Supplementary modules
Informations
Contacts, documents, links, and more
In order to be admitted to a Bachelor's programme in the Health field, candidates must hold a qualification at upper-secondary level:
Federal Vocational Baccalaureate in Health and Social Care and a Federal VET Diploma (CFC) in the Health field
Specialised Baccalaureate in the professional field of Health/Experimental Sciences, Health specialisation
Supplementary Modules equivalent to one year of professional experience for holders of a non-specific qualification
Candidates applying for a regulated programme must also undergo the selection procedure for admission to the programme concerned.
If a candidate has already completed an internship in the broader professional environment and/or in a social or healthcare organisation or institution, they may have this internship or these internships recognised using the following documents:
Students have the opportunity to obtain a certificate of completion of the Health Supplementary Modules with a bilingual mention. The application for admission to the bilingual mention must be submitted when registering for the programme. Admission to the Supplementary Modules is subject to available places.
To obtain the bilingual mention, students must meet the following requirements in the immersion language:
attend and pass the anatomy and physiology course assessment;
complete and pass the eight-week specific practical experience.
The non-specific practical experience takes place in the student's native language, while the specific experience is conducted in the second language. For the maturity thesis or personal project, students may freely choose the language. The criteria for successful completion are the same as those applicable to the French-language programme.
The représentation schématique outlining the admission pathways for HES-SO Health programmes provides an overview of the different pathways.
International candidates must meet the admission requirements of Swissuniversities/HES-SO and the funding conditions for the Health Supplementary Modules. The HES-SO website provides all specific conditions and requirements according to the country in which the admission qualification was obtained.
Admission Pathways
This procedure is intended for applicants who hold (or are in the process of obtaining) one of the following qualifications:
Swiss Federal Maturity Certificate
Federal VET Diploma (CFC) in a field other than Health, together with a Federal Vocational Baccalaureate
ECG Certificate and a Specialised Baccalaureate in a field other than Health
Foreign qualification recognised as equivalent
Holders of a Swiss Federal Maturity Certificate, a Federal Vocational Baccalaureate in a field other than Health and Social Care, or a Specialised Baccalaureate in a field other than Health must first complete one year of Health Supplementary Modules.
International candidates must meet the admission requirements of Swissuniversities and the funding conditions for the Health Supplementary Modules.
Admission Based on Dossier (ASD)
Candidates who do not hold a recognised upper-secondary qualification or who hold a qualification that does not correspond to the recognised qualifications may be admitted to HES-SO Health programmes through an Admission Based on Dossier (ASD) procedure. This procedure is intended for individuals who, through professional experience, can demonstrate the knowledge and competencies required to enter HES-SO in lieu of an upper-secondary qualification.
The following conditions apply for admission to this procedure:
be at least 25 years old;
be a Swiss national or hold a residence permit for gainful employment in Switzerland, a settlement permit, a G permit, or have recognised asylum-seeker or refugee status;
have a certified B2 level of French for candidates whose native language is not French;
have completed at least one year of full-time professional experience in the relevant field;
provide confirmation of an interview with the person responsible for the admissions service at the School of Health Sciences Fribourg (Heds FR).
For students from the canton of Fribourg, the entire programme is funded by the canton, with the exception of the annual tuition fee (CHF 375.–) and the annual contribution towards study costs (CHF 100.–).
For students from another canton whose canton does not cover the cost of the programme, tuition fees amount to CHF 11 175.– for the academic year. The Heds FR does not undertake any procedures with the cantons concerned.
Please note that, once the certificate of enrolment has been issued, candidates are considered students of the Heds FR. Withdrawal from the programme after this date does not entitle students to any reimbursement of the tuition fees due.
The Intercantonal Agreement of 12 June 2003 on Universities of Applied Sciences (AHES) regulates access to Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS) at inter-cantonal level, as well as the contributions towards study costs to be paid by the students' cantons of residence to the bodies responsible for the UAS (Art. 1). The students' canton of residence contributes to their training costs by paying contributions to the bodies responsible for the UAS concerned (Art. 3). The contribution is determined after deduction of individual tuition fees (Art. 9 para. 2).
The canton of residence is determined as follows:
In order for the student's canton of residence to contribute to training costs, candidates must complete the personal data form for determining the liable canton, complete the application with the required supporting documents, and submit it to the Heds FR.
The application is then forwarded to the General Management of HES-SO Fribourg. The decision is issued by the Directorate of Economic Affairs, Employment and Vocational Training (DEEF), which rules on the basis of the recommendation issued by the General Management of HES-SO Fribourg.
The following are considered residents of the canton of Fribourg:
Candidates whose parents' civil domicile has been in the canton of Fribourg for at least 24 months;
Adult candidates who have resided permanently in the canton of Fribourg for at least 24 months (at the time they begin the Supplementary Modules programme) and who have been gainfully employed there, without being simultaneously enrolled in education or training, in an activity that enabled them to be financially independent. Managing a family household, as well as completing military or civilian service, is also considered gainful employment;
Adult foreign candidates whose civil domicile has been in the canton of Fribourg for at least 24 months, if their parents reside abroad or are deceased;
Swiss nationals originating from the canton of Fribourg, if their parents reside abroad or, in the event of their parents' death, if the candidate themselves lives abroad;
Adult candidates who are refugees or stateless persons and have been assigned to the canton of Fribourg, if their parents reside abroad or are deceased.
Special Situations
For any specific request that does not fall within these general principles, candidates must submit a duly justified request to the Heds FR.
Candidates are invited to attend one of the Heds FR information sessions. This will provide them with an overview of:
The modular programme and the alternation between courses and internships
Bilingual education
International internship opportunities (Nursing)
Admission requirements (including Supplementary Modules)
Next session:
Monday, 30.11.2026, 5:00–6:00 p.m. (Online via Teams, no registration required)
Monday, 01.02.2027, 5:00–6:00 p.m. (Online via Teams, no registration required)
Other Information Opportunities
In addition to the information sessions, each spring the Heds FR meets with people interested in Nursing programmes during the “Student for a Day” events.
The Heds FR also participates in the following events:
Future Day – In the Shoes of a Nurse!
Perspectiva Days organised by the Fribourg University Guidance Centre
Start! Careers Forum
2026–2027 Academic Year
Monday, 5 January 2026 to Friday, 5 June 2026
Deadline for Foreign Qualifications and ECUS Examinations
Monday, 5 January 2026 to Tuesday, 31 March 2026
Registration is exclusively online. It is considered complete once validated, provided that all required documents have been uploaded and the Heds FR has received payment of the CHF 150.– registration fee (the payment slip must be completed in accordance with the template).