First-year timeline
To verify This page has 1 item that could not be confirmed on an official page. Check it yourself before relying on it:
Only deadlines and time windows that are explicitly stated in the kit’s sources are listed here, each with the source wording. Nothing has been added or estimated. Rules change: confirm on the official pages linked from each topic.
This timeline is not a to-do order. For what to do first, see Start here: your first weeks.
Past marks the 6 entries whose date was before 14 October 2026, the day this page was built. They stay listed for reference. Items the source marks as not confirmed on an official page carry a To verify badge.
Arrival: first weeks and months
On arrival, then every semester
Validate your CAMIPRO card at a CAMIPRO terminal, and submit the FRAC
Applies to: All students.
Source wording:
“When you arrive, validate your card at a CAMIPRO terminal.”
“Do this again every semester.”
“You confirm your personal and study details on it at the start of every semester, and you must submit it before you can register for courses.”
Before you register at the commune
Print an EPFL enrolment certificate less than 3 months old (IS-Academia, after matriculation)
Applies to: EPFL students registering at a Vaud commune: EPFL first, then the commune.
Source wording:
“The commune asks for a recent EPFL enrolment certificate (less than 3 months old).”
“Only then go to the commune Contrôle des habitants with that certificate and the other documents below.”
Read more: Permit and commune registration · Semester dates and key enrolment deadlines (2026–2027)
Within days of arrival (EPFL/Lausanne 14; Renens/canton 8, follow your commune)
Register at your commune’s Contrôle des habitants
Applies to: Everyone moving to Switzerland for studies (register in the commune where you actually live).
Source wording:
“Register quickly at your commune’s Contrôle des habitants. EPFL says within 14 days of arrival in Switzerland (EPFL residence permit). Override, Renens: the commune requires announcement within 8 days (Annonce d’arrivée ou de départ, Renens). Canton of Vaud also states 8 days for arrival in a new commune (Changement d'adresse, État de Vaud). Lausanne student formalities use 14 days (Lausanne students). Always follow your commune’s page when it is stricter than EPFL’s 14-day guidance.”
Friday of week 2 of the semester (18 Sep 2026 / 5 Mar 2027)
Course registration deadline on IS-Academia (18 Sep 2026 / 5 Mar 2027)
Applies to: Bachelor's and Master's students.
Source wording:
“Deadline: the Friday of the second week of the semester. That is 18 September 2026 for autumn and 5 March 2027 for spring.”
Read more: Semester dates and key enrolment deadlines (2026–2027)
Within 3 months of taking up residence
Take out Swiss LAMal or apply for the Vaud exemption (dispense)
Applies to: Anyone becoming liable for compulsory health insurance; students who qualify may apply for exemption instead of taking LAMal.
Source wording:
“You have to take out health insurance within three months of becoming liable for compulsory insurance (e.g. of the date you take up residence …)”
“For students: within 3 months of taking up residence, either take out Swiss LAMal with an authorised insurer, or apply for the Vaud exemption (dispense) if you qualify”
Read more: LAMal (compulsory health insurance) and student exemption
Dated calendar: September 2026 to July 2027
Past 1–3 Sep 2026
EPFL Matriculation Days (foreign diplomas): you get your CAMIPRO card in person
Applies to: New students with a foreign diploma (you had to book a time slot).
Source wording:
“1–3 Sep 2026, Matriculation Days (foreign diplomas)”
“Foreign diploma: you get the card in person during Matriculation Days.”
Read more: Semester dates and key enrolment deadlines (2026–2027)
Past 4 Sep 2026
EPFL Welcome Day (information sessions)
Applies to: Compulsory for new Bachelor's and Master's students.
Source wording:
“4 Sep 2026, Welcome Day (information sessions). It is compulsory for new Bachelor's and Master's students”
Read more: Semester dates and key enrolment deadlines (2026–2027)
Past 7 Sep 2026
Autumn semester classes start
Applies to: Bachelor's and Master's students.
Source wording:
“7 Sep 2026, Classes start”
Read more: Semester dates and key enrolment deadlines (2026–2027)
Past 18 Sep 2026
FRAC and course registration due (autumn); after this, registrations are final
Applies to: Bachelor's and Master's students (you register for every course yourself on IS-Academia).
Source wording:
“18 Sep 2026, FRAC and course registration due”
“Changing your choices: until that deadline you can add and drop courses freely. After it, your registrations are final.”
Read more: Semester dates and key enrolment deadlines (2026–2027)
Past 30 Sep 2026
Final deadline to matriculate in person (a CHF 50 fee applies if you missed Matriculation Days)
Applies to: New students who missed Matriculation Days (2026–27 academic year).
