r/FMEL

Hi everyone,
I applied to the FMEL waiting list on December 28, 2025, which I believe is quite early. My current preferences are:
• Desired lease start: 01.08.2026
• Desired lease end: 15.07.2027
• Flexibility: +/- 2 months
• Studio for 1 person between CHF 601–800/month
• Studio for 1 or 2 people between CHF 801–1,200/month
• Studio for 1 person between CHF 801–1,200/month
• Studio for 1 or 2 people between CHF 601–800/month
• La Bourdonnette: accepted ✓
• Planète Bleue: excluded ✗
About 2–3 weeks ago, I updated my preferences to include La Bourdonnette (I initially set it to “no”, but changed it to “yes”, accepting the construction noise from the nearby Campus Santé building site).
My question is: does modifying your preferences on the FMEL portal reset or affect your position in the waiting list? I checked the FAQ and the preference registration page on their website, but there’s no clear information about this.
Has anyone experienced something similar or know how the system works?
Thanks a lot!

Hey everyone, I’m on the FMEL waitlist and have a few questions — curious if anyone’s been in a similar situation.
I registered on September 7th 2025 with an exact start date of September 1st 2026, for HEC Lausanne. My room preferences are:
• Single room (CHF 0–600)
• Single room (CHF 601–800)
• Flatshare (CHF 0–600)
• Studio for 1 person (CHF 601–800)
A few things I’m wondering:
1. Exact date vs ±1 month — I set an exact start date instead of adding flexibility. I’ve read that people who put ±1 month basically get their offer ~3 months in advance (instead of 2), since FMEL can offer them a place starting 1 month earlier. Does that actually give a better chance of getting a place, or just an earlier offer? Feels a bit unfair that being flexible essentially “games” the system at the cost of one extra month of rent…
2. One offer or multiple? — If you receive an offer and decline it, do you get another one? Or is it one shot and you’re out?
3. Waitlist mechanics — does anyone know how it actually works? Is it purely first come first served? I registered about a year in advance so hoping that helps…
4. Do I even have a chance? — Given my registration date, preferences, and start date, do you think I have a realistic shot at getting an offer? Would love to hear from people who were in a similar situation and whether it worked out!
Thanks in advance 🙏