Vaud Newcomer Admin Kit

Working while studying

Last checked: 5 Oct 2026. Unofficial student guide, not EPFL or government advice: confirm on the linked official pages before you act. Unfamiliar abbreviation? See the Glossary.

To verify This page has 1 item that could not be confirmed on an official page. Check it yourself before relying on it:

Items marked To verify are not confirmed on an official page. Orientation only, not legal or immigration advice.

What this page is for

Short orientation for EPFL / Vaud newcomers on permit B for studies and paid work (side job and mandatory internship). Confirm every rule on the linked SEM, OASA, État de Vaud, and EPFL pages before you accept a contract.

Federal vs SECO: the 15-hour student side-job rule is set in Art. 38 OASA (ASEO) and explained by SEM, not on a dedicated SECO “student hours” page. In Vaud, the Service de l’emploi (SDE) authorises the accessory activity; EPFL’s internship pages point employers there. SECO appears in SEM’s FAQ mainly for other labour-market topics (e.g. recognised au-pair agencies).

Federal baseline (SEM / Art. 38 OASA)

The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) FAQ states that if you live in Switzerland to train or study at a university or university of applied sciences, the cantonal authorities may approve supplementary work under Art. 38 OASA (Ordinance on Admission, Period of Stay and Employment / ASEO), with conditions:

Art. 38 OASA (French Fedlex text, mirrored on droit-bilingue) matches that list: school certificate, ≤ 15 h/week outside holidays, employer request, pay/conditions.

Sources:

SEM points you to the cantonal labour market and immigration authorities for further information.

Note: The SEM FAQ answer above does not spell out the EU/EFTA timing exception; EPFL and Vaud do (next sections). Read all three.

Canton of Vaud (SPOP / SDE)

État de Vaud, Séjour pour études (third-country track page; accessory-activity rules apply to students of university / HES / HEP schools):

Documents Vaud lists for taking up accessory work (from 6 months of stay), among others:

Competent authorities (Vaud page): SPOP for entry/stay; SDE in principle for authorising the accessory activity.

Where to file Form 1350 (third-country accessory work, confirmed): Form 1350 (version 06.10.2022) says that if you already live in Vaud, the completed request goes to the Contrôle des habitants of your commune of residence, with the employment contract attached, and that the job may only start after the cantonal decision. The form header names the Direction générale de l’emploi et du marché du travail (DGEM), Rue Caroline 11, 1014 Lausanne, the labour authority behind the "Service de l’emploi (SDE)" link on Vaud’s study page.

Sources:

Nationality path changes the paperwork (confirmed): EPFL’s Working page points to Vaud’s Formulaires et liens utiles point 2 (UE/AELE titre de séjour for gainful activity over three months) vs point 3 (Form 1350 for third-country gainful activity). For mandatory internships, EPFL Recruiting states the same split: third-country needs labour-market authorisation before start; EU/EFTA announces to the inhabitants’ control and may start once announced. Still use the form set and addresses on your EPFL / Vaud documents for the job or internship you actually take.

How EPFL states it (practical for students here)

EPFL’s Study management page Working aligns with the 15-hour rule and spells out the EU/EFTA vs third-country timing:

EPFL also notes the heavy study load (~50–60 hours/week including personal study) and that reconciling work and studies is difficult. It quotes Directive 4.7.1 (student / construction / temporary assistants), Art. 9, for the same limits.

Source: EPFL, Working

Procedure EPFL describes for B-permit students (regular paid work)

  1. Ask your employer to fill in the employment form (required even if the job lasts under 3 months). EPFL links the Vaud forms for EU/EFTA (formulaires page point 2) and third-country (point 3 / Form 1350) from its Working page.
  2. Go to the Student Services Desk with the form. A certificate is issued only if hours stay within 15 h/week during semesters and full-time during academic holidays.
  3. Submit both documents to the competent office (address on the form).

EPFL warns that failure to comply may lead to refusal to extend the residence permit.

Source: same EPFL, Working page

Mandatory industry internship (Art. 39 OASA), different track

A compulsory internship that is part of your Master programme is not the same as a 15-hour side job. EPFL Recruiting (Calendar and Conditions) states, pursuant to Art. 39 OASA:

EPFL Recruiting notes, for information, that Swiss authorities (Service de l’emploi) expect an internship in Switzerland to be paid about CHF 2,000 / month, and that this will be a requirement to deliver working authorisation for students from outside the EU. That figure is EPFL’s wording of SDE practice; Vaud’s DGEM Activité salariée page does not publish an internship CHF amount (it points to collective agreements, standard contracts or local usage and the federal salary calculator). Confirm the amount expected for your file with the employer / SDE.

Vaud contacts EPFL lists: Service de l’emploi · Service de la population

Sources:

Job listings for graduates: epflcareer.ch, Jobs (CED). Permit/hour rules stay on the Working and internship pages above, the career board does not replace them.

CV help, Forum EPFL and how to find a Master's internship: see EPFL career services and internships.

Scholarships

EPFL notes that certain grants may restrict employment. Check restrictions with the body that issued your grant.

Money problems? See Money help for students.

Source: EPFL, Working

Tax and insurance side effects (pointers only)

Sources: EPFL, Working; kit pages above

Unpaid volunteering: see Volunteering in Vaud.

The six-month job-search stay, EU/EFTA rules, ORP registration and unemployment insurance: see Staying in Switzerland after graduation.

Checklist before you start a job or internship

  1. Decide which track you are on: 15 h side job (Art. 38) vs mandatory full-time internship (Art. 39) vs Master project under EPFL professor (EPFL: no work authorisation).
  2. Confirm your nationality path (EU/EFTA vs third country) and whether the 6-month wait applies (and whether the research-assistant exception applies).
  3. For side jobs: confirm hours stay within 15 h/week in term / full-time in holidays (EPFL / SEM / Vaud).
  4. Have the employer start the form / application (Art. 38 or 39 / EPFL procedure).
  5. Get the EPFL Student Desk certificate or internship attestation when required.
  6. File / announce with SPOP and get SDE authorisation when Vaud requires it, do not start third-country work or internship until authorised.
  7. Check grant, tax, LAMal, and AVS knock-ons.

If the employer asks for a criminal record extract (for example for work with children), see Swiss criminal record extract.

Open checks