International Relations Office

University-Wide Partner Universities

 

University of Zurich
Zurich, Switzerland

Website: http://www.uzh.ch/index_en.html

 

Institution Profile
 

Founded in 1833, the University of Zurich is the largest University in Switzerland. With more than 26,000 students, 17% being international students, it enjoys an outstanding international reputation for excellence in education and research. In addition, it has produced 5 Nobel Prize winners (or 12 if one includes those who studied and worked at the University). With its large number of academic staff and close to 520 professors, students enjoy a wide range of subjects and will receive the training and expertise only from the best teachers and professors. As the largest Swiss University, the University of Zurich has ensured that its students have access to the widest and most relevant range of subjects in order to enhance their academic life.

The University strives for excellence and its high standards are internationally recognized. Its research aims to benefit society and is dedicated to the advancement and dissemination of information. In addition to serving the public with intense research and academic publications, it also has nine museums and botanical gardens which not only serve as academic research and learning grounds, but are also open to the public to enjoy.

 
Academics
Academic Calendar

Semester 1: Mid September to End December
Semester 2: Mid February to Early June

Curriculum Structure

ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) has been introduced in all faculties at the University of Zurich. At the University of Zurich, one ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 30 hours (including presence at lectures, self-study, preparing for and taking examinations). A normal semester workload is of 30 ECTS. Exchange students are advised to take a workload of 20 to 30 ECTS per semester.
Medium of Instruction for Classes

With the exception of all foreign language courses, lectures at the University of Zurich are held in German. The University offers intensive German courses before and during term time.
Faculties/Schools
 
  • Humanities (including Social Sciences)*
  • Theology
  • Law
  • Economics
  • Business Administration and Information Technology
  • Medicine
  • Veterinary Medicine
  • Natural Sciences
 
SEP Application
Restrictions for Exchange Students
 
  • Courses from Business and Economics are not open to exchange students under university-wide exchange.
  • Students should have the knowledge required to be admitted in the courses, usually some prior study in the relevant disciplines.
  • In addition they should prove to have enough skills to be able to participate in the classes. Courses are mainly conducted in German. Some courses in English are offered at the Faculty of Economics and the Faculty of Mathematics and Sciences.
  • The Swiss Banking Institute of the University of Zurich publishes every year a fact sheet with courses offered in English. This can be obtained from the International Relations. All courses offered at the English Department are in English.
  • Exchange students who intend to take courses at the English Department are expected to have a standard of proficiency in English at the level C1 according to the Common European Framework (CEFR). This is equivalent to IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL internet-based: 90 or TOEFL computer-based: 232. Certification of English skills can also be provided by the Language Center of the home university. In addition, students may be required to sit the internal language test of the English Department at the beginning of term in order to be definitely admitted to courses offered by the department.


Please refer to the Other Links section for relevant links to course information.  

NUS Application Deadline

Please check with your faculty for its internal application deadlines. After you have been selected by and accepted your faculty’s internal offer, your faculty would give you the application instructions of the partner university. An online application to the partner university is needed.

 
Accommodations
Housing Options

The University of Zurich neither owns nor rents out any student rooms. In fact, none of the universities in Zurich administrate student accommodation. Housing for students is offered by different institutions that are connected with the University, but operate independently. Since the demand on housing is high, it is important to start looking for accommodation in good time and to explore every possible avenue.

In the Housing Handbook (available in German only), the Housing Office of University and ETH Zurich issues an overview of useful addresses, if you’re looking for reasonably priced accommodation as well as accommodation at short notice.

Accommodation offers can also be found on the various notice boards in the University buildings and institutes. A useful link for students looking for accommodation from outside Switzerland is the University of Zurich and ETH 'Online Marketplace'.

The youth hostel and the City Backpacker hotel are recommended options for temporary living arrangements at a reasonable price.

 
Visa & Insurance
Consular/Visa Regulation

Nominated students will receive a form for immigration and further information directly from the International Relations Office of the University of Zurich.
Health/Medical Insurance

For anyone staying in Switzerland longer than three months, it is compulsory to buy health insurance in Switzerland. If the insurance at the home country is equivalent, students can be freed from the obligation. The Students’ Advisory Office (ReBeKo) offers help concerning health insurance matters. Further information is available at: http://www.uzh.ch/krabe

Please refer to the Other Links Section for the relevant links to the university’s insurance policies.  

 
Cost of Living
Estimated Monthly Living Expenses
Breakdown of Costs
CHF$
Accommodation
690
Food
450
Transport
100
Insurance
100
Other (Entertainment, Clothes)
300
Monthly Estimate
1,640


Please refer to the Other Links Section for the relevant links to the estimated costs of living.

 
Additional Information
Useful Links

Universal Currency Converter:

 


Information for Exchange Students:

 


Course Information:

 
 
More Questions?
 

Module Mapping, Course Selections & Application

Please check with your SEP Administrator/Coordinator in the Dean's Office.

 

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