A student loan in Switzerland (Studienkredit Schweiz) is not a single product like the KfW student loan in Germany. The main sources are cantonal scholarships (Stipendien) and cantonal training loans (Ausbildungsdarlehen), alongside a few student loans from cantonal banks. This guide sorts the options and shows which questions to clarify first.
Kurz beantwortet: A federal student loan like the German KfW scheme is not named in the Swiss sources we checked. Typical options are cantonal scholarships, which usually do not have to be repaid, and cantonal training loans, which must be repaid, sometimes with interest. A few cantonal banks offer student loans. The cantonal scholarship office is the contact point (status October 2026).
The key points in brief
- The main sources are cantonal scholarships and training loans. The canton is responsible.
- Scholarships usually do not have to be repaid. Some cantons require repayment if you later live in good financial circumstances.
- Training loans must be repaid, sometimes with interest. According to moneyland, some cantonal study loans are interest-free.
- Some cantonal banks offer student loans. Maximum amounts, interest rates and age limits must be asked for at the provider.
- The rules differ strongly from canton to canton.
- A loan from family or friends is an option, but it should be recorded in writing.
Which financing routes exist?
The table sums up the routes named in the sources we checked. For a comparison with offers in Germany, see the German guide Studienkredite im Vergleich (in German).
| Route | Repayment | Provider | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cantonal scholarship | usually no | canton | rules differ by canton |
| Cantonal training loan | yes, sometimes with interest | canton | generally only for initial training |
| Student loan from a cantonal bank | yes | bank, for example Walliser Kantonalbank or Banque Cantonale Neuchâteloise | according to moneyland usually no employment required, check terms with the provider |
| Private loan | yes | bank | moneyland advises against it, interest depends on income and credit rating |
| Private foundation | usually no | foundation | admission often extensive, some exclude students with cantonal funding |
Sources and status: ch.ch, scholarships and training loans in Switzerland (accessed October 2026). moneyland.ch, guide dated 10 July 2026, as a supplement. moneyland is a consumer guide, not an official document.
How do cantonal scholarships and loans work?
Cantonal grants and loans are assessed on income and assets. Your own income and assets count, and depending on the case, those of your parents. A training course at a university or university of applied sciences is a precondition. The office therefore checks two things: whether you are in training and whether there is a financial need.
The ch.ch website shows which canton is responsible and which documents you need. It also explains when a scholarship is subject to repayment. Ask the office about deadlines before the start of your studies so that the financing is in place in time.
What applies to students from Germany?
Whether foreign students are entitled to cantonal scholarships, and to what extent, is decided by each canton. The sources we checked give no clear answer. Ask the cantonal scholarship office before you take out a loan.
The Federal Excellence Scholarship is not a general study scholarship. It is aimed at foreign researchers with a master’s or doctoral degree and at foreign artists with a bachelor’s degree who want to come to Switzerland. For most students it therefore does not fit.
Worked example: how much loan do you need?
Assumption: your monthly need is 1,800 Swiss francs. A cantonal scholarship covers 600 francs per month, and the rest is to be financed by a loan. Interest is not included.
- Remaining need per month: 1,800 minus 600 equals 1,200 francs.
- Loan over three years of study, that is 36 months: 1,200 times 36 equals 43,200 francs.
- With interest, the repayment sum rises. Calculate the total cost including interest for every offer.
The result shows why scholarships noticeably reduce the loan need. A loan of 43,200 francs means a repayment after your studies that you have to plan for when you start working.
What should you check before signing a cantonal loan?
A cantonal training loan looks cheap at first, because its conditions are often looser than those of banks. Still, read the fine print. Check these points before you sign:
- Interest: is the loan interest-free or interest-bearing, and from when does interest run?
- Repayment: when does it start, in which instalments, and what happens if you stop studying?
- Scope: does the loan cover only initial training? Further training can be treated differently.
- Procedure: which proofs are needed, and by when must changes in your circumstances be reported?
Ask for the conditions in writing. A phone call does not replace the contract, and the cantonal scholarship office can clarify open points.
Which bank loans should you compare?
The sources describe bank loans for students only in general terms. Moneyland names the Walliser Kantonalbank and the Banque Cantonale Neuchâteloise as providers and notes that no employment is usually required. Maximum amounts, age limits, collateral and interest rates are not given in the article.
Compare the effective annual interest rate, the term, the start of repayment and the collateral required for each offer. Moneyland advises against private loans, because interest depends on income and creditworthiness and people without employment usually do not get a private loan. Credit cards are also unsuitable according to moneyland, because interest of up to 12 percent applies on partial payment.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a federal student loan in Switzerland?
The sources we checked name no general federal student loan. The federal government supports training only in some areas, for example with contributions to federal examinations. For most students, cantonal offices and cantonal banks are the right point of contact.
Do I have to repay a scholarship?
Usually not. Some cantons do require repayment if you later live in good financial circumstances. Read the cantonal decision carefully before you plan with the money.
Can I borrow from my family?
Yes, that is an option. According to moneyland, private loans can be offered at a lower interest rate than by a lender. Put the conditions in writing. Educa Swiss, according to moneyland, brings lenders together and helps with the contract.
Where do I find suitable foundations?
According to ch.ch, the cantonal scholarship offices know the addresses of private foundations. To find scholarships in a targeted way, see the German guide Stipendium im Studium finden (in German). Many foundations run their own selection processes, and some pay nothing if cantonal funding already exists.
Is a credit card a solution?
No. According to moneyland it is unsuitable for medium- or long-term financing. Partial payment carries interest of up to 12 percent, and late payment brings reminder fees.
How to proceed now
- Find the responsible canton and the scholarship office on ch.ch.
- Ask in writing whether you are entitled as a student from Germany.
- Calculate your need for each month and separate grant, loan and own funds.
- Compare loans by effective annual interest rate, term and start of repayment before you sign.
Related guides
- Scholarships for students: types, providers, requirements
- Stipendium im Studium finden: Arten, Anbieter und Voraussetzungen (in German)
- Auslandsstudium finanzieren (in German)
- Master im Ausland (in German)
Sources: ch.ch, scholarships and training loans in Switzerland (accessed October 2026); moneyland.ch, guide on financing education (status 10 July 2026, supplement, not an official document).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
