Undergraduates starting in Fall must submit preferences for Academic Travel, First Year Seminar, and language classes byJuly 31.If you are starting in Spring, you will select and register for these three classes during new student registration day.
Graduate students follow a specific pre-scheduled curriculum and do not choose courses.
First year undergraduates can choose from several Academic Travel courses. You must state your preferences for your Academic Travel course by July 31.
Graduate students have a pre-determined Academic Travel program that supports the Master’s level curriculum.
Visit Franklin's main Orientation page to learn more about this semester's program and to see an overview of the schedule. Wegenerally assign students an appointment on Friday during Orientation so you can meet your academic advisor and choose your courses. This year, that appointment will take place on Friday, August 21, so we encourage all new undergraduate students to not plan anything for that day until you receive information from the Registrar about your advising appointment.
Study abroad students who are not in their first year of university might select their courses ahead of time as a part of their home institution's program.
Graduate students follow a specific curriculum and are pre-registered for their courses.
The academic calendar has important dates for all students including when the semester starts, deadlines for registration and withdrawal, holidays and breaks, and the end of the semester. It can be found on the University website in the Office of the Registrar pages.
Housing assignments for undergraduates are finalized in August for the fall semester and in January for the spring semester. Students will be informed of their assignments upon arrival in Lugano.
Unfortunately, no. If you arrive before thecheck-in date,plan to stay at a hotel in the area. Students will not be permitted to move in early, as our staff and student leaders are busy preparing for everyone's arrival, finishing training, completing maintenance and custodial projects, and many doing other things to prepare the campus for new and returning students' arrivals.
Visit theAccommodationsection of our website for recommended hotels. Some local hotels offer a discount for Franklin students and parents. The country dialing prefix for Switzerland is +41, so if you are calling from the United States, you must dial 011 41 followed by the phone number when calling a Swiss phone number. For example, to call the Franklin Reception desk from the U.S., you would dial 011-41-91-985-22-60.
Franklin’s meal plan is designed to ensure students always have access to a nutritious meal or a snack between classes. The plan covers about 10 meals each week, which gives students the opportunity to cook at home and to try the local cuisine in Lugano on the weekend. All first year undergraduate students are required to purchase a meal plan on theirFalcon Cardfor each of their first two semesters at Franklin (not including summer).
To view the current rates, please visit the Tuition and Fees page on the Franklin website. Note that there are separate sections and lists depending on the currency you are using.
Other options are available to transfer, study abroad, and graduate students. Contact us atinfo@fus.edufor more details.
Yes. The campus-wide wireless network is available at all times to all students. There is wireless internet access and individual room ethernet access in all our residences.
If you have a laptop, bring it! Adapter plugs can be purchased locally. All campus buildings have free wireless internet access.
Each student is given campus network credentials, a university “@student.fus.edu” email address and storage space on the network for personal files. Computer labs are available to you during the same hours as the library, unless a class is in session in a particular lab.
If you own a desktop computer and would like to bring it with you to Franklin, note that you will need a wireless USB adapter or PC card to connect to the internet and, importantly, you will need to make sure that the computer is compatible with the higher 230 volts AC used in Switzerland. For these reasons, we suggest that youdo not bring it. There are sufficient student computing facilities at the University with desktop computers in the labs, library, and in a new electronic classroom.
Go to Pack Your Bagsfor more information on what to bring and what not to bring with you when you come to Franklin.
Most students maintain their bank accounts at home and access funds from other countries with their bank or ATM card. This may also help families deposit money directly into a student's home bank account, eliminating delays and fees involved with wiring funds or sending funds through Wise or other programs.
, a major Swiss bank, and , affiliated with the Swiss Post Office, offer basic savings and debit accounts for students. Students from the United States are only eligible to apply for an account with UBS. These accounts are especially useful for paying local bills (such as mobile phone bills) and offer online banking and a debit card.
Studying at Franklin is an enriching experience, however it is true that the longer you’re away, the more difficult it is to stay connected with family and friends. Most students keep in contact with regular exchanges of photos, messages, and calls through apps such as WhatsApp, iMessage, FaceTime, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, or Zoom.
Some students choose to get a Swiss mobile phone or a Swiss SIM card they can use with their own mobile phone. If you choose to get a local number, keep in mind that contracts in Switzerland are often longer than one year, and canceling them sometimes involves several steps. If you choose to get a Swiss number, be sure you are clear on the terms and how you can cancel it, as contracts are binding - and you will continue to be responsible for payments until the terms of the contract and canceling it are met.
Make sure your phone is unlocked so it is not limited to your home carrier service and that you can change SIM cards. There are several providers in Lugano–to compare mobile phone plans and costs. It is a good idea to get a pre-paid package due to the high disconnection fee for ending a contract early.
Pre-paid phone SIMs are available in some local stores and even supermarkets and are a good idea if someone will not be at Franklin for the long term. Students generally need to wait for their Swiss permits before they can get a contract plan.
Some students keep their home phone numbers because they find an international package that suits their needs. It might be a good idea to contact your carrier to learn more about international options. Some students now activate a travel eSIM before departure or a Swiss eSIM on arrival; check that your phone supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked.
We recommend that you check with your provider and compare prices with local phone packages before deciding. There are several providers in Lugano–to compare mobile phone plans and costs.
Certain European and UK providers have competitive pricing on packages that cover Switzerland.
University residences are fully furnished. Students must provide their own towels, pillows, and bed linens. Bed size varies from residence to residence and you won't know your residence until you arrive on campus. Students may purchase packets of cleaned, gently-used linens from Franklin by visiting the form on their .
