Ordinance on Education Grants (Stipendienverordnung) - Education in Switzerland

1. Training programs offered by private and public law providers are eligible for contributions if they lead to a qualification recognized by the Federation, the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education, or the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Health Directors.

2. Additionally, training programs for which the canton provides tuition contributions are eligible for contributions. The Department of Education and Culture may recognize further training programs as eligible for contributions.

1. Education Abroad and Its Contribution Entitlements: Education obtained abroad is eligible for contributions if the applicant can prove its equivalency to corresponding education in Switzerland. Equivalency is generally to be confirmed by the competent recognition authority in Switzerland.

2. Granting of Educational Contributions: The granting of educational contributions is conditional upon the applicant meeting the admission requirements for a corresponding education in Switzerland.

1. Initial training includes the acquisition of a first vocational qualification up to completion at the tertiary level.

2. Secondary training begins for those who have already acquired a vocational qualification and embark on a new training that does not build upon it.

1. Scholarships for initial training at the secondary level II are granted beyond the statutory age limit, provided that the training begins before reaching the age of 50.

1. Scholarships for Secondary Education are granted when the learned profession can no longer be practiced due to technological changes.

1. An education may be interrupted for a maximum of two years. If it is not resumed within this period, it is considered a termination of the education.

2. No educational contributions are granted during the interruption of education.

1. To determine the financial need, the financial circumstances of the applicant and their parents are assessed.

2. If the applicant is married or in a registered partnership, the financial circumstances of the partner are also taken into account.

3. A financial need is determined when reasonable personal and external contributions are insufficient to cover the recognized educational and living expenses.

1. In the absence of a specific regulation, the actual circumstances at the beginning of the training period are decisive for which training allowances are applied for. The cut-off date is considered to be the first day of the calendar month.

2. If there is no legally binding tax assessment under Swiss law or if the actual circumstances have significantly changed, income and assets are assessed based on the specific circumstances.

1. Training costs include tuition and study fees, examination fees, diploma fees, expenses for school materials, mandatory teaching materials, and similar items.

2. Training costs also encompass travel expenses for the most economical transportation connection between the place of residence and the place of training.

1. The following are deductible as training costs per year and education level

a) Bridging offers: 800 francs

b) Secondary Level II

1. Vocational training: 500 francs

2. Vocational training with accompanying vocational baccalaureate: 1,100 francs

3. Part-time school offerings: 1,000 francs

4. Full-time school offerings: 2,000 francs

c) Tertiary Level A: 4,400 francs

1. At Tertiary Level B and for pathway programs, the actual training costs are reimbursable, but per year, a maximum of

a) Tertiary Level B: 18,000 francs

b) Pathway Programs: 5,000 francs

1. The cost of travel for the most economical means of transportation will be recognized up to a maximum equivalent to the cost of a second-class general subscription of the Swiss Federal Railways.

2. The travel costs will be added to the costs according to Art. 10 or 11.

1. Foreign and exchange semesters are accounted for with an additional cost allowance of 150 Swiss francs per month.

1. Recognized as the living expenses of the applicant are alternatively

a) the costs for their own household;

b) the costs for a multi-person household;

c) the costs in the parental household.

1. The costs for maintaining one's own household are recognized if

a) the applicant has reached the age of 25;

b) the one-way trip by public transport between the parental home and the educational institution exceeds one hour;

c) there are other valid reasons that make it unreasonable for the applicant to live with their parents.

2. A fixed allowance of 17,000 Swiss Francs per year is attributed for one's own household.

3. As living expenses, the average premiums of the mandatory health insurance (including accident coverage) set by the Federal Department of Home Affairs for the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden are also considered.

1. The costs for a multi-person household are recognized if the applicant lives with their marital or registered partner or with their own children in a common household.

2. For the costs in a multi-person household, the expenses are calculated according to Art. 20.

3. If both partners are in training, the expenses are taken into account proportionally for each partner.

1. As living expenses in the parental household, the uncovered expenses according to Art. 22 are recognized, but per year a maximum of

a) if both parents maintain a joint household: 6,000 francs

b) in the household of a single parent: 12,000 francs

2. As necessary additional costs, up to 600 francs per weekday for external meals can be credited annually.

1. Within the parental household, the financial circumstances of the parents, stepparents, and their children living in the same household are assessed. Economically independent children are not considered.

2. If the parents do not live in the same household, their financial circumstances are assessed separately.

3. If a parent is making maintenance contributions for the applicant that have been determined by a court or authority, generally, the assessment of that parent's income and assets is waived.

1. The financial resources of the parental household are determined by the assessment for state and municipal taxes.

2. The following are added to the net income

a) Maintenance and administration costs for real estate, insofar as they exceed 20 percent of the real estate income;

b) Purchase contributions to occupational pension schemes (second pillar);

c) Contributions to tied pension provision (pillar 3a); For persons without occupational pension provision (second pillar): insofar as the contributions exceed the amount of 10,000 francs per year;

d) Supplemental benefits;

e) 11 percent of the net assets.

