Application Process

1
Apply

Complete all sections of the application form and submit it.
- This application link is provided at the end of this guide.
2
Approval

The leadership and school leaders will prayerfully review your application.
- Complete your personal details
- Pay the required deposit to confirm acceptance
3
Enrollment

After confirmation, you will receive:
- An invoice
- Information on how to apply for a visa (if required)
- Instructions for next steps before arrival
4

Preparation

We are excited to have you with us. Please review the information below carefully before completing your application.

Preparation

Visas

Schools that are longer than 90 days require a Swiss Visa
The approximate cost of a visa is CHF 170
We will be in touch with you about the visa application process

Transportation

Switzerland has reliable public transportation
2-hour local bus ticket: CHF 5.80
Train travel is excellent for intercity journeys

Immunisations

Certain vaccinations (e.g. Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio) may be required depending on your outreach location.
It may be cheaper to get these in your home country.
Please bring copies of any vaccination certificates you have.

Health Insurance

Swiss law requires students have mandatory health insurance
Estimated cost with our local recommended provider: CHF 86 per month

Mail

Mail is delivered to the campus daily (Monday – Saturday)
For sending mail, we have local post offices within 2.5km of the campus

Power

Voltage: 240V / 10A
Plug type: Type J
Bring appropriate adapters (Swiss plugs are smaller than many European plugs)

Currency

Local currency: Swiss Franc (CHF)
Credit cards are widely accepted
ATMs offer the best exchange rates
Cheques are not accepted

Language

Primary language on base: English
Local language: French
German and Italian are also national languages
Learning basic French phrases is encouraged

Internet

Free Wifi is available throughout our campus

Packing

We will send you a suggested packing list
Accommodation is shared (3-5 people per room)
Bring clothing suitable for all four Swiss seasons

Flight Booking

Please pay your deposit before booking flights
The nearest airport: Geneva (GVA)

Documents

2-3 passport-sized photos (for visa and outreach use)
Acceptance letter
Photocopy of your passport (in case of loss)

Agree & Apply

Before your application can be finalised, it is important you have read and agreed to the partnership agreements below.

Now that you have the run down, your next step is to fill out your application:

Apply Now

Download PDF

Community Living Standards

YWAM Lausanne is for Christians who are committed to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-19). Your time here will be enjoyable, rewarding and challenging. We are committed to helping you grow as a disciple of Jesus and we look forward to you being here.

Being a disciple of Jesus includes taking responsibility for your life and conduct, which includes living a Godly lifestyle worthy of example. As we read the Bible, there are guidelines for those conducts that are "absolute," such as the Ten Commandments. However, there are areas that are not so clearly defined, and this is where we run into "cultural sins" as Paul describes in Romans 14. These are situations relative to the way we have individually been taught, which may or may not be considered as a sin to others. We know that only God can judge the heart, but depending on the ways in which we were raised and what our parents, pastors and other authority figures taught us, these issues can often be quite sensitive. Below are some of our standards for community living as we interpret the Scriptures.

Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco

Approximately 90 percent of the evangelical community of the world (Africa, Asia and the Americas) considers alcoholic drinks and tobacco products totally off limits. Often in these contexts, alcohol and tobacco use is viewed as a sign that someone either does not know God or is turning away from Him. God has blessed YWAM Lausanne with a variety of people coming from many cultures, denominations and backgrounds, so it is important that as a family we understand and honor one another in our conversation and actions.

While you are here in Switzerland and on outreach, we ask that you take the most conservative view in order not to offend the largest percent of international believers. Whatever your personal conviction may be, we ask that you refrain from drinking alcohol and using tobacco products during your school. This is not meant to be legalistic, but to live by the law of love and respect the beliefs and values of others. Therefore, if you do have a dependency on alcohol or tobacco products we would ask that you eliminate these habits before coming to YWAM Lausanne. The use of these products during your school can be grounds for dismissal. Illegal drug use is strictly prohibited and is grounds for immediate dismissal. If you have any dependency on these we ask that you seek professional help and apply for this school at a later time.

Exclusive Relationships

This will be a very special time for you where you can focus on God and build excellent friendships with both sexes that will last not only for 3 or 6 months, but for a lifetime. We all come from various backgrounds and cultures and have different needs and ideas of relationships. To remain focused through the duration of the school we ask that no "boyfriend/girlfriend" relationships be developed. We find that this provides a healthy environment where students are able to relax and enjoy developing Godly friendships without all the confusion of a dating relationship. Time spent on the school is like no other as it is a great investment that will continue to influence you for the rest of your life. Because of this, there is no room for relationship difficulties to become a distraction.

If you are able to refrain from the use of tobacco, alcohol and exclusive relationships for the duration of your school please sign the Community Living Standards section in the application portal. If you have any questions or if you have trouble understanding anything in this document, please feel free to contact us.

Payment, Refund & Health Insurance Policy

All payments must be made in Swiss Francs (CHF). To check current exchange rates go to www.xe.com

In addition to the costs detailed below, you will need to have adequate health insurance coverage. See "Health Insurance" at the bottom of the page for more information.

Payment Policy

#	Payment Description	Payment required by
1	School Deposit: CHF 200	A deposit of CHF 200 is required for your final acceptance to the school. This is non-refundable. Send your CHF 200 school deposit only after your application has been fully processed. We will send you an e-mail with all the information about how to make this payment. For now, simply send us your application and we'll get the process started.
2	School Invoice	This covers tuition, food and accommodation as well as pick-up/drop-off at Lausanne Train Station on arrival/departure. It does not include visa/permit fees or personal expenses (such as toiletries, snacks, mobile phone) or transportation to and from the airport to Lausanne Train Station. The school invoice is to be paid in full on or before the day that your school starts. Remember, if you are sending money by bank transfer, make sure to allow a minimum of 7 days for bank processing time.
3	Outreach deposit (for schools with an outreach phase)	A deposit of CHF 2000 covers flights, visas and other administration costs associated with your outreach. The outreach deposit is payable during week 6 of your school.
4	Final Outreach Invoice	This covers remaining outreach costs such as food, accommodation and local transportation. The final amount depends on the outreach location. The final outreach invoice is payable during week 10 of your school.

Note: students will not be able to begin their school if unable to make these payments. Do contact our admissions office to explain your financial situation if you need to discuss the possibility of a different payment schedule.

Refund Policy

#	Payment Description	Refund
1	School Deposit	Non-refundable
2	School Invoice	Notification of departure before registration day: 100% refundNotification of departure between registration day and day 10: 50% refundNotification of departure from day 11 to day 21: 25% refundNotification of departure from day 22 onwards: no refundThe CHF 200 deposit is non-refundable in all cases
3	Outreach Transportation	Refunds of outreach transportation costs will be subject to the relevant airline or carrier policies. Cancellation charges may also apply.
4	Other outreach costs	Notification of departure before outreach begins: 100% refundNotification of departure from day 1 to day 20: 50% refundNotification of departure from day 21 to day 40: 25% refundNotification of departure from day 41 onwards: no refundAny visa fees incurred before notification of departure will not be refundable.

Refunds are paid in CHF. Accurate banking details must be provided for refunds to be processed, and any bank charges and transfer fees will be deducted in calculating the final amount to be refunded.

Health Insurance Policy

All students must have medical insurance that covers them while traveling internationally. If you already have insurance, make sure it covers you for at least CHF 1,000,000 and bring with you:

Insurance card
Policy number
Coverage details

Application Process

Your How-To Guide on Applying to YWAM Lausanne