Study placement or post-graduate internship
Swiss practice separates an internship built into a course, required by a university of applied sciences (HES), a college of higher education or a university, and one completed after graduation. The latter resembles a first job and is paid like a junior post.
An internship is an employment contract
The Swiss Code of Obligations has no separate internship contract: as soon as there is work, subordination and a wage, employment contract rules apply. Interns are therefore entitled to holidays, social insurance coverage and a written employment reference.
Geneva and the minimum wage for interns
In Geneva, the legal minimum wage of 24,59 francs per hour in 2026 also applies to interns, with some exceptions. Excluded are notably internships required by higher education, placements before entering an HES and supervised integration internships.
Sectors that take the most interns
International organisations and NGOs in Geneva, banks in Zurich, pharmaceutical groups in Basel and communication agencies in Lausanne offer many placements. For careers in public relations and image, see our page on the communications officer in Switzerland.
Trainee agreements for non-EU countries
Switzerland has signed exchange agreements with fifteen countries, including Canada, Australia, Japan, Tunisia and the United States. They allow a professional stay of up to 18 months in the trained profession, full time and without any self-employed activity.
Age and qualification requirements
Applicants must have completed vocational training of at least two years or a bachelor's degree, and generally be aged 35 or under, or 30 for some countries. The salary must match local practice and the customary pay in the sector.
Rules for EU and EFTA nationals
A French, German or Italian student can do an internship with a simple L permit, or an online notification for stays under three months. Cross-border commuters who return home weekly receive a G permit, explained on our page about working as a cross-border commuter.
Laboratory and research internships
Laboratories at EPFL, ETH Zurich, CERN and biotech companies in the Basel region welcome science interns. Applicants in applied biology can read our page on the biotechnologist in Switzerland to learn about career openings after the placement.
Insurance and deductions for interns
Salaried interns pay contributions to AVS/AI (old-age and disability insurance), APG (income compensation) and unemployment insurance, and are covered by the employer's accident insurance. Staying in Switzerland over three months also means taking out LAMal health insurance, unless the canton grants an exemption.
Length and repeated internships
Cantonal labour inspectorates and trade unions monitor repeated internships that replace a regular job. In practice, a post-graduate internship lasts six to twelve months; beyond that, the employer should offer an ordinary contract at the usual salary.
Internships and unemployment benefits
The ORP (regional employment office) can offer professional internships to registered young graduates as part of labour market measures funded by unemployment insurance. These placements supplement benefits and provide first experience that Swiss employers recognise.
After the internship: get the right reference
Insist on a full employment reference that describes your tasks and assesses your performance, not merely a confirmation of attendance. Recruiters from Lausanne to St. Gallen read this document closely, and it counts as much as the diploma for a first job.
Setting up a Swiss internship step by step
- Decide which type of internship you need: compulsory for your course, post-graduate or under a trainee agreement, since pay and permit rules differ.
- Target suitable employers: international organisations in Geneva, banks in Zurich, pharma in Basel, industry in the Jura Arc.
- Send a Swiss-style CV with photo, transcripts and a letter stating the dates, length and your school's internship agreement.
- Get a written contract stating salary, working hours, duration, holidays and supervisor, in addition to the school agreement.
- For a non-EU country under a trainee agreement, file the application with your home country's authority, including the contract and placement programme.
- Register your arrival with the municipality, take out health insurance on time and request your employment reference at the end.
Intern pay and living costs in Switzerland
| Item | Amount or benchmark | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Legal minimum wage in Geneva in 2026 | 24,59 CHF gross per hour | Does not apply to internships required by higher education |
| Pay for a post-graduate internship | indicative, depending on sector and canton | Local practice, CCT (collective labour agreement), company size, working language |
| Internship under a trainee agreement | entry-level salary in the sector | Local and professional pay standards required |
| LAMal health insurance | variable monthly premium | Exemption possible for some students or people insured abroad |
| Temporary housing | highly variable | Furnished rooms and flatshares in Geneva, Zurich and Lausanne among the most expensive |
Documents to secure and start an internship
- Swiss-style CV with photo and cover letter stating the preferred dates
- Internship agreement from the school or university, if the placement is compulsory
- Transcripts, bachelor's degree, CFC (Federal VET Diploma) or equivalent qualification
- Passport or ID card, plus residence permit depending on nationality
- Language certificates: DELF, Goethe, TOEFL or Cambridge
- Application form and placement programme for the trainee agreement
- Proof of Swiss health insurance or recognised foreign cover
Common traps for interns in Switzerland
- Accepting an unpaid internship after graduation, although it is work that must be paid according to local practice and sometimes the cantonal minimum wage.
- Starting before receiving the residence permit or filing the online notification, which counts as illegal work even for a few weeks.
- Forgetting health insurance: you have three months after arrival to join a fund, and late enrolment results in surcharges.
- Applying for a placement outside your field under a trainee agreement, which requires work in the trained profession or studied discipline.
- Leaving without a detailed employment reference, which strips the internship of its value when looking for a first job.
Internships in Switzerland: what applicants ask
Does an internship in Switzerland have to be paid?
No federal law sets an amount, but an internship outside a course of study is an employment contract and must be paid according to local practice. In Geneva, Neuchâtel or Ticino, the cantonal minimum wage may apply, subject to exceptions set by the canton.
Can a Canadian do an internship in Switzerland?
Yes, Canada is one of the countries linked to Switzerland by a trainee agreement. Young professionals can work up to 18 months full time in their field, after finding the employer themselves and filing the application with the Canadian authority.
How long does an internship in Switzerland last?
A study placement often lasts two to six months depending on the school, and a post-graduate internship six to twelve months. Under a trainee agreement, the maximum is 18 months. Check the exact length in your agreement and your permit.
Can an intern also take a weekend job?
An EU national can in principle combine both, provided the rules on working hours are respected. Under a trainee agreement, part-time work and side jobs are excluded, so check with the cantonal migration office before accepting anything.