3. The following are deducted from the net income

a) Orphan's and children's pensions from social insurance;

b) Maintenance contributions for minor children;

c) The income of the stepparent, but no more than 20,000 francs.

1. For basic needs, including housing costs, a flat rate based on household size according to the annex is credited in the parental household.

2. Additionally, the following are taken into account

a) the average premiums for mandatory health insurance (including accident coverage) for the Canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, as determined by the Federal Department of Home Affairs;

b) a tax portion according to the annex.

1. For additional expenses, a standard tax-free allowance of 12,800 francs per year and an additional amount of 3,000 francs for each dependent child are credited.

2. If the financial circumstances of the parents are assessed separately, the standard tax-free allowance and the additional amounts for dependent children must be fully credited in both households. Half-siblings and step-siblings are only considered with the respective parent.

1. If a deficit results from the comparison of financial resources and eligible expenses, this deficit shall be divided by the number of persons living in the same household. The result will be considered as the living expenses of the applicant under Article 17.

1. If a comparison of financial resources and eligible expenses results in a surplus, this surplus is divided by the number of economically dependent children undergoing post-compulsory education. The result corresponds to the reasonable parental contribution.

2. The reasonable parental contribution is only counted at half under the conditions set forth in Article 13, Paragraph 2 of the Scholarships Act.

1. The reasonable personal contribution of the applicant is determined based on the estimated income during the relevant training period and the attributable assets.

2. The financial situation of the marital or registered partner is considered in accordance with the same rules, provided that the partner is not undergoing training themselves.

1. Earned income is accounted for at 75 percent of the estimated gross amount.

2. In the case of part-time education, a hypothetically achievable earned income may be attributed if the applicant fails to engage in gainful employment that is reasonable under the circumstances.

3. A minimum personal contribution from income is credited to the applicant per year in any case

a) Secondary Level II and bridging programs: 600 Swiss Francs

b) Universities and advanced professional education: 4,000 Swiss Francs

1. Additional income shall be taken into account as follows

a) at 100 percent: Replacement income, daily allowances, pensions in favor of the applicant and their children, supplementary benefits;

b) at 75 percent: Maintenance contributions in favor of the applicant and their children.

1. From the credited income, the anticipated maintenance contributions that the applicant and their partner are required to provide during the relevant training period shall be deducted.

1. As a reasonable personal contribution, 15 percent of the assets exceeding the following exemption amounts are counted

a) 5,000 Swiss francs for single persons;

b) 10,000 Swiss francs for married couples and registered partners;

c) 5,000 Swiss francs for each child entitled to support by the applicant or their partner.

1. Educational grants are awarded if the applicant demonstrates a financial need of at least 500 francs.

1. Within the legal maximum framework, the amount of the training allowance corresponds to the identified need, rounded up or down to the nearest hundred Swiss francs.

1. Training contributions are generally granted for a training year of twelve months.

2. The contribution period begins with the calendar month in which the training starts. It lasts until the end of the calendar month after which a new training year begins.

3. In the case of a differing training period, the contribution period will be adjusted accordingly.

1. In cases of hardship, loans may be granted upon a substantiated request, deviating from the calculation of financial needs.

1. Scholarships are generally disbursed on a semester basis upon presentation of proof of enrollment.

2. Scholarships that are not claimed expire at the end of the contribution period.

1. Loans are disbursed upon request. The request of partial amounts is possible.

2. Loans that are not requested expire at the end of the training period.

1. The Division of Tuition and Study Contributions may propose repayment plans for outstanding loans and interest at any time.

2. Repayment plans become binding upon mutual signature.

1. The obligation to pay interest on outstanding loans begins after the expiry of the interest-free period on the first day of the following month.

2. The interest rate corresponds to the current minimum interest rate in occupational pensions. However, it does not exceed 5 percent.

3. The interest is due and invoiced annually.

1. Applications for educational grants must be submitted to the Department of Educational and Study Grants using the official form and the required documents no later than three months after the start of the relevant training period.

2. The application must generally be renewed for each academic year.

3. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

1. The granting of educational grants is decided by the Office for Secondary and Higher Education and Vocational Training. The Department of Education and Culture may delegate the authority, in whole or in part, to the Department of Educational and Study Grants.

2. An appeal against the grant decision may be lodged with the Department of Education and Culture.

1. The disbursement of educational grants is made to a bank or postal account in Switzerland.

1. Significant changes in the circumstances relevant according to law and regulation must be reported to the Department of Education and Study Grants without prompt and with the necessary documentation.

2. The obligation to report applies particularly to

a) Changes of address;

b) Changes in income and asset circumstances;

c) Changes in education;

d) Completion, termination, or interruption of education.

1. This regulation is applicable to all applications submitted after the entry into force of the Scholarship Act.