Ordinance on the Granting of Education Allowances (Scholarship Ordinance) (Stipendienverordnung) - Purpose

1. The provision of educational grants aims to promote professional development and ensure equal access to educational institutions.

1. The provisions of the Federal Act on Contributions to Cantonal Expenditures for Scholarships and Student Loans in Tertiary Education (SR 416.0) take precedence over the regulations of this ordinance, insofar as these contain provisions that deviate from federal law.

1. The financing of education is primarily the responsibility of the individual concerned, the parents, or other legally obligated parties.

2. If the financial capacity of these persons or other third parties is insufficient, the canton shall provide contributions towards educational and living expenses in accordance with this ordinance.

1. Educational grants are provided in the form of scholarships and loans.

2. Scholarships are contributions for which there is no repayment obligation.

3. Loans are contributions that must be repaid with interest upon completion or termination of the education. The government council regulates the interest and repayment.

1. Eligible for contributions are education programs at the secondary level II, the tertiary level, and in the field of adult education.

2. At the tertiary level, no more than two education programs are eligible for contributions.

3. The government council defines the education levels and the education programs eligible for contributions.

1. The eligible training must take place at a recognized educational institution.

2. The following may be recognized as educational institutions

a) Public educational institutions

b) Private educational institutions, provided they demonstrate adequate evidence of quality

3. The government council regulates the recognition.

1. Eligible for contributions are

a) Persons with Swiss citizenship

b) Persons with foreign citizenship who possess a permanent residence permit or have been authorized to reside in Switzerland for five years and possess a residence permit, subject to special provisions of international agreements

c) Refugees and stateless persons residing in Switzerland and recognized by the country

2. A person eligible for contributions under paragraph 1 is entitled to educational allowances if they

a) Have completed the compulsory elementary school period

b) Fulfill the academic requirements for the education

c) Are not yet 50 years old

d) Have their legal residence for scholarship purposes in the Canton of Uri

e) Demonstrate a financial need

f) Do not receive educational allowances from other cantons or countries

3. The government council regulates the exceptions.

1. The applicant has a scholarship-related domicile in the Canton of Uri if a person who currently holds or last held parental authority has their civil domicile in the Canton of Uri, or if the seat of the last competent guardianship authority is located in the Canton of Uri.

1. A person has a scholarship-related domicile in the Canton of Uri if, after completing one education and before starting a new one, they have had uninterrupted civil law domicile in the Canton of Uri for at least two years and were financially independent through their own gainful employment.

2. Four years of financial independence through one's own gainful employment is equivalent to completing an initial vocational qualification.

3. Activities considered as gainful employment also include managing one's own household with minors or dependents, military and civil service, as well as unemployment.

1. A person with citizenship of Uri, whose parents reside abroad or who is parentless and resides abroad, may establish a scholarship-eligible domicile in the canton of Uri for the purpose of education in Switzerland. If the person holds multiple cantonal citizenships, they have a scholarship-eligible domicile in the canton of Uri only if they acquired the Uri citizenship most recently.

2. Refugees and stateless persons have a scholarship-eligible domicile in the canton of Uri, provided they have been assigned to this canton for care purposes.

3. The government council may regulate the scholarship-eligible domicile for additional special cases.

1. Once established, the residence as per scholarship law of a person remains in effect until a new residence as per scholarship law is acquired.

1. The educational contributions represent an assistance towards the financial needs of the applicant.

1. In calculating the financial need, the recognized average educational and living expenses, as well as reasonable personal and external contributions, are taken into account.

2. The personal, family, and financial circumstances of the applicant are considered.

3. The government council regulates the calculation of financial need.

1. The reasonable personal contribution is determined by the (countable) income and assets of the applicant, the parents, or other legally responsible persons. Income and assets are determined based on the most recent legally binding tax assessment.

2. In cases of tax assessments based on discretion or in the absence of, or when there are non-current or non-legally binding tax assessments, the applicant must provide alternative proof of income and assets.

3. If the applicant has completed their initial education and is over the age of 25 or was financially independent for at least four years through their own employment before starting the new education, or if they managed the household of their own family, the reasonable contributions from the parents are only partially considered.

4. The government council regulates the determination of the countable income and assets.

1. Educational grants are provided as follows

a) for secondary level II education exclusively in the form of scholarships

b) for the first tertiary level education in the form of scholarships and loans

c) for education in the field of adult education and for the second tertiary level education exclusively in the form of loans

2. For education commenced after the age of forty, educational grants are permitted exclusively in the form of loans.

3. In justified cases, the Scholarship Commission may convert loans granted under paragraphs 1 and 2 wholly or partially into scholarships.

1. The Government Council establishes maximum and minimum rates for educational grants.

2. It regulates the ratio of scholarships to loans for the first tertiary-level education.

1. Educational grants are generally awarded until the time when the education can ordinarily be completed. If completion is delayed, the duration of the grant provision may be reasonably extended in justified cases.

2. If the education is switched before completion, the provision of the grant may be extended, restricted, denied, or subjected to conditions depending on the specific circumstances.

1. The applicant is obligated to provide the scholarship authorities with complete and truthful information, substantiate it as necessary, and promptly report any changes that have occurred.

2. If the obligation to cooperate is violated, the educational grants may be reduced or denied.

1. Training allowances must be reimbursed if they

a) were obtained unjustly through false or incomplete information

b) were misused for purposes other than intended

1. The application for educational grants must be submitted to the competent authority with the necessary information and documents.

2. The government council regulates the procedure.

1. The competent authority shall implement this regulation and make the necessary orders, unless another authority is expressly designated as competent.

1. The Scholarship Commission consists of five members.

2. The head of the responsible directorate shall ex officio assume the presidency. The other members are elected by the Government Council.

1. The cantonal and municipal offices and authorities, in particular the Tax Office and the municipal administrations, are obligated to provide legal and administrative assistance to the scholarship organizations, insofar as this is necessary for the execution of this ordinance.

1. Appeals against decisions of the competent authority may be lodged with the Scholarship Commission within 20 days from the date of notification.

2. Decisions on appeals are subject to administrative court complaints to the Higher Court.

3. The procedure is governed by the Ordinance on Administrative Jurisdiction (RB 2.2345).

1. The government council issues the implementing regulations.

1. Proceedings that are pending at the time of the entry into force of this regulation shall be assessed according to the new law.

2. Pending appeal proceedings shall be concluded in accordance with the previous law.

1. The Ordinance of June 3, 1987, on the Granting of Educational Contributions (Scholarship Ordinance) is repealed.

2. The special fund pursuant to Article 12 of the ordinance mentioned in Paragraph 1 is repealed. The resources of the fund are allocated to the general cantonal budget.

1. This regulation is subject to an optional referendum.

2. It shall enter into force on January 1, 2003.