Source wording:
“If you miss Matriculation Days, you pay a CHF 50 fee. The final deadline to matriculate in person is 30 September.”
Read more: CAMIPRO student card · Semester dates and key enrolment deadlines (2026–2027)
Early Oct 2026
Exam withdrawal opens on IS-Academia (autumn)
Applies to: Students allowed to withdraw (not first-year Bachelor's).
Source wording:
“Early Oct 2026, Exam withdrawal opens”
Read more: Semester dates and key enrolment deadlines (2026–2027)
Past 9 Oct 2026
CMS: deadline to leave without failure (calendar due date)
Applies to: CMS (Cours de mathématiques spéciales) students. To come back to the CMS, you must apply again. Calendar + FR: deadline day is 9 Oct; EN rules say "before" the deadline (language conflict).
Source wording:
“9 Oct 2026, CMS: deadline to leave without failure (calendar due date)”
“before the deadline (the Friday of the fifth week of classes)”
“treat that as an EN wording conflict”
Read more: Semester dates and key enrolment deadlines (2026–2027)
16–26 Oct 2026
Autumn break: classes stop at the end of 16 Oct and resume on 26 Oct
Applies to: Bachelor's and Master's students.
Source wording:
“16 Oct 2026 (end of day), Classes stop for the autumn break”
“26 Oct 2026, Classes resume”
Read more: Semester dates and key enrolment deadlines (2026–2027)
31 Oct 2026
Foundation year: deadline to leave without failure (calendar due date)
Applies to: First-year Bachelor's students, first attempt only. To come back to EPFL, you must apply again. Calendar + FR rules: deadline day is 31 Oct; EN rules say "before" (language conflict).
Source wording:
“31 Oct 2026, Foundation year: deadline to leave without failure (calendar due date)”
“la date limite de retrait au 31 octobre”
“before the 31st of October”
“treat that as an EN wording conflict”
Read more: Semester dates and key enrolment deadlines (2026–2027)
20 Nov 2026
Exam withdrawal deadline (autumn); a withdrawal is final
Applies to: Students allowed to withdraw. First-year Bachelor's students cannot withdraw from tests.
Source wording:
“20 Nov 2026, Exam withdrawal deadline”
“Foundation year (first year of the Bachelor's): you can't withdraw from individual tests.”
Read more: Semester dates and key enrolment deadlines (2026–2027)
Mid-Dec 2026
Spring semester: FRAC and early registration open
Applies to: Bachelor's and Master's students.
Source wording:
“Mid-Dec 2026, FRAC and early registration open”
Read more: Semester dates and key enrolment deadlines (2026–2027) · Public holidays in Vaud: late 2026 and 2027, what closes, and how to plan
From 1 January 2027
Lower private-household Serafe fee (CHF 312 on serafe.ch when last checked)
Applies to: Private households. Confirm on the official site before that date.
Source wording:
“From 1 January 2027, Serafe publishes a lower private-household fee (CHF 312 on serafe.ch), confirm on the official site before that date.”
6 Jan 2027 / 7 Jan 2027
Spring semester: general registration opens (Master's / Bachelor's)
Applies to: Master's (6 Jan) and Bachelor's (7 Jan) students.
Source wording:
“6 Jan 2027 / 7 Jan 2027, General registration opens (Master's / Bachelor's)”
Read more: Semester dates and key enrolment deadlines (2026–2027)
11–30 Jan 2027
Winter exam session
Applies to: Bachelor's and Master's students.
Source wording:
“11–30 Jan 2027, Winter exam session”
Read more: Semester dates and key enrolment deadlines (2026–2027)
12 Feb 2027
First-year decisions published; general registration opens for first year and mise à niveau
Applies to: First-year students.
Source wording:
“12 Feb 2027, First-year decisions published”
“12 Feb 2027, General registration opens for first year and mise à niveau”
Read more: Semester dates and key enrolment deadlines (2026–2027)
19 Feb 2027
Other decisions published
Applies to: Students other than first year.
Source wording:
“19 Feb 2027, Other decisions published”
Read more: Semester dates and key enrolment deadlines (2026–2027)
22 Feb 2027
Spring semester classes start (except the mise à niveau course)
Applies to: Bachelor's and Master's students.
Source wording:
“22 Feb 2027, Classes start (except the mise à niveau course)”
Read more: Semester dates and key enrolment deadlines (2026–2027)
5 Mar 2027
FRAC and course registration due (spring)
Applies to: Bachelor's and Master's students.
