The company that have been trying to get me a B permit failed to do so last time. Thankfully, they didn't give up, and the Canton said I can get a B permit when I graduate from my PhD studies...
I can hand in my thesis in April, public defense in May, but the graduation ceremony is next FEB (2024)!!
Anyone have insight into what is considered having "graduated" with a PhD degree? The PhD office here seems to think a letter from them stating that I completed all required tasks/research/courses should suffice... I presume this is correct, because I would be without a B student permit after I hand in my thesis...
You will graduate officially when your degree is ready for pickup (usually a few weeks after your defense). The graduation ceremony is nothing official.
When you’ve finished everything and have a final official “mark/result”. The ceremony doesn’t matter, in the U.K. at least you don’t even have to attend it.
I work in academia and (at least in the field I work in) non-EUs are able to work in CH and transfer to a B permit after the private defense, and the paperwork can be taken care of beforehand (i.e. they can directly transition to employment after the private defense: they can start the paperwork process several months in advance so there is no paperwork backlog to deal with). As an example, one of our PhDs (Asian nationality) had their private defense before Xmas and started work Jan 1, but the public defense isn't taking place for a few weeks. They only receive the physical diploma at the completion of the private defense, but they've already been working since several weeks, completely legally.
But as a disclaimer I work in a technical field with relatively high demand, am not sure if the situation is the same in other fields. Also, I am in VD and you are SG. I guess you are in a business program?
Yes, that letter that says that you completed all requirements towards the degree (defense, corrections, thesis in library, no pending debt, etc.) is what counts as attaining the degree.
And yes, that letter is the end of student B permit. In my case, my employer applied for a hiring exactly 1 day after the expiration of the student permit. In spite of student permit theoretically expired when the letter attesting I completed all requirements was produced by the university.
Like a chicken-egg issue, no letter no permit, but letter ends the current student permit. So, those days between end of studies and granting of new permit is a grey area since technically you don't have a residence permit. But border police is not coming to knock your door, only consider travel crossing Schengen area border is not possible.
As long as the hiring request by your future employer is done quickly after you complete the degree, and you apply as quick as possible as local municipality once cantonal approves the hiring.....this application grants you the right to live in CH as long as they process the application. Once they answer, you (hopefully) have a permit.
On of my friends (in the UK) got his PhD by simply having it awarded by the professor. What had happened was his project proved his sponsoring professor wrong, so said professor delayed and delayed. Then my friend went for a job with Human Genome project, and the hiring professor asked him why he didn't have a PhD despite having done the work. He got the PhD and the job.
Thank you! If I understood you correctly, the company would then basically negotiate/work with the Canton under the assumption I already would have a degree, and then retroactively provide the actual degree? And yes, I would get a PhD in Strategy
Thanks for this! I will let my prospective employer know so they don't keep me hanging too long in limbo after the "letter" is written by the PhD office.
When the company is applying for the B permit, do they pre-negotiate with the Canton (Basel), and then I request a letter stating I have completed all requirements (by HSG) --- or must I first obtain the "letter of completing PhD" for the company to apply?
The risk with the second option is that - I presume - the 6 months of being considered on "equal terms" as Swiss/EU would begin? In case I fail to get a Permit B again, I would have very little time to find another job.
Was going to reply with a PM but decided it would be more useful to post here.
Just confirmed with a former non-EU PhD student who transitioned directly to work: after his private defense he received an attestation that he had completed all the requirements for a PhD, and this is the document that was submitted to the canton. There was no formal pre-negotiation with the canton, but the startup took pains to confirm with the canton all the requirements they would need to apply for the permit, and they submitted their formal application the day my colleague received his letter of attestation.
Yes, there's always some risk. To mitigate it, send applications to different employers. I remember sending around 20 targeted applications and got as answer only 1 invitation for interview. So, start working on a plan B that lands you a job since now. Worst thing can happen is you politely say "no, thanks. I found a job" to an invitation for interview.
A follow-up question that may be useful to others as well:
When you are being hired during the 6 months (where you are treated as "equal" to Swiss/EU) after graduation, does the company still have to follow the same steps that are required to hire non-EU? (e.g., advertise for 2 months on multiple job boards, interview a dozen people, etc etc.?).