Scholarship Ordinance (StipV) (StipV)

1. To the extent that the educational institution and training have been recognized by the Federation, inter-cantonal bodies, the Canton of St. Gallen, or the host canton, contributions are provided for

a) training aimed at obtaining a Federal Vocational Diploma or a Vocational Certificate under the Federal legislation on vocational education, as well as training to obtain a Federal Vocational Diploma after obtaining a Vocational Certificate;[4]

b) education at a secondary school aimed at obtaining a maturity certificate or a recognized diploma;

bbis) education at a higher technical school if it lasts at least two years as initial or secondary training, or at least six months as further training;

c) studies at a university or university of applied sciences.

1. The Scholarship Department may also, in individual cases, determine the eligibility for contribution to an educational program if the admission procedures, curriculum, qualifications of the teaching staff, and the nature of the degree are appropriate, and if a first or second education lasts at least two years or further training lasts at least six months.

1. Contributions are made for preliminary training if it is required for admission to a contribution-eligible education.

1. The eligibility for contributions lasts until the actual completion of the education, generally for a maximum of two semesters after the earliest possible completion.

2. In the case of a change in education, the eligibility for contributions corresponds to the regular duration of the new education minus the completed duration of the first education.

1. The crediting towards the permissible training period of twelve years shall be determined according to the specifications and regulations of the training institution regarding the duration and intensity of the training.

2. ...

1. Entitlement to contributions is not lost with a one-time change of education.

2. One loses entitlement to contributions if they change their education a second time or are expelled from the educational institution. If the education was changed for important reasons, additional contributions may exceptionally be granted.

1. Applicants without parents have their scholarship legal domicile in the canton if the last competent Child and Adult Protection Authority was situated here.

2. Recognized refugees whose parents do not have a civil domicile in Switzerland have their scholarship legal domicile in the canton if they are assigned to it.

1. Scholarships may be granted for a second education and further training

a) if the education serves as a career entry or re-entry, particularly after an extended period of service to the community or in fulfillment of family obligations;

b) if a second vocational education complements the first vocational education;

c) in the case of an unavoidable emergency.

**1. Scholarships are granted if the period between the expected completion of the education and the eligibility for old-age benefits from the federal old-age, survivors', and disability insurance is at least three times longer than the regular duration of the education.**

1. Student loans may be granted to adults for their initial education if

a) the applicant cannot claim any or only low scholarships due to the financial situation of the parents;

b) high educational and living expenses arise due to special circumstances;

c) no further scholarships are granted due to exceeding the regular duration of education.

1. Study loans are granted if the education can be completed before reaching the age of 48.

1. As school or study fees, a maximum of CHF 6500.- per year will be credited.

1. As the costs for materials and educational tools necessary for training, and as ancillary costs, the following are accounted for

a) Generally, up to CHF 2,000 per year;

b) In the first year of the initial education at the Secondary Level II and in the first year of the initial education at the Tertiary Level, an additional CHF 1,000 is accounted for a computer.

2. Costs for materials and educational tools that continue to serve the applicant even after the completion of their education are accounted for according to customary amortization principles.

1. Travel expenses to the place of training are accounted for, insofar as they are related to training.

2. The costs accounted for are those of the most economical ticket for public transportation.

3. For training abroad, travel expenses for one round trip per year using the usual means of transportation are generally accounted for.

1. The assessable living expenses consist of a basic amount and additional charges.

1. The Basic Amount for One Person Is

a) In the Parental Household: CHF 9,000;

b) In One’s Own Household: CHF 20,000;

c) In the Marital Household: CHF 29,000.

2. The Basic Amount for One's Own Household Is Applicable When

1. The Educational Institution Cannot Be Reached from the Parents’ Residence Within 60 Minutes by Public Transportation;

2. The Applicant Has Been Employed and Financially Independent for at Least Two Years Following the Completion of Initial Training.

1. For each person for whom the applicant is obliged to provide maintenance and is paying maintenance contributions, the following allowance is credited

a) up to the completed sixth year of age: CHF 3,000;

b) up to the completed twelfth year of age: CHF 4,200;

c) from the completed twelfth year of age: CHF 6,000.

2. Maintenance contributions paid exceeding the allowance are credited if they are ordered or approved by the court.

1. As personal contribution, the total income and received grants of the applicant and their spouse, reduced by the tax-deductible acquisition costs, are taken into account.

2. Also taken into account are

a) insurance benefits intended for them, especially pensions, insofar as they are not included in the taxable income of the parents;

b) charitable contributions from third parties, insofar as they exceed the education and living costs.

1. An annual income of at least CHF 6,000 is attributed to the applicant.

2. For students at the secondary level II who have not yet reached the age of 18 at the start of their education, an income of CHF 1,500 is attributed.

3. For an applicant who has completed an initial education and who has been gainfully employed and financially independent for at least two years, the attributed income increases by CHF 1,000.

1. The applicant's remaining assets, after deducting an exemption amount, shall be considered as a personal contribution. The relevant factor is the net assets as assessed for state and municipal taxes for the tax period preceding the calendar year in which the first assessment period begins.

1bis Any interim depletion of assets shall be considered if it is closely related to the eligible educational training.

2. The exemption amounts to

a) CHF 15,000 for an unmarried person;

b) CHF 30,000 for a married person;

c) an additional CHF 10,000 for each person for whom the applicant is obligated to provide support and does provide maintenance contributions.

