Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a visa for Switzerland?

Switzerland is part of the Schengen countries. If the country of your citizenship is also part of the Schengen countries or if you already have a Schengen visa you do not need a extra visa. But please do inform yourself at your swiss embassy, if a visa is necessary.

Does the ISU^energy team deal with your visa application for Switzerland?

Please understand that we cannot deal with any visa formalities. Every participant should in due time take care of his/her visa application for Switzerland.

Where can I apply for a visa for Switzerland?

You have to go to the swiss embassy, which is responsible for your region.

What documents do I need for the visa application?

You need your passport and a letter of invitation of the ISU^energy (original letter, see also next question). You should inform yourself at the swiss embassy if other documents are necessary.

Where do I get the letter of invitation of the ISU^energy?

After we received the tuition fee, we will send you the letter of invitation via mail. If you need to apply for a visa please inform us, because you need the original letter, which is signed by the ISU^energy committee. Please take into account, that the letter could take more than a week to reach you by post.

How much is the tuition fee for me?

If you are a master or a diploma student your tuition fee is 330€ if you apply till 15th May. After 15th May the tuition fee is 380€.
If you have finished your master studies or you are a PhD student, the tuition fee is 680€ till 15th May and 780€ after 15th May.

When do I have to pay the tuition fee?

If we accept your application, we will send you an email with the acceptance for the ISU^energy with further information, as well as our bank data. As soon as we receive your tuition fee we will register you as participant and you will get the letter of invitation. Please take into account that it could take more than three weeks, till we get the information, that your tuition fee received us. Please inform us, that you have sent the money, so we can check for it. Please be pationed.

How to get to Falera?

Public transportation to Falera (Busstation: "Falera posta") has to be organized by yourself (we would recommend you the train from Zurich Airport to Chur, and the express yellow post bus (Postauto www.postauto.ch/graubuenden) from Chur to the Busstation "Falera posta". Public transportation in Switzerland offers an excellent service (www.sbb.ch/en/home.html).
As Falera itself has no train station, please inform yourself on the Postauto public transportation system. From there the conference centre la Fermata will be indicated.
Should you, however, arrive by your own car, please indicate this fact to us as soon as possible, as we will organize you a yellow card and a parking place (parking fees are high in Switzerland). On the departure day, we will offer one bus shuttle back from Falera to Zurich at 9.30 a.m.

When do I have to arrive in Falera on Sunday?

You should plan to arrive well before 6 p.m. at the conference centre (la Fermata) in Falera, because the welcome address and barbecue starts at 6 p.m. For coordination purposes we would kindly ask you to send your arrival time in Falera to the organisation team email address (isue@helmholtz-berlin.de) as soon as your trip to Switzerland is fully planned. Please keep in mind that most holiday flats can be accessed only from 3 p.m. /4 p.m. onward. If you arrive before 3 p.m. you can store your luggage in the conference centre la Fermata.

When and how do I depart from Falera?

Your departure is planned for Saturday, at 9.30 a.m. A shuttle bus will leave from Falera posta to Zürich punctually. Please be on time.
Please take into account at least 2h travelling time back to Zürich you should book your tickets back from Zürich in the afternoon. However if your departure times differ, you are free to decide when to depart from Falera village. Please note however the apartment’s leaving times (scheduled for 9.00 a.m.)!

How do I find my flat?

Please make sure that you have googled your Falera address to know where you are being lodged (for example with www.gofalk.com). Under the following links you will receive some information on the Swiss region Flims/Laax/Falera:
www.falera.net and www.flims.com/en/home.html .
Please note that for some lodgings there might be no house number. Instead the house/flat can be easily found by its individual name as Falera is a small village. We will assist you on location.

Will I have a room of my own?

This is a strongly team-oriented two-week summer university. You will be consequently accommodated in cozy holiday houses with shared bedrooms (sexes separated), bathroom and kitchen included. Please write us an e-mail if you explicitly wish to be accommodated in a male only or female only house.

Can I bring my family/partner with me to Falera?

It is advisable not to bring your family/partner along, as you should immerse yourself into the ISU^energy community. However if you would like to be accompanied by your family/partner, please make sure to book a separate accommodation for your family/partner. ISU^energy flats are available to registered participants only.

What clothes do I have to bring to Falera?

Casual wear will be alright. If you plan hiking tours please take hiking boots, hiking clothes, and rain-protection clothes with you. For the evening Get Together BBQ you should need a warm pullover and trousers. What’s also useful: a flashlight/torch, sun protection?

Can I do the laundry in Falera?

Please take clothes with you that will carry you over the two weeks, for we can not ensure that there will be washing machines available.

What about insurances?