Basic kitchen utensils might be available in one's on-campus apartment, but there is no standard list of utensils and kitchen items that the University supplies students. In general, anticipate being responsible for purchasing your own kitchen items and cookware. All other necessary items are available at stores around Lugano, including the home goods section of many local supermarkets.
Go to Pack Your Bagsfor more information on what to bring and what not to bring with you when you come to Franklin.
Students must provide their own towels, pillows, and bed linens. Bed size varies from residence to residence, and you won't know your residence until you arrive on campus. Students may purchase packets of cleaned, gently-used linens from Franklin by visiting the form on their . This linen packet is often cheaper than purchasing the same items new, but bedding can also be purchased locally.
Given the high costs of insurance and gasoline in Europe, most students do not have a car. In Switzerland, the public transportation system is extensive and highly reliable, with an efficient network of buses and trains traveling to every city and many villages throughout the country. Traveling in Europe by train is fairly easy, and there are multiple low-cost airlines offering regular service to major European destinations.
If students choose to have a car on campus, they will be required to purchase a pass and park in specific lots. Information about purchasing a pass will be emailed to all students at the beginning of the academic year.
Yes, if you plan to ski regularly. If you are an avid skier or snowboarder, you will appreciate the proximity of ski resorts such as Airolo and Splügen that are not too far of a trip from Lugano. Higher altitude skiing is available in Andermatt, which is about two hours from Lugano, and in St. Moritz and Davos, which are three hours from Lugano. All of these ski resorts are accessible by train or bus, and the ski season lasts from late November through early April.
Go to Pack Your Bagsfor more information on what to bring and what not to bring with you when you come to Franklin.
We strongly discourage you from bringing electronic equipment or appliances, including personal appliances such as hair dryers and hair straighteners. Many U.S. appliances are wired for 120 voltage and the Swiss electrical system uses 230 volts AC. Plugging in a lower voltage appliance to a Swiss plug can ruin appliances and electrical outlets.
Stereos, hairdryers and other appliances are readily available in Lugano, with the correct plug and no need for adapters or complications.
Go to Pack Your Bagsfor more information on what to bring and what not to bring with you when you come to Franklin.
Yes, you can ship your belongings ahead. Surface mail is the cheapest way to ship personal items and boxes generally take four to eight weeks to get to Lugano from the U.S. but sometimes longer. We recommend planning for shipping to take longer than four weeks to be on the safe side.
All parcels must be sent to:
Your Name and Last Name
c/o Franklin Switzerland
Via Ponte Tresa29
6924 Sorengo
Switzerland
We strongly recommend checking theinformation page before sending items from abroad to Switzerland.
Depending on what your individual travel interests are, there are several options:
- Many Franklin students purchase aalong with a.TheHalf Passoffers a 50% discount on the purchase of most domestic train tickets at any time. The Night GA Travelcardallows students to travel for free on most modes of public transportation in Switzerland after 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. Combined, these passes offer an outstanding value for students who wish to travel within Switzerland.
- International train travel can be a great experience and an interesting way to see Europe's smaller cities and varied landscape. With the prevalence of low-cost airline services, however, although more environmentally friendly, train travel may not always be the cheapest way to travel from city to city. Unless you are planning a rail trip that will use a Eurail Pass extensively, it is probably an unnecessary purchase. There may be better alternatives to meet your travel needs, such as faster and often less expensive European airlines like EasyJet or RyanAir.
Rental Car - AVIS, Hertz, Europcar, SIXT and other options are available in Lugano. Note that young drivers (under age 25) are usually required to purchase additional insurance and rental rates are generally much higher than in other countries. carsare small and inexpensive and can be rented by young drivers (18 and older) at daily or weekend rates.
Low-cost Airlines -flies to destinations all over Europe and beyond and is often cheaper (and much faster) than taking international trains. Fares can be checked easily on the website. Another low-cost airline is.
Fall weather in Lugano is generally warm and sunny. From September to mid-October, daytime temperatures range from 20°C to 28°C (70°F to 80°F), while evenings cool down pleasantly to around 15°C (60°F). Winters are milder here than in much of Switzerland, with daytime temperatures typically between 5°C and 10°C (40°F to 50°F) and nighttime lows that can approach freezing. Spring arrives early in Ticino, with average temperatures ranging from 10°C to 25°C (50°F to 75°F). OnYahoo! Weather,you can find an. The Swiss federal meteorology office has a to watch.
Currently, an average of 300-350 students attend Franklin every year, from dozens of different nationalities. Here’s a sample of some of the countries represented in the last few years: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Luxembourg, Mexico, Mongolia, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, and Venezuela.
Go to Facts and Figureson ourWebsite for more information about Franklin and our students.
Within a few days of arriving on campus, you’ll meet with Office of Student Life staff to begin your application for a Swiss residence permit. It can take some time to process, and this process is completely managed by the government. Staff are not able to expedite the process or influence it beyond preparing your application. Once you have your permit, you can come and go as you please provided you adhere to Swiss guidelines and any regulations of the countries you would like to visit. Switzerland participates in the Schengen Agreement, which allows people from participating nations to travel within Europe without getting an additional visa or document.
People from outside of the Schengen area do have to show their passports at borders if asked, so we always recommendthat you have your passportand permit with youin case border officials stop you to ask about having a visa. With the Swiss residence permit, you can move throughout the Schengen countries without having a visa for each country, which is a great advantage for independent travel.
It is important to remember that you must have your permit and passport every time you cross an international border. The trips to Italian border towns and Milan are quick and easy, but since Switzerland and Italy are two different countries, travelers may be required to present their documents and demonstrate they have permission to be where they are.
For other questions, contact us at info@fus.edu.