3. The assessable assets are proportionally distributed over the remaining regular duration of the training. If the net assets increase during the training, the assessable assets shall be recalculated and proportionally distributed over the remaining years of training.

1. The applicant is credited with a parental contribution according to the annex to this decree. The decisive factor is the net income according to the assessment for the state and municipal taxes of the parents.

1bis. If siblings of the applicant are in recognized education and meet the eligibility requirements for scholarships, the creditable parental contribution is divided proportionally among them and the applicant.

2. In the case of a remarried parent, half of the net income of both spouses is considered.

3. The net income is at least equal to the expenses of the persons living off it.

1. The net income after assessment for the state and municipal taxes of the parents is increased by

a) one-tenth of their taxable assets, insofar as it exceeds CHF 20,000;

b) the contributions to self-provision (pillar 3a);

c) the property expenses, insofar as they exceed the flat-rate deduction of 20 percent of rental income.

2. In calculating the assessable assets pursuant to paragraph 1 letter a of these provisions for parents residing outside the canton

a) reliance is placed on the social deductions according to Article 64 paragraph 1 of the Tax Act of April 9, 1998;

b) the valuation of properties may be carried out in accordance with the tax law of the Canton of St.Gallen if the tax valuation at the place of residence deviates significantly from it.

1. Deductions from the Parents' Net Income

a) CHF 6,800 for each child under their parental care or custody until the completion of compulsory schooling;

b)* CHF 8,000 for each of the separated parents.

1. The tax assessment of the tax period preceding the calendar year in which the assessment period begins is decisive.

2. If the assessment is pending, provisional scholarships are paid based on the income and wealth conditions underlying the preliminary tax calculation.

3. Once the decisive assessment is available, the scholarships are definitively determined. The difference is adjusted.

1. The Scholarship Department establishes the rounding rules for the calculation of scholarships and student loans. Articles 30a and 32a of this decree remain reserved.

1. The scholarship corresponds to the shortfall between the eligible educational and living expenses of the applicant on one hand, and the applicant's assessed personal contribution and the assessed parental contribution on the other hand.

2. Subject to the minimum rate under Art. 30a of this decree and the maximum rates under Art. 30 of this decree.

1. The annual maximum rates for scholarships are as follows for a

a)* unmarried person

1.* at the secondary level II: CHF 13,000.--;

2.* at the tertiary level: CHF 16,000.--;

b) married person: CHF 22,000.--.

2. The annual maximum rates are increased by CHF 4,000.-- for each child under the parental care of the applicant.

3. The annual maximum rates are increased by the amount exceeding CHF 4,000.-- for school and study fees.

1. The annual minimum amount for scholarships is at least CHF 500, even if the deficit calculation according to Art. 29 of this decree results in a lower, yet positive amount.

1. The student loan corresponds to the shortfall between the eligible educational and living expenses of the applicant on one hand, and their credited personal contribution on the other hand.

1bis. ...

2. Subject to the minimum rate according to Art. 32a of this ordinance and the maximum rates according to Art. 32 of this ordinance.

1. The maximum annual limit for student loans is generally CHF 20,000.

2. In total, student loans of no more than CHF 100,000 shall be granted.

1. The annual minimum amount for student loans shall be at least CHF 500, even if the deficiency calculation pursuant to Art. 31 of this decree results in a lower, yet positive, amount.

1. The Scholarships Department orders

a) the granting of scholarships and study loans;

b) the recovery of scholarships and study loans;

c) the interest and repayment of study loans.

1. The municipality and the competent authorities of the canton provide the scholarship department with the data necessary for determining entitlement to benefits.

1. The Scholarship Department determines and annually publishes the application deadline for scholarship applications.

2. Applications submitted after the application deadline will be considered for the next assessment period.

1. Scholarships are generally paid in semi-annual installments, for apprentices in annual installments.

2. They are usually paid during the training period for which they are intended.

1. Claims for Reimbursement and Scholarships May Be Offset.

1. Applications for student loans are submitted during the academic year.

1. Student Loans are Disbursed in Semi-Annual Installments.

1. The Office of Financial Services issues statements for the interest and repayment of student loans prior to the payment due date.

2. If interest or repayments on student loans are not made on time, the Office of Financial Services will issue a reminder to the liable person, setting a default period of 30 days. After the expiration of the default period, a default interest will be charged. Additionally, reimbursement is required for any cash expenses incurred by the canton as a result of the collection process.

1. The following are repealed

a) Executive Regulation on the Scholarship Act of September 22, 1969;

b) Government Resolution on the Assessment of Scholarships and Student Loans of December 3, 1974.

1. Any person who is disadvantaged under the new law compared to the previous law may claim a student loan for the assessment year 2003/04 to the extent of the difference between the previous and the new regulations.

2. In cases of hardship, student loans may be granted until the regular completion of the education.

1. This decree shall be applied as of August 1, 2003.

**1. The Application for Contributions to an Education**

An application for contributions to an education, for which contributions have already been granted for a different educational period prior to August 1, 2015, shall be assessed according to the previous law if this is more favorable for the applicant. An exception is made for the calculation of the parents' chargeable assets pursuant to Art. 26 para. 2 (a) of this enactment.

1. The basic amount for a person in their own household according to Art. 19 para. 1 letter b of this decree is CHF 18,500 for the school or academic year 2019/20.

**1. Applications Pending at the Commencement of this Amendment for Educational Periods After August 1, 2023, Will Be Assessed According to the New Law.**