Please be aware that the ISU^energy team will not be responsible for any injuries, harm or damages that occur to you or might be caused by you or to you by any participant during your visit at the ISU^energy. Therefore it is very much advisable if you updated your international health insurance and your personal liability insurance. Thank you in advance. The participant will personally be responsible for his/her own insurance.

What kind of meals will be offered for Lunch?

Vegetarian as well as Non-Vegetarian Meals will be available. If you are a Vegetarian please indicate so when you apply online. Non-Vegetarian Meals can include all kind of meat (also pork). The ISU^energy has no influence on the menu.

Can I get Vegetarian food?

For Lunch vegetarian food will be offered. Please indicate so when you apply online. Thank you.

Will the ISU^energy offer our dinner?

Only on the first evening at the welcome barbecue the ISU^energy offers a dinner. On all other evening you have to care by yourself. In Falera is a supermarket, where you can buy the food and you can cook in your accommodation.

Will the ISU^energy offer our breakfast?

The ISU^energy will not offer the breakfast, you have to care by yourself. In Falera is a Supermarket, where you can buy the food.

Is a Supermarket in Falera?

A “VOLG” supermarket is in Falera. The opening hours are:
Mo-Fr: 07.30-12.00 / 14.00-18.30
Sa: 07.30-12.00 / 14.00-17.00

What are the opening times of the conference centre la Fermata?

La Fermata will be open between 8.0–12.45h and 13.30 – 22.00h during the week. At the weekend la Fermata is generally closed. If we open it we will tell you on location.

How will I be informed about schedule updates/changes?

The program schedule will constantly be updated on the website www.helmholtz-berlin.de/events/isu-energy/index_de.html .

How will I get closer information on the practical training and the group projects?

You will be provided with information on location. The practical units and the group projects will be connected to the subject matter taught at the ISU^energy.

Can I use wireless internet access?

There is a wireless internet access at certain times available at the conference centre la Fermata (inside and outside during the week from 8.00 – 12.45h and 13.30 – 22.00h). Outside this time frame you can receive wireless access only outside the building of la fermata. There will be no WLAN offered in the flats. The ISU^energy team will not be responsible for any costs you will cause due to a private WLAN use outside the la fermata premises. Instead the respective users will have to pay for any costs that occur.

Letting conditions:

Below you find the letting conditions of the apartments. These conditions are obligatory for every participant. You will receive a form for your signature soon. We kindly request you to give back the signed form to us after your arrival in Falera. Without the signed form you are not permitted to enter the flat. Thank you again for your understanding.

General letting conditions of the privately owned houses:

The keys to the flats in Falera can be collected at your arrival on Welcome Sunday between 3.00 p.m and 6 p.m. at the ISU^energy location/welcome desk at la fermata (http://www.lafermata.falera.net/).
The apartment can only be used by the /participants of the ISU^energy who are officially invited to lodge there by the ISU^energy coordination team. Lodging rights are not transferable. The apartment can only be let to the number of people confirmed in the lease contract and by the ISU^energy letter of invitation.
The apartment will be let on the day of arrival at 3 p.m. /some at 4 p.m. On departure day the apartment has to be vacated until 9.00 a.m. at the latest. Please note that on departure day there will be a bus in front of the Falera tourist/post office at 9.30 a.m. that will bring you to Zurich.
On your departure day (second Saturday) the keys to the apartment will be collected by a member of the ISU^energy coordination team until 9.00 a.m. at the latest.
The following costs have to be paid by the tenants themselves: phone charges (according to the phone call counter), green garbage bags (can be bought at the VOLG supermarket), toilet paper, bath and kitchen towels (are not provided and have to be brought along by the tenant).
The tenant agrees to keep the private apartment clean at all times and to lodge there according to the house regulations. Oven, carpets, the stove, and toilets in particular should be in a clean state, especially after the tenant has left the apartment for good.
The tenants will elect a house/flat prefect (one of the tenants responsible for the apartment and the keys).
The tenant agrees that there will be an apartment inspection at the end of the second week to assure a decent state of the apartment. The apartment inspection will also be headed by the house prefect.
The tenant agrees to pay for the damages, losses, and repair bills resulting from any negligence that occur during their stay at the respective apartment.
The tenant agrees to promptly report any maintenance needed on the property being inhabited.
The owner of the apartment, his agent and the members of the ISU^energy coordination team will have the authority to make such rules, regulations, and inspection of the dwelling as necessary for the comfort and rights of each and every tenant and neighbour, and for the maintenance of the premises.
Please note that these apartments are private apartments mostly and therefore should be kept in a clean and undamaged state.

Thank you very much for your understanding.

If you should have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.