Source wording:
“5 Mar 2027, FRAC and course registration due”
Read more: Semester dates and key enrolment deadlines (2026–2027)
Early Mar 2027
Exam withdrawal opens on IS-Academia (spring)
Applies to: Students allowed to withdraw (not first-year Bachelor's).
Source wording:
“Early Mar 2027, Exam withdrawal opens”
Read more: Semester dates and key enrolment deadlines (2026–2027)
31 Mar 2027
Mise à niveau: deadline to leave without failure (calendar due date)
Applies to: Mise à niveau (MAN) students. You can't resume your Bachelor's at EPFL later. Calendar + FR rules: deadline day is 31 Mar; EN rules say "before" (language conflict).
Source wording:
“31 Mar 2027, Mise à niveau: deadline to leave without failure (calendar due date)”
“au 31 mars”
“before the 31st of March”
“treat that as an EN wording conflict”
Read more: Semester dates and key enrolment deadlines (2026–2027)
7 May 2027
Exam withdrawal deadline (spring); a withdrawal is final
Applies to: Students allowed to withdraw. First-year Bachelor's students cannot withdraw from tests.
Source wording:
“7 May 2027, Exam withdrawal deadline”
Read more: Semester dates and key enrolment deadlines (2026–2027)
21 Jun – 10 Jul 2027
Summer exam session (mise à niveau exams start 28 Jun)
Applies to: Bachelor's and Master's students.
Source wording:
“21 Jun – 10 Jul 2027, Summer exam session (mise à niveau exams start 28 Jun)”
Read more: Semester dates and key enrolment deadlines (2026–2027)
30 Jul 2027
Decisions published
Applies to: Bachelor's and Master's students.
Source wording:
“30 Jul 2027, Decisions published”
Read more: Semester dates and key enrolment deadlines (2026–2027)
Every EPFL semester
Friday of the 10th week of the semester
Exam withdrawal deadline (20 Nov 2026 / 7 May 2027)
Applies to: Students allowed to withdraw (not first-year Bachelor's).
Source wording:
“In autumn this is possible from October until the Friday of the 10th week (20 Nov 2026). In spring it is possible from March until the Friday of the 10th week (7 May 2027).”
Read more: Semester dates and key enrolment deadlines (2026–2027)
Tenth Friday of the semester (20 Nov 2026 / 7 May 2027)
Absolute last deadline for late course registration (in person at the Student Services Desk, with a fee)
Applies to: Students who missed the course registration deadline.
Source wording:
“The absolute last deadline is the tenth Friday of the semester.”
“That date is 20 Nov 2026 in autumn and 7 May 2027 in spring”
To verify Flagged in the source as not confirmed on an official page:
- “the amount of that late-registration fee for ordinary BSc/MSc courses.”
Read more: Semester dates and key enrolment deadlines (2026–2027)
Within your first 12 months
Within 12 months of arrival
Exchange a valid foreign driving licence for a Swiss one (SAN Vaud)
Applies to: Holders of a valid foreign licence who settle in Vaud. Check the current rule and exceptions on the official Vaud pages.
Source wording:
“In principle you have 12 months from arrival to exchange a valid foreign licence for a Swiss one.”
Every year (calendar order)
March–April (usually)
Student halls with registration periods open for the autumn semester
Applies to: Students looking for a room in a student hall. Windows can be very short, sometimes only 1 to 5 days.
Source wording:
“Halls with registration periods usually open in March–April for the autumn semester and in October–November for the spring semester.”
“Registration windows can be very short, sometimes only 1 to 5 days”
15 March
Legal filing deadline for the annual tax return (VaudTax)
Applies to: Only if you are under ordinary assessment (Swiss nationals and C-permit holders), from the year after you turn 18.
Source wording:
“Legal filing deadline cited by Vaud for the return: 15 March, with a tolerance until 30 June; an extra extension can be requested via e-Délai”
Read more: Student tax in Vaud: withholding vs ordinary assessment
31 March (of the year after the tax year)
Last day to request an ordinary subsequent assessment in writing
Applies to: People taxed at source (withholding) and domiciled in Vaud, in cases where it is not already mandatory. Optional.
Source wording:
“In other cases you may request an ordinary subsequent assessment in writing by 31 March of the year after the tax year.”
Read more: Student tax in Vaud: withholding vs ordinary assessment
Spring
Student AVS invoice for the previous calendar year arrives: pay it or send proof of exemption
Applies to: Students affiliated with the Caisse cantonale vaudoise de compensation AVS (affiliation is by place of study). The invoice is payable within 30 days (or send exemption proof).
