on hand to answer your questions.
Help with settling in
Useful and practical resources to help new arrivals settle in.
Who are you ?
You are a new employee about to start work at UNIL.
Your first point of contact will be the Human Resources Department (see UNIL induction process above).
The Welcome Centre will be happy to answer any other questions you may have (immigration, life in Switzerland, Lausanne and the surrounding area, accommodation options, insurance, childcare services, etc.).
You are a visiting researcher at UNIL, where you will work for a limited period without a UNIL contract.
Your first point of contact is your host and the inviting department or institute. They will help you with administrative formalities and practical matters. A special section is dedicated to them in the tab opposite. Your host is responsible for informing the Human Resources Department of your arrival.
It is important that you receive a letter of invitation no later than three months before your arrival if you are not from an EU member state.
You are a professor or a member of the administrative staff who is about to welcome a visiting researcher (without a UNIL contract).
An administrative file must be prepared, taking into account the country of origin and the duration of the visit.
The whole process can take three to four months.
The Welcome Centre will be happy to provide you with the following documents:
- Sample invitation letters
- Registration form for external academic collaborators
- 40OASA certificate.
UNIL's main welcome services
SRH is available to answer questions relating to your employment contract at UNIL and to provide general information on personnel administration (residence permits, salary conditions, social insurance and pension fund, etc.).
If you have any questions, your HR partner is available electronically or by appointment.
SASME is on hand to help the UNIL student body, exchange students and federal scholarship holders. In particular, it is responsible for:
- Social issues and financial aid for students
- Welcoming exchange students
- Implementing exchange agreements in general
The Admissions Service is aimed at future students, as well as anyone wishing to find out about the eligibility requirements for studying at UNIL.
You will find all the information you need on their website.
View the list of other UNIL departments.
Where to find us
Welcome Centre
Château de Dorigny
1015 Lausanne
Ms Salomé Evard
Ms Marcelina Klaus Gaillard
+41 21 692 60 27
welcomecentre@unil.ch