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Important!

The association Offener Hörsaal is currently in a phase of transformation. Following the creation of the Coordination Office for Refugees at the University, the team of Offener Hörsaal  is currently working on defining new offers.

If you have any questions about studying, please contact Anna Meier from the Coordination Office for Refugees directly. 

The team of Offener Hörsaal welcomes this development, but continues to actively campaign for greater equality of opportunity for asylum seekers and refugees at the University of Basel. We will increasingly focus on the organisation of mentoring, the social programme and community building. Our events and programmes will continue to provide a platform for exchange and collaboration between students, refugees and members of our community.

Our website is currently being updated and will keep you informed about the latest developments.

War in Ukraine
Refugee students from Ukraine can find an overview of the offers and requirements for admission to the University of Basel here. If you have any further questions or uncertainties you can contact us at: info@offener-hoersaal.ch.

 

What happens if I have to abandon my studies and take flight? Can I continue my studies in Switzerland? Are my diplomas recognized in Switzerland?
People who have fled to Switzerland are often confronted with huge obstacles when they seek to recommence their studies or begin a new course of studies. Previous academic achievements or degrees are not always or only partly recognized in Swiss Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences. Quite often problems arise due to loss of documentation or indeed due to political reasons where the document is no longer available from the land of origin. The financing of study fees, living and transport costs in Switzerland also represent yet another obstacle. In the last instance, the language and communication barriers make studying in Switzerland particularly strenuous.

The association Offener Hörsaal is an accredited association through the University of Basel. It was founded by students in 2016 who wished to contribute to the social, professional, and lingual integration and who also hope to support the independent existence of refugees in Switzerland.

The University of Basel claims a strong humanitarian tradition. To the present day a memorial plaque in the Kollegienhaus commemorates the support offered to the Hungarian students who fled during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. Tradition or otherwise – to show a sign of solidarity and to provide constructive support is for us an indispensable measure. Personal aims in life, such as the realization of a university education, should be given the required support.

The programme is directed to refugees with an academic background or who pursue an academic career with residency in the region of Basel. An interview will be held beforehand with the interested applicants. Pro semester 20 participants can take part in the project.

The listeners programme of the University of Basel is open to all who are interested. They can take part in 500 regular events in various subjects and courses in German, English and French. Offener Hörsaal allows participants to visit three courses in the programme. Additionally, there is the possibility to visit a language course at the Universities language centre.

Listeners do not take examinations and as a result there is no academic qualification (ECTS) or certificate acquired at the end of a course /semester.

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One of the central aspects of Offener Hörsaal is the project teams Buddy Programme: All participants are allocated one or two Buddies from the same course, who accompany them and assist in mastering the university’s everyday life. The students who volunteer, the so called Buddies, meet with the listeners before the lecture programme begins and also on a regular basis during the semester to discuss academic or organizational questions. The programme hopes to achieve a lively exchange between the volunteers and visitors which might well be consolidated through complimentary events such as cooking together or language tandems.

Read more about the conditions of participation or about possible ways to support the project. The association’s existence and indeed survival is guaranteed by your active help as a mentor, committee member or through your financial support.

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