Source wording:
“you typically receive an annual invoice in spring for the previous calendar year (example they give: spring 2026 invoice for 2025).”
“The invoice is payable within 30 days, or send proof for full/partial exemption”
30 June
End of the tolerance period for the tax return (further extension via e-Délai)
Applies to: Only if you are under ordinary assessment. See the official deadline pages for current rules.
Source wording:
“with a tolerance until 30 June; an extra extension can be requested via e-Délai”
Read more: Student tax in Vaud: withholding vs ordinary assessment
July–August (usually)
Student hall rooms for a September start are given out
Applies to: Students who applied to student halls.
Source wording:
“For a September start, rooms are usually given out between July and August.”
October–November (usually)
Student halls with registration periods open for the spring semester
Applies to: Students looking for a room in a student hall.
Source wording:
“Halls with registration periods usually open in March–April for the autumn semester and in October–November for the spring semester.”
Later: age-based start dates
From 1 January following your 17th birthday
AVS contributions on salary (via payroll)
Applies to: Students who study and work.
Source wording:
“If you study and work, you pay contributions on salary from the 1 January following your 17th birthday”
From the year after you turn 18
Annual tax return expected (via VaudTax)
Applies to: Only if you are under ordinary assessment.
Source wording:
“From the year after you turn 18, Vaud expects an annual return (via VaudTax online).”
Read more: Student tax in Vaud: withholding vs ordinary assessment
From 1 January following your 20th birthday
Minimum annual student AVS/AI/APG contribution (CHF 530, plus possible admin fees of up to 5%)
Applies to: Swiss and foreign students with civil domicile in Switzerland (exemptions exist: see the AVS page).
Source wording:
“must pay a minimum annual contribution of CHF 530 to AVS/AI/APG from the 1 January following their 20th birthday”
From 1 January following your 25th birthday
Contributions based on your social/financial situation instead of the flat student minimum
Applies to: Students without gainful employment (see federal leaflet 2.03).
Source wording:
“From the 1 January following their 25th birthday, students without gainful employment no longer pay only the flat student minimum”
When it applies to you: housing offers, exemptions, leaving EPFL
3 years, renewable once for 3 more
Duration of a LAMal exemption; after that, Swiss insurance is required
Applies to: Students/trainees from outside EU/EFTA/UK granted an exemption.
Source wording:
“FOPH states exemption can be granted for three years, renewable for another three years; after that, Swiss insurance is required.”
Read more: LAMal (compulsory health insurance) and student exemption
Within 48 hours of an FMEL offer
Accept the FMEL room offer (plan for a first payment of CHF 1,200 as a rent guarantee)
Applies to: Students who booked through FMEL.
Source wording:
“UNIL also says that when FMEL sends you an offer, you must accept it within 48 hours.”
“UNIL says to plan for a first payment of CHF 1,200 as a rent guarantee.”
30 days before an FMEL lease starts
FMEL cancellation cost changes (more than 30 days before: CHF 600; 30 days or less: one month's rent plus CHF 600)
Applies to: Students who signed an FMEL lease.
Source wording:
“More than 30 days before the lease starts, it costs CHF 600. At 30 days or less, it costs one month's rent plus CHF 600.”
2 months' notice
Notice needed to end an FMEL lease (fixed-term, 3 months to 3 years)
Applies to: FMEL tenants.
Source wording:
“Lease: at least 3 months and at most 3 years, fixed-term. It starts on the 1st or 16th of a month, and you must give 2 months' notice to end it.”
Within 12 months of leaving EPFL
Your CAMIPRO card can be reactivated if you come back
Applies to: Students leaving EPFL (keep your card).
Source wording:
“When you leave EPFL: keep your card. It can be reactivated if you come back within 12 months.”
No fixed deadline stated
These steps matter, but the sources do not give a specific deadline for them.
- Non-EU students: biometric data appointment at SPOP. No timing stated; follow the letter. Go to page
- Telling the commune (and the post office) when you change address: no deadline stated. Go to page
- Serafe: nothing to register; billing follows your commune registration. Go to page
- Permit card: expect it to take a few months; the commune attestation is not a travel document. Go to page
- Health & emergencies: no deadline (pointers only). Go to page
- Opening a bank account: no deadline stated. Go to page
- Transport tickets and passes: no deadline stated. Go to page
- Getting a Swiss mobile number: no deadline stated. Go to page
- Housing search: no date given, but EPFL recommends starting as early as possible. Go to page
- Lost or stolen CAMIPRO card: block it right away in myCamipro (or call CAE, 24/7). Go to page