Act on State Scholarships and Student Loans (Scholarships Act) (StipG) - Principle (StipG)

1. The state shall provide scholarships and student loans adequately, insofar as the full cost of education or further training cannot reasonably be expected of an applicant or their parents.

2. It shall take into account any other scholarships and student loans.

3. The granting of scholarships and student loans from state funds, which originate from third-party donations, remains subject to reservation. Unless the donor or the government has made specific arrangements, the provisions of this law shall apply.

1. Scholarships are generally granted for initial education. In exceptional cases, student loans may be granted in addition to or instead of scholarships.

2. Initial education is

a) the first vocational training or attendance at a secondary school following primary school;

b) the first university degree program.

1. Loans for studies are generally granted for a second education and further education. In exceptional cases, scholarships may be granted in addition to or instead of loans for studies.

2. Second education is

a) a second vocational training or attendance at a secondary school after completing the initial vocational training;

b) a second university degree.

3. Further education builds upon an initial education and deepens or supplements it.

1. The government may equate advanced vocational training programs with a university degree through regulation.

1. The training or further education must be professionally recognized.

1. The applicant is entitled to scholarships and student loans if they have a domicile for scholarship purposes in the canton.

1. The applicant has a scholarship-related domicile in the canton if the parents have a civil domicile in the canton.

2. If the parents are divorced and have civil domiciles in different cantons, the domicile of the current or last holder of parental authority is decisive. In the case of joint parental authority, the domicile of the parent with whom the applicant primarily resides or last resided is decisive.

**1. The applicant without Swiss citizenship has a residency for scholarship purposes in the canton if:**

a) the parents have their legal residence abroad, and

b) he/she has had legal residence in Switzerland for at least five years.

1. The applicant with citizenship of St. Gallen is considered to have a scholarship residency in the canton if

a) the parents have their civil residence abroad, and

b) the education takes place in Switzerland.

2. Among multiple cantonal citizenships, the St. Gallen citizenship is recognized if it was acquired last.

1. The government regulates by ordinance the scholarship-related residence of applicants without parents as well as stateless persons and refugees.

1. The applicant has a residence for scholarship purposes in the canton if, after completing their initial education, they have continuously for at least two years

a) maintained a civil-law residence in the canton, and

b) been financially independent through their own earnings or managed a family household and were not undergoing further education.

2. Four years of financial independence through one's own earnings is equivalent to completing an initial education.

1. Scholarships and student loans are granted only to applicants who are talented and possess suitable character traits.

1. The government submits a report to the Great Council along with the state budget on the minimum and maximum rates of scholarships and student loans to be provided for the various types of education and further education, and submits a proposal for the necessary credits.

2. Based on the credit resolutions of the Great Council, the government establishes the minimum and maximum rates of scholarships and student loans by means of regulation.

1. The amount of scholarships and student loans is determined on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the costs of education or training, travel to the school or training location, accommodation, and meals, as well as the financial and familial circumstances of the recipient and their parents.

2. ...

3. In cases of multiple comparable education or training programs, a more cost-effective option may be considered in special circumstances.

1. Scholarships and student loans are granted for the regular duration of education or further training. In special cases, deviations are permissible.

2. They are granted for a maximum total of twelve years. Education or further training for which scholarships or student loans were not granted will be counted.

1. The entitlement to scholarships and student loans lapses when the eligibility criteria are no longer met or if they have been used for purposes other than intended.

1. Any person entitled to benefits under this decree may assign such benefits to government agencies, but not to private individuals.

1. Scholarships are financial grants for education or further training that do not have to be repaid.

2. Voluntary repayments are used for the provision of scholarships.

1. Scholarships may be fully or partially reclaimed

a) if they were received unjustly due to incomplete or false information provided by the recipient or their representative;

b) if they were used for purposes other than intended;

c) if the education or training must be discontinued due to gross negligence on the part of the recipient.

1. Student Loans are financial aid for education or further education, which must be repaid.

1. Student loans are interest-free until the completion of education or training, but for no longer than ten years from the start of the education or training.

2. Thereafter, the recipient must pay interest that corresponds to the interest rate of five-year cash bonds of the St.Gallen Cantonal Bank.

1. The obligation to repay generally begins five years after the completion of education or further training.

2. The loan must be repaid within ten years from the start of the repayment obligation in annual installments of at least ten percent of the total amount.

3. In cases of hardship, repayment can be facilitated or interest and repayment may be waived.

1. Student Loans are Immediately Due for Repayment if

a) they were unjustly obtained due to incomplete or false information provided by the recipient or their representative;

b) they were used for purposes other than intended;

c) the education or training program is terminated without a valid reason;

d) the conditions for granting the loan are no longer met.

1. The execution of this law is the responsibility of the competent department and the scholarship division under its authority.

2. The scholarship division prepares the department's decrees regarding scholarships and student loans.

3. The government may, by regulation, confer independent decision-making powers on the scholarship division.

1. The competent department is assisted by a scholarship commission appointed by the government.

2. It advises the department on the execution of this law, reviews drafts of implementation regulations and circulars, and receives periodic reports.

1. The applicant is required to provide all necessary information and report any changes in the relevant circumstances.

1. The government shall issue the regulations necessary for the implementation of this law.

1. The government determines when this law comes into effect.

1. An application for contributions to an education that began before the commencement of this decree and has not yet been completed by the commencement of this decree will be evaluated under the new law if it is more favorable for the applicant.