The Student Financial Aid Office at the University of Zurich lends enrolled students up to CHF 6,000 when a sudden shortfall threatens their studies. The loan carries no interest and the office says applications are usually processed within a few working days.
The money is meant to bridge a temporary gap. The office names waiting for a cantonal scholarship payment and paying tuition fees as typical cases. It is not meant for paying off existing debt.
The amount must be paid back within six months, and a loan that is not repaid on time goes straight to a debt collector. Requests are filed through the office’s online portal at any time of year.
Benefits & funding
- Up to CHF 6,000 per application.
- Interest-free for the whole repayment period.
- No application fee and, in the office’s words, no bureaucratic red tape.
- Decisions usually within a few working days; the German pages state roughly six to eight working days.
Eligibility
- Enrolled at the University of Zurich.
- In an acute financial emergency without any debt; the German wording is an emergency through no fault of your own.
- Able to plausibly guarantee repayment within six months.
- One hardship loan application per semester, with repeat applications possible only every six months.
- No nationality or residence permit condition is stated for this route. The office’s regular loan and «Pecunia» one-time loan are limited to Swiss citizens and holders of a Swiss C permit.
- The office states that it provides no financial support to doctoral students or Advanced Studies students, so in practice this route serves Bachelor’s and Master’s students.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Education required
Bachelor Enrolled · Master Enrolled
Circlebreaker is a free database of global fellowships, scholarships and programs — every one decoded like this.
We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Check the hardship loan conditions on the office’s Financial Support page.
- 2Sign in to the office’s online application portal with your UZH email address.
- 3File the hardship loan request, stating the amount and how you will repay it within six months.
- 4Submit at any time; there are no deadlines for this route.
- 5Wait for the decision, normally about six to eight working days.
Program timeline
All year
applications open through the portal, with no deadlines.
About 6 to 8 working days after submission
decision.
Within 6 months of payment
repayment due.
After 6 months at the earliest
a repeat application is possible.