Fact sheet for worldwide exchange programmes

Nomination by email to responsible person until:

• Autumn Semester: 15 March
  
• Spring Semester: 15 August

Nomination by email to responsible person at least three months prior to the planned start at ETH.

Note:

• Minimum project duration: eight weeks
• 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

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

Students must apply online at least three months prior to the planned start at ETH.

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

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 pageStudents who require a visacall_made 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.

Process

ETH has been able to provide accommodation in one of the residences for all overseas exchange students who registered by the given deadline with the Housing Office.

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

Rent

A private room costs between CHF 600 and 900 (see properties).

Rent will be due in one payment for the entire semester. If this single payment is a serious financial burden, students can contact the Student Exchange Office.

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: For students who know they have an accepted reason to prepone their exams or take them as distance exams.
    
  • Lasting until late August

* Students having exams at the end of the examination session would need to find alternative housing on their own 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.
 

Note

• Generally, rooms arranged by the Housing Office of the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich are fully furnished, with an internet connection (wi-fi or LAN) and bed linen. Usually, rooms are for single occupancy while bathroom, kitchen, living room space and laundry facilities are shared with flatmates. Flatmates can be of any gender. 
• Cleaning and laundry service are not provided.
  
• Students may insert housing preferences in the comment field during their housing application.
• There is only a very limited offer of student housing for students older than 28 years.
• Students coming for research projects can only apply for housing if they stay for the regular semester dates.

• 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.

Andrea Rothenbühler, , +41 44 632 92 97

• China / Hong Kong, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan: Andra Sander, , Tel +41 44 632 30 54
  
• Australia, Singapore: Myriam Keller, , Tel +41 44 632 21 88
• USA (except Purdue University): Dr. Francesca Broggi & Nicole Tobler, , Tel +41 44 632 43 46 & +41 44 632 26 17
• Canada, USA (only Purdue University): Sandra Zweifel, , Tel +41 44 632 51 52