For members of the EPFL community

If you are a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD student at EPFL and require assistance because the crisis in Ukraine is hindering your studies in some way, please contact the Student Services Desk

If you have any questions about financial support, please see the “Need-based scholarships” page. EPFL can provide you with psychological support, whether you need social or psychotherapeutic consultations. If you have any specific needs in connection with your studies – such as postponing deadlines or taking time off – please contact your section. Note that a student with an S permit can apply for a social scholarship even if it is his·her first year at EPFL

Students should also feel free to call on EPFL’s spiritual care service

The Swiss Federal Council’s sanctions against Russia do not affect the ability of our Russian students to carry on with their studies at EPFL.

PhD Candidates

If you are a PhD candidate at EPFL and require assistance because of the crisis in Ukraine is hindering your progress in some way, please do not hesitate to contact one of the below services:

  • Student Services Desk is the main contact point for all academic queries
  • EPFL can provide you with counselling support whether you need social or psychotherapeutic consultations
  • You can also benefit from our SelfCare program, which provides a safe space for employees to speak with someone confidentially, along with various practical tools to help you maintain your emotional health (more information via email)
  • You should also feel free to call on EPFL’s spiritual care service

If you have any specific needs in relation to your studies – such as postponing deadlines or taking time off because you have to deal with family-related issues in connection with the current situation in Ukraine please speak with your thesis director and/or HR manager in order to make the necessary arrangements.

If you are a PhD candidate on a SNSF-funded project whose work might be delayed because of the current situation in Ukraine, you can discuss with your thesis director if application for an extension is feasible. For more information click here.

The Swiss Federal Council’s sanctions against Russia do not directly affect the ability of our Russian PhD candidates to carry on with their thesis work at EPFL.

EPFL staff members who have to deal with family-related issues in connection with the war in Ukraine should speak with their supervisor and/or HR manager in order to make the necessary arrangements. One option is to take paid leave – your HR manager can provide you with more information.

Research staff with a fixed-term contract (including PhD students and postdocs) should speak with their supervisor, or contact their HR manager directly, about extending their contract.

EPFL staff members (including PhD students) can benefit from our SelfCare program, which provides a safe space for employees to speak with someone confidentially, along with various practical tools to help you maintain your emotional health (more information via email). If you have any questions or concerns, please get in touch with your supervisor or HR manager.

The entire EPFL community should feel free to call on EPFL’s spiritual care service

The Swiss Federal Council’s sanctions against Russia do not directly affect the ability of our Russian staff members to carry on with their work at EPFL.

#ScienceForUkraine

EPFL research groups interested in hosting Ukrainian students have various ways of doing so through #ScienceForUkraine.

#ScienceForUkraine is a clearinghouse for information on how to support Ukrainian students and researchers who have been directly affected by the war. If you would like to post a position or internship on their website, please fill in this form.

Questions? Contact Maksym Andriushchenko (coordinator for Switzerland).

EPFL will provide financial support to research groups that employ Ukrainian researchers. The details of this program are currently under discussion

Research groups interested in hosting Ukrainian researchers have several options for doing this.

EPFL can request a work permit for people who hold an S permit and offer them an employment contract. Interested professors and supervisors should contact their HR manager.

Scholars at Risk (SAR) program

EPFL is a member of Scholars at Risk (SAR), an international network of universities that aims to protect academics who are under threat, to prevent attacks on the scientific community and to promote academic freedom around the world. EPFL joined SAR in 2014 and helped create the Swiss section in 2016.

SNSF: support for researchers from Ukraine topped up to nine million francs

The SNSF is providing several million francs to enable universities to host a first wave of researchers from Ukraine in collaboration with Scholars at Risk Switzerland (more information).

For more EPFL information, please contact Antoine Fromentin.

#ScienceForUkraine

#ScienceForUkraine is a clearinghouse for information on how to support Ukrainian students and researchers who have been directly affected by the war. If you would like to post a position or internship on their website, please fill in this form

For more information contact Maksym Andriushchenko (coordinator for Switzerland).

College of Humanities

EPFL’s College of Humanities (CDH) offers temporary placements for Ukrainian researchers in a range of areas.

For more information contact [email protected]

School of Basic Sciences

The School of Basic Sciences offers temporary placements for Ukrainian researchers in Math, Physics, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (PhD students, postdocs and above) from a Ukrainian University or Research Institution for 3-6 months.

For more information contact [email protected] 

College of Management of Technology

The College of Management of Technology offers temporary placements for Ukrainian researchers in Economics, management, operation research and entrepreneurship (PhD students, postdocs and above) from a Ukrainian University or Research Institution for 3-6 months.

For more information contact [email protected]

School of Life Sciences

The School of Life Sciences offers temporary placements for Ukrainian researchers in the broad life sciences (PhD students, postdocs and group leader) from a Ukrainian University or Research Institution for 3-6 months.

For more information contact [email protected]

Vaud Canton’s migrant office (Établissement vaudois d’accueil des migrants, EVAM) provides help for residents of the Canton who are interested in hosting Ukrainian refugees.

The website of the Swiss Refugee Council (OSAR) also contains information on how to become a host family for Ukrainian refugees.

AKULA is a space for meeting and cultural exchange. It is open to the whole Ukrainian community at EPFL.