The Students at Risk (StAR) program supports students whose right to education is denied or severely hindered in their country of origin or residence by providing them with a scholarship in Switzerland.
The Students at Risk (StAR) program aims to offer at-risk students worldwide, whose right to education is denied or severely hindered in their country of origin or residence, an opportunity to begin or complete their studies in Switzerland. The idea of StAR was initiated in 2012 in Norway by two student organizations, SAIH and NSO. Germany followed in 2021 with the „Hilde Domin-Programm“, a similar initiative.
With the project of the Swiss Student Union (VSS-UNES-USO), Switzerland now also contributes to the international freedom of education and research. It complements the existing „Scholars at Risk“ project, which focuses on postdoctoral scholars. The operational phase of the pilot project started in January 2025 and will last until 2027. During this period, the first students are expected to start or complete their studies in Switzerland through the StAR program.
For at-risk students, the StAR program aims to create a safe environment enabling them to complete their studies and exercise their right to education. With a university degree and an international network, students are well-prepared for their professional future and can contribute significantly to the society of their country of origin.
Candidates must meet the following cumulative criteria to be eligible for a StAR scholarship:
- Student: Candidates must be prospective students (bachelor’s or master’s level) or doctoral candidates.
- At Risk: Candidates face endangerment or an inability to pursue studies in their country of origin or residence:
- Due to advocacy for fundamental or human rights,
- Due to belonging to a marginalized group, or
- Due to other external factors that de facto make it impossible or extremely difficult to complete their studies safely.
Interested people can contact the project manager of Students At Risk via email and apply for a StAR scholarship. A list of the required documents for the application can be found here.
The deadline for the call is January 19. The goal is to enable two applicants to study in Switzerland starting in the fall semester of 2025.
Contact:studentsatrisk@vss-unes.ch
Kholoud Dawood is our scholarship holder from Gaza. Thanks to StAR, she is pursuing her Master’s degree in Translation (English–Arabic) at the « Faculté de traduction et d’interprétation » (FTI) of the University of Geneva starting in September 2025.
In addition to her studies, Kholoud Dawood writes literary texts. One of her texts is about her departure from Gaza and her desire to return after completing her studies.
Gaza City exhales, sorrow heavy in its tone.
“You speak of leaving, but I fear being left alone. So many have gone. My streets are empty, my laughter fades. Will you return?”
A single tear slips down her cheek. She wipes it away quickly, as if ashamed of weakness.
“How could I not? My heart beats with your pulse. Even if my body crosses borders, my soul stays with you. But I need to go. I need to see a world where hospitals have medicine, where the sky isn’t a constant threat, where a degree isn’t a privilege but a right. And then, I’ll bring it all back. I promise.”
Full text: Inner conflit.
by Andy Art fromPixabay
Myo Min Htwe is our StAR fellow from Myanmar. Thanks to the program, he will pursue his PhD in Environmental Sciences at the “Faculté des géosciences et de l’environnement” of the University of Lausanne starting in September 2025.
Myo has extensive work experiences in the field of renewable energy access and technologies. He worked in research and practice sectors. He has worked on projects in India, Thailand, and Myanmar, contributing to energy modelling, solar electrification, and sustainability initiatives. Currently, he collaborates with international NGOs on post- earthquake rehabilitation projects in the Sagaing and Mandalay regions of Myanmar, focusing on providing energy solutions to disasters-affected communities.
Through his PhD studies, he aims to deepen his understanding of the social and political dimensions of energy with a focus on North–South comparative studies. Drawing on his field experience in the Global South, he aims to conduct research that is rigorous and applicable to real-world challenges.
“My wish is simple: to see a Myanmar where clean energy reaches every city and village, where education is a right, not a privilege, and where young people see opportunity instead of limitation.”
Partners
Support
Would you like to support the project financially? Please contact us through the above-mentioned contact address. We are happy about any contribution.
Contact
Project Manager Students at Risk:
Leonie Mugglin
studentsatrisk@vss-unes.ch
