Visiting doctoral students

The University School of Music (SUM) of the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana (CSI) offers doctoral students enrolled at other institutions (universities or conservatories) in Switzerland or abroad the opportunity to spend periods of study/research, for a maximum of two semesters, at its premises.

Visiting doctoral students at SUM benefit from accompanying measures that include:

• The assignment of a supervisor
• Access to facilities
• Access to resources (library, databases, periodicals, etc.)
• Inclusion in institutional activities useful for the realisation and enhancement of the study project

At the end of the visit period, the student draws up a report on his/her activities, countersigned by his/her SUM supervisor.

Admitted doctoral students are subject to the following conditions:

• Payment of tuition fees: CHF 1750.- per semester (of which 1500 correspond to the tuition fee and 250 to the administration fee)
• Observation of the CSI Code of Conduct
• Observation of the SUM Study Regulations

How to apply

PhD students interested in doing a study/research period at SUM must submit the following documents:

• Request for study period: documenting the reasons for the visit, including the study programme, objectives and PhD research work. The request must also describe the nature of the activities that the candidate intends to carry out. This document must be signed by the reference professor (lecturer, head of studies) at the home institution.
• Proposal for institutional agreement: a formal agreement or proposal from the home institution confirming the conditions for recognition of the study/research period at SUM. This document must include all procedural information relevant to the proper conduct of the study period.

Both documents must be forwarded by email to the SUM Research Delegate, Prof. Massimo Zicari (massimo.zicari@conservatorio.ch). There are no deadlines.

Evaluation of applications

Applications are evaluated, in order of arrival, according to these criteria:

• Availability of places
• Availability of a supervisor
• Availability of internal resources that are in line with the proposed study activities
• Alignment of the proposed project with the strategic orientation of SUM
• Added value that the graduate student and his/her project bring to SUM

Applications are evaluated by the SUM Research Delegate, the potential supervisor and the SUM Directorate.

Useful information

Before entering Switzerland, doctoral students from a non-EU-27/EFTA country must apply for a study visa at the Swiss consulate in their country of origin and wait for it to be obtained without leaving their own country.

Once on Swiss territory, all foreign doctoral students wishing to live in Switzerland during the study period must:

1. Apply for a B residence permit for study purposes
2. Register with the residents' registration office of their commune of residence
3. Regularise their health insurance situation in Switzerland.