AV¶ÌÊÓƵ

The program Horizon académique is a gateway to university studies. The aim of the program is admission to a course of study at one of Geneva's three universities: the AV¶ÌÊÓƵ (UNIGE), the AV¶ÌÊÓƵ of Applied Sciences (HES-SO), and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID).   Participants in the program learn French, take academic courses and take exams, enabling them to get ahead in their studies.

The program is offered in partnership with the Canton of Geneva's Bureau de l'intégration et de la citoyenneté (BIC), and is supported by several private foundations.

The program is divided into several modules. During the program, you progress from one module to the next according to your progress in French and the progress of your academic project. For details of the modules and the program, please consult our practical guide.

Applications for the program open each year in February and close at the end of March. To apply, complete an online form, which will be published here. All applications are reviewed and selected by the program's strategic committee.

The program is funded by the Canton of Geneva, the Swiss Confederation and private foundations. The program is aimed at holders of the permits mentioned in question 2, who can take advantage of the program free of charge. For people living in other cantons, the social services of their canton of residence must cover the training costs.

Yes, you can apply by submitting a letter of support from your social institution confirming that it will cover your participation.

The program facilitates the academic, social and professional integration of asylum seekers and migrants. It enables them to develop their skills and take an academic course, while learning French to succeed in their project. The aim of the program is to gain admission to the targeted training program, in order to improve professional integration prospects.

The conditions for applying to the program can be found under the “Registration” tab. Please note that these may change from year to year, so please check when applications open in February.

A French test is organized to assess your level and confirm that it is at least A1. For those with a higher level, this test is used to place you in the right French class.

On the premises: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 12:30pm. Please note: maximum 15 minutes per person!

By telephone: Monday and Wednesday from 10am to 12pm and Tuesday and Thursday from 10am to 12:30pm.

The program Horizon académique supports you in the process of registering with the UNIGE or other universities in the canton. As this is one of the objectives of the program, you will receive support throughout the academic year.

If you meet all the requirements for admission to the UNIGE, you do not need to go through the Academic Horizon program to register, even if you are a refugee. The UNIGE Admissions Department has two registration periods: one for the fall semester and a second for the spring semester. If you have any questions about registration at UNIGE, please visit their FAQ page

You can visit these websites to find information on programmes offered by higher education insitutions in Geneva :

An Academic Horizon auditor takes courses and exams, but is not yet admitted to the AV¶ÌÊÓƵ as a full student because he or she does not yet meet all the requirements for admission to the AV¶ÌÊÓƵ or to a Haute école. At the end of the Academic Horizon Bridge, you will be officially registered as a regular student at the UNIGE or at a university.

To be an official student at the AV¶ÌÊÓƵ, most courses require an oral and written level of French B2. The Academic Horizon program can help you reach the level required by your course.

Mentoring supports your integration into the AV¶ÌÊÓƵ or HES-SO. You will be put in touch with mentors who are also students.

In order to encourage more interpersonal sharing between participants and mentors, we offer two types of mentoring:

• Faculty: the mentor will support participants who are taking courses as free auditors in a faculty and would like to receive advice on courses, exam registration, as well as tips and advice on the faculty and/or its specificities.
• Integration: the mentor will support participants who wish to integrate as well as possible into the university environment, have a social link, exchange with other students and practice their French.

They are also on hand to introduce you to the social life of the AV¶ÌÊÓƵ or HES-SO, such as community life, campus life, cultural visits and regular meetings.
 

As part of the mentoring program, you can also suggest activities to your mentor(s). The aim is to encourage horizontal, two-way collaboration between mentor and mentee.

What Mentoring is not :

Mentors are not there to give support courses, to inform you about your academic career, or to answer questions related to your Academic Horizon program. They do not take the place of program coordinators or social workers.
To be an official student at the AV¶ÌÊÓƵ, most courses require a B2 level of oral and written French. The Academic Horizon program can help you reach the level required by your course.

Please send an e-mail to communauteha(at)unige.ch indicating your situation (if you are taking French courses, please specify the level; if you are an auditor, please mention it). We will then put you in touch with a mentor.

During the fall and spring semesters, we offer 10 hours of courses per week for each student.

During the summer intensive courses, students have 3h30 hours of course each morning and 2h30 hours of workshop each afternoon for six weeks.

The type of course depends on your level. For students not yet at the B1 level, there a two general French courses per week in which we work on all language skills (oral and reading comprehension, oran written production, grammar...) as well as a thematic course and two hours of practical exercises.

For students at the B1 level, there is one general French course per week in which we work on all language skills (oral and reading comprehension, oral and written production, grammar...), one French course per week targeting university objectives, and four hours of practical exercises.

The French courses are taught in various UNIGE buildings. Most courses are taught in Uni Mail, Pavillon Mail and Pignon and some are taught at the Haute école de Gestion (HEG) and at the old medical school.

We offer an exam session in January, depending on your level.

For students with access to the summer intensive course, we also offer an exam in August.

We offer two exams. The diploma, which enables you to validate an A2 or B1 level, and the certificate, which enables you to validate a B2 or C1 level.