SpitalMatch
Accommodation

Reserving Housing Timeline

Securing suitable accommodation is a critical preparatory step for medical students and sub-assistants (Unterassistenten) undertaking clinical internships in Switzerland. Given the competitive nature of the Swiss housing market, particularly in urban areas, securing housing should begin early. For several hospitals and clinics, a distinct process and timeline are associated with institutional accommodation offerings.

I. Institutional Accommodation: Availability and Costs (Multilevel List Format)

Many Swiss hospitals provide dedicated staff accommodation, although availability is often limited. Details regarding availability, costs, and allowances vary significantly by institution:

1. Universitätsspital Zürich (USZ)

  • Availability: Accommodation can be reserved in the staff house for the duration of the practical training. However, the number of furnished rooms available is limited.
  • Cost/Salary: The monthly gross salary (as of 2025) is CHF 1,071.10. Employees who use the personal restaurants receive discounted meals via a staff badge, which requires a CHF 50 deposit on the entry day.
  • Reservation Details: Staff rooms can only be rented by those who hold a valid employment contract.

2. Kantonsspital Aarau (KSA)

  • Availability: Diverse staff rooms are available in the immediate vicinity of the hospital grounds (Spitalareals).
  • Cost/Salary: Prices for rooms range between CHF 520.– to CHF 980.–. The cheaper rooms are typically reserved for sub-assistants. The gross salary for sub-assistants is CHF 1,500.– for the first three months of the internship, increasing to CHF 1,800.– from the fourth month if the placement is in the same clinic.
  • Reservation Process: A request for room reservation can be noted directly on the personnel form.

3. Spitäler Schaffhausen

  • Availability: A small number of personal rooms are available on the Kantonsspital campus.
  • Cost: Accommodation is free (kostenlos) for sub-assistants and psychology interns.
  • Reservation Details: Candidates are advised to reserve their free staff room early if accommodation is desired.

4. Kinderspital Zürich

  • Availability: Rooms in the staff house are occasionally available for rent.
  • Cost/Salary: The monthly rent is CHF 630.–. The gross monthly salary is CHF 938.00. A pikett (on-call) room is provided free of charge when performing on-call duty in paediatric surgery.

5. Universitätsspital Basel (USB)

  • Availability: Furnished rooms can be rented in the staff house, although the quantity is limited.
  • Cost/Salary: The salary is CHF 1,200 per month. Social insurances and the cost for the residence permit (if applicable) are deducted from this amount.
  • Accommodation Responsibility: Accommodation is stated to be at the intern's own expense and organization for some departments, such as Neurosurgery.

6. Spital Emmental

  • Availability: Personal rooms or apartments are available at moderate prices, primarily intended for those from distant regions or abroad during their introductory phase.
  • Cost (Student/UA Rate):
    • Rooms at the Burgdorf location: CHF 650.00/month.
    • Shared rooms at the Langnau location: CHF 380.00/month.
    • Apartments at the Burgdorf location: CHF 850.00/month.

7. Klinik Barmelweid

  • Availability: Studios are provided in the staff house.
  • Total Package: Sub-assistants on a 100% pensum receive a package totaling CHF 2,400.– per month.
  • Breakdown (per month): This total package includes a salary of CHF 1,600.– (x13), a mobility allowance of CHF 100.–, a food allowance of CHF 200.–, and an accommodation allowance of CHF 500.– (whether staying on-site or elsewhere).

8. UKBB (Universitäts-Kinderspital beider Basel)

  • Availability: The UKBB does not have a staff house.
  • Assistance: They provide a list of potential external accommodations on their website.
  • Salary: Gross salary is CHF 900.00 per month for 1–2 months of practice, and CHF 1,200.00 per month for 3–4 months.

II. The Critical Reservation Timeline and Application Process

Securing institutional accommodation for medical internships requires planning well in advance, often before the internship is due to begin.

For prospective sub-assistants at the Universitätsspital Zürich (USZ), it is explicitly recommended to contact the room rental service (Mitarbeiterservice) approximately two months before the internship commencement date to reserve accommodation.

This timeframe aligns with the general need for early application in Switzerland:

  • Early Application: For specialized positions, planning starts even earlier; the Department of Internal Medicine at HOCH Health Ostschweiz begins planning 18 months prior to the start date. At the USB, Neurosurgery starts accepting applications up to three years in advance (e.g., applications for April 2027 opened in March 2024).
  • Contract Requirement: At USZ, candidates can only rent a room once they have a valid signed contract. Similarly, at the UKBB, the signed contract must be received prior to the start date.

The Reservation and Application Procedure

The accommodation process is often linked directly to the employment and HR services:

  1. Contract Confirmation: First, the candidate must secure an employment contract, as this is a prerequisite for requesting staff accommodation at institutions like the USB.
  2. Contacting the Service: The required contact point for reserving a room at USZ is the Mitarbeiterservice (Employee Service), located at NORD2 A 649.
  3. Submitting the Request:
    • At KSA, the room request is included on the personnel form.
    • At the USB, room application forms are provided upon return of the signed contract or upon request to the responsible secretariat.
  5. Administrative Registration: Foreign sub-assistants are subject to compulsory registration and permit requirements with the responsible migration authorities. For individuals from EU-27/EFTA states intending to stay longer than 90 days, registering with the local residents' office is mandatory.

If institutional housing is unavailable or fully booked, interns must secure external accommodation independently. For example, UKBB specifically notes that since they do not have a staff house, they provide a list of possible external accommodations on their website.

For searching for houses or apartments in Switzerland, the following popular platforms and aggregators are available:

  • Major Portals:
    • Homegate.ch.
    • ImmoScout24.ch.
    • Newhome.ch.
  • Aggregator Platforms (Recommended for Comprehensive Search):
    • Comparis.ch (gathers listings from Homegate, ImmoScout24, and others).
    • ImmoMapper.ch (aggregates listings and displays them on an interactive map).
  • Specialised Search:
    • students.ch (tailored for student housing and flatshares near universities).