First steps in your studies

A personal HSG user account will be set up for all new students at the beginning of July. This account will allow you to access the university's digital services. In order to access it you will receive the login details in your Compass mailbox. You will then need to change your initial password to set it up. Detailed instructions on how to do this are explained on the Platforms and IT-tools page.

Important: With the HSG user account you will be assigned a personal email address (firstname.lastname@student.unisg.ch). From the start of July, all emails from the University will only be sent to the HSG address. Please check your mailbox regularly from this point on.

You can find out how to access your HSG webmail on the Platforms and IT-tools page.

If you have any questions regarding the HSG user account, please contact the PC tutors.

Semester enrolment for the autumn semester 2022 takes place automatically in mid-July. No further steps are necessary on your part. After semester enrolment, you will receive the semester invoice in your Compass mailbox.

The account statement and confirmation of enrolment will also be available in Compass a few days after the semester invoice has been paid.

If you have any questions regarding semester enrolment and invoice, please contact the Dean’s Advisory Office.

In mid-August you will receive an invitation to the StartWeek with all relevant information about the start of your studies by post. The StartWeek takes place from 12-16 September 2022 and is compulsory for all new students. During the StartWeek you will be given your personal HSGcard (student ID). Only after you have received it can you use the sports hall and the photocopiers on campus, among other things.

You can find more information about StartWeek on this website.

To complete your enrolment, you must upload a copy of your school leaving certificate (e.g. high school diploma) via the online application portal by 31 August 2022. In addition, you must present the original copy of your diploma during the StartWeek.

As soon as your application documents are complete, you will receive the final admission decision in your Compass mailbox.

If you have any questions regarding your matriculation and application, please contact the Admissions Office.

You will receive detailed information about the start of your studies and StartWeek by post (StartWeek Welcome Letter) from the StartWeek team around mid-August. If you live overseas, you will receive the information electronically.

Contact the StartWeek by e-mail at startwoche@unisg.ch.

No, the entire Start Week programme is compulsory for new students.

Participation in the Start Week for repeaters is voluntary. You must register by e-mail to assessment@unisg.ch by Friday in calendar week 34 at the latest.

You have the option of completing the shortened StartWeek for military service members and will be granted free days. To do so, send us your marching orders by e-mail at startwoche@unisg.ch.

Most of our Bachelor's degree programmes can be completed in German or English. However, students must obtain a minimum number of credits in both languages of study (German and English). We recommend that you read the factsheet and the study plan on the homepage of the respective Bachelor's programme.

The semester invoice will be sent out in mid-July. Once payment has been received, the confirmation of enrolment will be sent to your Compass mailbox.

No, there are not. You will be informed about available resources during your studies at the StartWeek.

During the Start Week, you will choose your courses via the so-called bidding process. You can download your definitive timetable after the bidding process has been completed, as soon as the official NEWS message appears in Compass, and export it to your calendar.

Course and examination allocation is carried out at all study levels via the so-called bidding system in Compass (HSG Login required). Through bidding, students who bid the most for a course are allocated a place. The basis for course attendance and thus also for exam admission and credit transfer is the allocation through bidding.

Watch the Assessments year bidding video (HSG login required) and read the bidding fact sheet and the instructions on bidding on StudentWeb (HSG login required).

During the Start Week, you will choose your courses via the so-called bidding process. You can download your definitive timetable after the bidding process has been completed, as soon as the official NEWS message appears in Compass, and export it to your calendar.

You must take the original school leaving certificate with you at the beginning of the StartWeek and present it to the Admissions and Credit Office. You will be informed in a separate letter when exactly you have to present the school leaving certificate.

You are allowed to apply to more than one university, but you cannot enrol at more than one Swiss university and can only start your studies at one Swiss university.

If you are interested in studying at the University of St. Gallen, you must start your studies from the beginning. It is not possible to credit achievements from a study programme you have not completed. However, if you have already obtained a Bachelor's degree, you can register for a second degree programme at Bachelor's level (crediting of the assessment year, no further credits possible). You are welcome to send us your Bachelor's degree including achievements by e-mail for a preliminary clarification at zulassung@unisg.ch and we will be happy to check whether you can skip the assessment year.

As soon as you have paid the semester fees and we have received them, you will find your confirmation of enrolment in the electronic mailbox "Compass".

Please inform the Dean's Advisory Office at assessment@unisg.ch.

As soon as we have received your semester fees, you will find your confirmation of enrolment in the electronic mailbox "Compass".

You can find the dates on the university website. All dates and deadlines for your academic year will be made available to you at the beginning of the semester. We advise you not to plan a holiday before the start of your studies.

It is not possible to start your studies in September if you are serving in the military at that time. Please contact our Military Liaison Office. You will find all the information and the details of the Military Liaison Office on the following homepage.

The assessment year is considered full-time study, so we do not recommend doing more than 15 hours of part-time work per week. Only after the course allocation will you see when the courses take place and when you could do your part-time work.

The University of St. Gallen does not provide student rooms/apartments.  You can find further information regarding accommodation on the following homepage.

On the following homepage you will find all the information that may be relevant for you before or after your move.

