Plan Your Arrival

 

• Address registration with the local commune — a general Swiss legal requirement for anyone moving in, required within 14 days of arrival. Our Housing Department will help you with this on campus.
• Student permit follow-up (OCPM) which is a separate document from the Address Registration. this is the process for your student residence permit, coordinated together with our Housing Office while you're on campus.
• Health insurance will be discussed during orientation upon arrival, with the Housing Team.
• eSIM with data roaming for Switzerland — arrange this before departure to have connectivity from the moment of landing.
• Local SIM card Swisscom, Sunrise or Salt kiosks are at the airport; some options will also be available during orientation week.
• Public transport apps to download before arrival: TPG (Geneva buses/trams) and SBB Mobile (Swiss trains).
• Other helpful apps for newcomers Google Maps and Google Translate (useful as French is the local language), WhatsApp (widely used here for everyday communication), MeteoSwiss (weather), Uber (taxis), and Too Good To Go (discounted local food, popular with students) — all worth having ready for anyone new to Switzerland.
• Apps for student life — Webster's student portal / Canvas (for coursework and grades), Duolingo (to build up French), and Citymapper (handy alternative for planning routes around Geneva).

 

• Questions about your schedule — students meet directly with the Academic Advising Team during orientation, who will be available to help.
• Enrollment Attestation — the only official document from Webster Geneva Campus confirming student status — important for permit applications and other needs. The Registrar only begins issuing these from the start of week 2 of each term, upon request. To request one, visit the Academic Advising Office in the Administration Building and follow the steps there.

 

Whether you'll be in on-campus housing or in housing you've arranged in the city, here's what to know:

• Move-in and check-in date communicated to you by the Housing team ahead of arrival.
• Check-in support the Housing team's ARCs (Area Resident Coordinators) will be the main point of contact for move-in and key collection, whether you're in on-campus or off-campus housing — make sure to have their contact information saved.

Housing Office: geneva.housing@webster.edu

Packing for your room (on-campus housing)

In terms of packing, make sure to bring all your bedding (fitted sheet 90cm x 200cm, duvet, duvet cover, pillow, pillowcase), some basic kitchen items, toiletries, towels, etc. We do not provide power adapters for Swiss plugs, so make sure you come equipped!

As a kind reminder, all rooms come with: a bed with mattress and new mattress protection, a desk, desk chair, drawers with mounted shelves, a kitchenette with two cooking hotplates, a fridge, a microwave, a small wardrobe, and a fully equipped bathroom with a shower curtain.

You'll need to bring everything else — but not to worry if you can't pack it all. There is an IKEA close to campus, and many other stores nearby where you can buy what you need.

 

From Geneva Airport or the city center, the easiest way to reach Webster Geneva Campus is by train:

• Train from Gare Cornavin take a direct regional train from Geneva's main station, Gare Cornavin, to the Bellevue stop — about an 8-minute ride, and the platform is right by campus.
• Bus option TPG bus line 20 (direction Bellevue, Valavran) also runs directly from Gare Cornavin to the Bellevue stop near campus, if you prefer.