Fact sheet for worldwide exchange programmes

Nomination by email to  until:

• Autumn Semester: 15 March
  
• Spring Semester: 15 August (unless agreed otherwise)

Combination of mandatory courses and projects

1. Projects (up to 10 ECTS out of 20 ECTS) can be integrated into the regular study plan.

2. Students doing a project only (min. 20 ECTS) need a special agreement between the universities

• Minimum duration: eight weeks
• Maximum duration: 365 days
  
• Students coming outside the regular semester dates need to find an accommodation on their own.

• Student's full name
• Date of birth
• Email address
• Number of exchange semesters
• Field of studies at home university

Students must apply online.

• Autumn Semester: beginning of February to 1 April
  
• Spring Semester: beginning of July to 1 September (unless agreed otherwise)

There is no rolling admission. Applications will only be processed after the application deadline.

Students must apply at  at least three months prior to the planned start at ETH (only possible with special agreement between the universities). 

• Bachelor's degree = 3 years (6 semesters), 180 ECTS
  
• Master's degree = 1.5 to 2 years (3 to 4 semesters, including final Master's thesis which usually takes 6 months), 90 respectively 120 ECTS

Undergraduate or graduate students can combine courses from Bachelor's and Master's level if they have the necessary prerequisites.

Students must have sufficient knowledge of English (or German, depending on the chosen courses).

The language of instruction for each course can be found under language instruction in the Course Catalogue.

A language confirmation / certificate is not required.

There are no fees for regular courses.

Exceptions:

• Registration fees apply for language courses.
• Special excursions / seminar weeks might charge additional fees that will be announced by the lecturers.

ETH courses can still be changed in the first two weeks of the semester.

Note that German language courses and courses at the University of Zurich have earlier deadlines.

Visa applications are processed by ETH (exception: projects at D-BSSE). Students will be informed after their acceptance about the further procedure.

external page Students who require a visa must pay the fee of the canton of Zurich for the visa authorisation of CHF 95 by credit card upon submitting their visa application information to the Student Exchange Office. This fee is non-??refundable in case of later withdrawal.

Including the fee of the Swiss embassy or consulate for issuing the visa (approx. CHF 100), the fees for visa usually amount to approx. CHF 200.

Once in Switzerland, students must apply for a residence permit (exception: projects of less than 91 days). Students receive details upon arrival.

Students should not enter Switzerland before the start date stated on their official confirmation of acceptance. Otherwise, they risk their residence permit expiring before the last day of their planned exchange and not being able to write their final exams.

Residence permit fees usually amount to approx. CHF 200.

ETH provides housing for all newly incoming international exchange students who register with the Housing Office on time. It is possible to register for one or two semesters.

Students cannot extend their lease for a subsequent semester.

Students will receive information on registering for housing in a separate email after their official acceptance. They should register and apply online within the set deadlines.

The cost to rent a private room is between CHF 600 and 1350 (see properties)

The students need to pay the entire amount in one payment for the entire semester. If this payment is a financial burden, students can contact the Student Exchange Office.

The rental periods are fixed.

• Autumn Semester: 1 September to late January*
• Spring Semester: There are two options, both starting at the beginning of February.
  • Lasting until late June: This is for students who have an accepted reason to move their exams ahead or take them as distance exams.
  • Lasting until late August

* Students with exams at the end of the exam period would need to find their own housing for two to three weeks. The Student Exchange Office may be able to offer some partial financial support (subject to availability), yet this may not cover the full additional costs.

• Health insurance is mandatory in Switzerland. Students will be invited to an event about health insurance where they will receive all the information they need.
• Personal liability insurance is highly recommended.