Accommodation

Information

• The Housing Office of the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich guarantees you a student room, provided you apply by the deadline, arrive during the regular scholarship period and have not already been living in Switzerland for at least one semester.
  
• Rooms are available in shared flats (no studios). Generally, rooms are fully furnished and have internet access. The room is for single occupancy, but you will usually share your bathroom, kitchen, living room space and laundry facilities with your flatmates. Flatmates can be of any gender. The different properties can be viewed online.
• The normal rental period is two semester (whole year).
• You can add special requirements in your application for a student room.
• You can start the housing application once you have been officially accepted for the scholarship.  Identify yourself as a Swiss Government Scholarship holder at ETH.
• While you can explore other options on the open market, the Housing Office most likely offers the most affordable housing options in Zurich.
  

Open housing market

Conditions vary greatly (with or without furniture, cooking facilities, cleaning, internet, etc.). Consider your needs and budget and address any unclear points before deciding on accommodation. In Zurich, the demand is very high, supply is limited, and rents are correspondingly high.

Search for accommodation when in Zurich

Because most people will want to meet potential tenants or flatmates before signing a contract, it can be easier to find accommodation in person. Stay in a hostel or hotel first when arriving and look for an accommodation on-?site. In addition to searching online, you can also use the many notice boards in the main buildings of ETH and UZH as well as in large shops such as Coop and Migros.

Look outside of the city of Zurich

• With the reliable Swiss public transport system, you can easily and quickly get to ETH from most surrounding communities ¨C plus, the rent is often lower outside the city. This is particularly true for the north and west of Zurich, e.g. Dietikon, D¨¹bendorf, Opfikon, Wallisellen, Winterthur, which are still part of the Canton of Zurich.
  
• We recommend that you will not live outside the Canton of Zurich unless you are affiliated with PSI in Canton Aargau or are staying at a branch of Eawag, Empa or WSL in another canton and therefore living outside the Canton of Zurich is inevitable.
• In Switzerland administrative formalities regarding the immigration process, taxes, and health insurance registration vary from one canton to another.  The Reception Service can only advise you on administrative matters related to Canton Zurich ¨C preferably in the city of Zurich ¨C. If you take up residence outside of the canton of Zurich, please ask for advice from HR or your supervisor at the research institute.