A personal HSG user account will be set up for all new students at the beginning of July. This account will allow you to access the university's digital services. In order to access it you will receive the login details in your Compass mailbox. You will then need to change your initial password to set it up. Detailed instructions on how to do this are explained on the Platforms and IT-tools page.

Important: With the HSG user account you will be assigned a personal email address (firstname.lastname@student.unisg.ch). From the start of July, all emails from the University will only be sent to the HSG address. Please check your email box regularly from this point on.

You can find out how to access your HSG webmail on the Platforms and IT-tools page.

If you have any questions regarding the HSG user account, please contact the PC tutors.

Semester enrolment for the autumn semester 2022 is carried out automatically and takes place in most study programmes in mid-July. No further steps are necessary on your part. After semester enrolment, you will receive the semester invoice in your Compass mailbox.

The account statement and confirmation of enrolment will also be available in Compass a few days after the semester invoice has been paid.

If you have any questions regarding semester enrolment and invoice, please contact the Dean’s Advisory Office.

We welcome our new students at Bachelor's (second degree), Master's and PhD level at the HSG Kick-off Days in mid-September. The invitation including the programme will be sent to your Compass mailbox at the beginning of August. During the Kick-off Days you will receive your personal HSGcard (student ID). Only after you have received it can you use the sports hall and the photocopiers on campus, among other things.

You can find more information about the HSG Kick-off Days here.

If your study programme offers additional introductory or integration events, you will receive a separate invitation for these.

At the HSG, course allocation is carried out at all study levels via the so-called Bidding in Compass. When bidding, students indicate their interest in a course by placing points on it. In this way, the students who allocate the most points for a particular course are given a place. This does not apply to compulsory courses, for which all students are guaranteed a place.

Bidding for the autumn semester 2022 starts on 25 August 2022.

Further information on the Bidding process and detailed instructions can be found on StudentWeb (HSG Login required).

In order to complete your enrolment, you must send a copy of your Bachelor's degree documents and, if applicable, your confirmation of exmatriculation by post to the Admissions Office by 23 September 2022. For detailed information, please refer to your admission letter.

If you decide to withdraw from your studies, please contact the Admissions Office with an informal email.

You will receive the invitation to the Kick-off Days in your Compass mailbox.

For the Kick-off Days in the spring semester: Invitation will be sent in the first half of January.

For the Kick-off Days in the autumn semester: Invitation will be sent in the first half of August.

Yes, the target group of the Kick-off Days are new students at Bachelor (second degree), Master and PhD level. If you have completed your Bachelor's degree at the University of St.Gallen, you do not have to attend the Kick-off Days.

Course and examination allocation takes place at all study levels via the so-called bidding system in Compass (HSG login required). Through bidding, the students who bid the most for a course are allocated a place. At the Master's level, bidding begins before the semester starts.

Watch the Master's bidding video and read the bidding fact sheet and the instructions on bidding on StudentWeb (HSG login required).

Yes, you must pass the courses within the first two semesters. The language courses and the accounting exam are an exception to this rule; you can also take these later.

The accounting course is automatically assigned to you and therefore you do not have to bid for it. The course prepares you for the accounting exam; however, attendance is not compulsory. You can find more information about the accounting course here.

You must always bid for language courses at the HSG. No positive grade is required. The performance is entered with a grade, but without credits. The grades do not count towards the Master's degree, but are listed in the transcript of grades. Further information on foreign language study achievements at Master's level can be found here.

Invoices are sent around mid-December for the spring semester and around mid-July for the autumn semester.

Yes, please contact us via master@unisg.ch.

As soon as you have paid the semester bill. You can read your payment status on Compass.

No, if the invoice has not been paid in full, you cannot receive a confirmation of enrolment.

You will receive your HSG email address in the password letter that you will receive in your electronic mailbox as of July.

Participants of the integration week will receive their HSGcard in calendar week 36. Other Master's and Bachelor's students will receive their HSGcard during the Kick-off Days (according to the information in the invitation). PhD students receive their HSGcard from their employer.

A list of recognised language certificates (incl. minimum level of the respective language) can be found here in Appendix 13. Further information on foreign language study achievements at Master's level can be found here.

A change of study programme is possible at the earliest after the first semester via a change application in Compass. Please note the deadlines listed in Compass. Depending on the study programme, a new application may also be necessary.

No, it is not possible to start the Master's degree with a semester of leave. If you would like to start your internship, you would have to deregister from the HSG (informal email to zulassung@unisg.ch) and reapply for the next year.

It is not possible to postpone the start of your studies. If you are unable to start the Master's programme in the coming autumn semester, you would have to deregister by sending an informal e-mail to zulassung@unisg.ch and reapply for the next year.

To deregister, simply send an informal e-mail to zulassung@unisg.ch.

Most citizens from non-EU/EFTA countries need a valid visa to enter Switzerland. It can take several months for a visa to be issued. We therefore recommend that you apply for it early at the Swiss representation in your country. The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) or the Swiss representations abroad will be happy to provide you with information on visa regulations and general entry requirements. The "Information sheet" and the FAQ from the State Secretariat for Migration is also helpful.