Insurance in the course of study

Swiss and foreign students whose place of residence under civil law is in Switzerland must pay annual contributions to the compulsory social insurance schemes after reaching the age of 20. Exceptions to this rule and further information can be found here.

Employed persons who are resident in Switzerland under civil law must pay these contributions as soon as they reach the age of 17 (from 1 January of the year of their 18th birthday).
Students who earn income from gainful employment in the calendar year in question automatically pay into this contribution (above a certain income) via their employer. However, if this amount contributed is less than the current minimum contribution that must be paid, you must still pay the difference to the minimum contribution.
Missing years of contributions can lead to a reduction in pensions.

General information on social insurance

An overview of social insurance contributions can be found on the webpage of the Federal Social Insurance Office (BSV).

BSV – Social Insurance – Overview – Contributions to social insurance schemes (in German)

The service webpage of the Swiss authorities «ch.ch» also provides information:

The most common abbreviations in this context are as follows:

AHV = Old-age and survivors' insurance
IV = Disability insurance
EL = Supplementary benefits
EO = Income replacement scheme

The AHV is intended to cover the basic needs of the insured. The IV is there to cover the financial consequences of disability. The EL help if pensions and income do not cover the minimum cost of living. The EO compensates for loss of income due to military, civil defence or civilian service assignments.

There are other abbreviations in the field of social insurance:

ALV = unemployment insurance
MSE = Maternity benefit
FZ = Family allowances
BV = Occupational benefit scheme
KV = Health insurance
UV = Accident insurance
MV = Military insurance
MUV = Cantonal maternity insurance

In Switzerland, the so-called «3-pillar system» applies to longer-term provident measures. It is based on the interplay of a state guarantee of subsistence, an occupational pension scheme involving the employer, and tax-privileged private pension provision.

The first pillar is the state pension scheme (under the responsibility of the state). It includes AHV, IV and EL and is considered compulsory.
The second pillar is the responsibility of the employer. The first part includes the Federal Law on OASI and DI (BVG) and the UV and is compulsory. The second half of the 2nd pillar comprises the «super-mandatory pension provision» and is thus voluntary.
The third pillar is the responsibility of the individual. It is divided into the «restricted pension provision» (pillar 3a) and the «free pension provision» (pillar 3b). The 3rd pillar is voluntary.

Citizens of the city of Bern can contact the AHV branch for all questions regarding the 1st pillar (compulsory social insurance, incl. AHV, IV and EL).

City of Bern – Municipal Administration – Directorate for Education, Social Affairs and Sport – Office for Seniors and Insurance – AHV Branch Office (in German)
Office for Seniors and Insurance of the City of Bern
AHV Branch Office
Bundesgasse 33
3011 Bern
+41 31 321 61 61

Please also note the contact form on the corresponding website.

AHV and IV

The official information office «AHV/IV» works for the compensation offices and IV offices in Switzerland. It publishes comprehensive and helpful information material on 1st pillar social insurance. On this webpage you will find information on social insurance, contact persons as well as information sheets and forms.

Accident insurance

Persons residing in Switzerland are required to be insured against accidents.

You are either insured under the employer's collective accident insurance scheme if you work more than 8 hours a week for a single company.
Or you must take out individual accident insurance under the compulsory health insurance scheme if you are self-employed or not gainfully employed, as is the case for many students.

Health insurance

Students are obliged to take out compulsory health and accident insurance. It protects them in the event of illness or accident and basically offers the same scope of benefits to all insured persons.

In other words, it provides the medically necessary basic health care for persons registered and residing in Switzerland.

You are free to choose your health insurance (health insurance fund) from among the approved insurers in Switzerland. See the corresponding list of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH):

Basic health insurance is regulated by law and covers the same benefits with all insurers. However, the premiums vary between about CHF 80 and CHF 350 per month depending on age – it is worth your while to compare premiums before signing a contract! The Federal Office of Public Health offers a non-commercial premium comparison service:

Federal Office of Public Health – Premium calculator 2021 (in German)

If you are on a tight budget, you may be able to benefit from a premium reduction. You can find more information about this on the webpage of the Social Insurance Office of the Canton of Bern:

Canton of Bern – Office of Social Insurance – Overview of topics (in German)

Health insurance for foreign students

All persons staying in Switzerland for more than 3 months are subject to compulsory health insurance. This compulsory basic insurance covers medical treatment in the event of illness or accident. You are free to choose your insurance from around 90 different providers:

ch.ch – Health insurance for foreign nationals

Persons from abroad who are in education or training may apply for exemption from compulsory health insurance in Switzerland, provided they have proof of equivalent health insurance abroad:

Canton of Bern – Office of Social Insurance – Overview of topics. (in German)

Some insurance companies offer special packages for foreign students with very good conditions. You can find more information on the ETH Zurich website (incl. video in English):

Universities of Bern

The University of Bern has a collective accident insurance for all enrolled students, doctoral students, auditors and persons who are legitimately on the premises of the University of Bern. They have subsidiary accident insurance with Zurich Insurance. This means that in the event of accidents occurring on the premises of the University of Bern or on guided excursions, you are insured for those costs that are not covered by your own compulsory accident or health insurance.

What collective insurances at the universities do not cover, however, are accidents during leisure time. Moreover, in the event of an accident, only the costs of disability are usually covered up to a maximum amount, but no medical costs. A collective accident insurance policy from your university therefore does not replace your actual (individual) accident insurance.

You can obtain accident forms at the Infopoint of the Admissions, Matriculation and Counselling Office or by post.

Bern University of Applied Sciences
You can find detailed information about insurance and compulsory service on the BFH website:

BFH – Studies – Studies and life – Insurance + compulsory service

For «incoming students», the Bern University of Applied Sciences has compiled an overview of the necessary insurances in the Welcome Centre:

BFH – About BFH – Careers – Welcome Center (Insurances)

Bern University of Teacher Education
PHBern does not provide any information on insurance on its website.

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Insurance in the course of study

Contents

General information on social insurance

Frequently used abbreviations

The Swiss 3-pillar system

Residents of the city of Bern