FMEL - FMEL Check-in: Preparing for Your Arrival in Our Residences

CHECK-IN

Ready to check in?

You’re about to move into one of our residences. We’re delighted that you’ve made this choice. A warm welcome to the FMEL!
Before you move into your new home, please make sure that you’ve taken care of the following:

You’ve validated your rental agreement and the annexes to it electronically on the booking portal.
You’ve opened a rental deposit account with a Swiss bank.
You’ve made an appointment with the caretaker of your residence via the booking portal (under Arrival) at least one week before your arrival. It’s important for you to keep to this deadline so that things run as smoothly as possible when you move in.

Switzerland is known for its hospitality and excellence all over the world. We’re committed to continuing this tradition by welcoming you personally when you check in. Check-in isn’t usually possible on weekends, public holidays and at night. But please contact the residence caretaker if you’re arriving in Switzerland outside reception opening hours.

How to get to your building?

The FMEL’s residences are located on or near the UNIL or EPFL campus or in the Lausanne area. Wherever you’re arriving from, you won’t have problems getting here.

By train

Located right at the centre of Europe and with one of the world’s best rail networks, the city of Lausanne is easy to get to by train. TGV trains run several times a day to Paris and Milan from Lausanne station, a national rail hub. The stations of Geneva, Zurich, Basel and Bern have direct connections to Germany, Italy, France and Austria. Find out more.

Pour consulter les horaires de train et acheter votre billet en ligne, rendez-vous sur (https://www.sbb.ch/fr/) ou, plus simple encore, téléchargez l’app’ CFF mobile.

By metro or bus

The vast majority of FMEL residences are located only 15 to 30 minutes from Lausanne station by metro or bus.

Consult the Lausanne Transport (tl) timetables to work out your journey or, even easier, download the tl app and buy your ticket (full fare CHF 3.70, valid for 1 hour).

By car

To get to the UNIL and EPFL campuses, take the Lausanne Sud, UNIL-EPFF motorway exit. For the other sites, please consult our site plan

By air

Lausanne is very close to Geneva and Zurich international airports, which serve more than 150 destinations all over the world.

From Geneva Airport it’s about 45 minutes by car or train to Lausanne. Every 15 minutes there’s a train from the airport railway station to Lausanne (full fare CHF 27).
Zurich Airport is around 2 hours 30 minutes by car and 2 hours 10 minutes by train from Lausanne. Trains also leave every 15 minutes (full fare CHF 74).
To check the train timetable and buy your ticket online, go to https://www.sbb.ch/en/ or, even easier, download the SBB mobile app.

You’re here at last!

When you arrive, the caretaker team will welcome you and give you all the information you need to start out on your new adventure. You’ll be given the key or badge to your accommodation and an informative brochure.
The entire FMEL team and the student ambassadors are there to help and look after your wellbeing throughout your stay. Feel free to contact them.

Last formalities

In Switzerland it’s compulsory to register with your municipality of residence within eight days of your arrival. Please go to the population office (service de la population) of your municipality to complete the necessary formalities.