6. Preparation of the stay
To prepare for the exchange semester before departure, the following topics must be considered.
"Get Ready to Go" events
Coming up in April and May, don't miss the events to prepare for your exchange. Visit the "Get Ready to Go" website for details.
You are an ambassador
As an exchange student you are representing ETH Zurich at our partner universities. Participate in student exchange fairs and other info events at your partner university and tell interested students about studying at ETH and living in Switzerland
You will find info and promo material on our partner website.
Scholarships
Scholarships are part of the Student Exchange Office's exchange
programmes and are automatically granted (no application necessary). You can find additional scholarship opportunities (e.g. Heyning-Roelli scholarship) on the scholarship website.
Academics
If your performance drops massively below the required grade average after you have been accepted, you must inform the Student Exchange Office and your departmental exchange coordinator.
Make sure to organize your exams as you might have to prepone them or apply for distance examinations.
- Enrol regularly in myStudies yourself, ensuring your status will be "mobility studies".
- Do not enter leave of absence.
- If needed, the Registrar's Office will provide information regarding semester enrolment and the transition to the Master's degree programme.
- You must pay the semester invoice at ETH during your exchange.
- The partner university waives tuition fees.
- Your study plan and any changes to it will be approved by your departmental exchange coordinator.
- You may need to update your study plan at the start of your exchange or shortly after, for which you will receive an email. The study plan in Mobility-Online must reflect your actual course choices.
Once your project has been approved via the study plan in Mobility-Online, you must:
- Ensure there are no scheduling conflicts (e.g. a presentation overlapping with ETH exams).
- Register the project in myStudies. (Contact your Study Administration for any questions about the correct registration.)
- Check with the partner university regarding their registration requirements and procedures.
In general
- The learning agreement is based on your study plan.
- You will receive the learning agreement from the Student Exchange Office by email.
- For exchanges at a Swiss or non-European partner university: If your department requires you to sign the document and have it signed by the partner university, they will inform you accordingly.
- For exchanges at a European partner university: You must sign the document and have it signed by the partner university, then upload the signed document to Mobility-Online.
Departmental learning agreement / tutor agreement
- For certain degree programmes, study plans and credit transfers must be agreed upon with lecturers and tutors. In such cases, a separate learning agreement or tutor agreement will be required (either within myStudies or as a separate document).
- If this internal document is necessary, you will be notified by your department. You must use both documents; the programme-specific agreement does not replace the Student Exchange Office's learning agreement, nor vice versa.
Entering and staying in your host country
- Check which entry documents are required and ensure you have them and their validity for the entire duration of your exchange.
- If a visa is needed, ensure you obtain it well in advance.
In the host country
- Most partner universities assist exchange students in finding accommodation.
- Check directly with your host university for details on procedures and deadlines.
Subletting during your exchange
- Consider what you would like to do with your room or flat while you are away.
- You can place a free advertisement for subletting through the University of Zurich and ETH’s accommodation service.
Swiss and European partner universities
If you have expressed interest in a room swap in Mobility-Online after being allocated a partner university, the Student Exchange Office will contact you in due time.
- You are responsible for your insurance coverage during the exchange.
- Ask your insurance company about the cover provided by existing insurance policies and about any additional travel insurance etc. you may need.
- ETH travel insurance: The insurance automatically covers students enrolled at ETH Zurich on their study trips and/or during the academic year abroad for a maximum of 360 days per year and student. Health and accident insurance is required, which students must take out privately. ETH travel insurance website
- Download Compare the journey time and CO2 reduction when travelling by train instead of by plane (PNG, 920 KB)
- Form a travel group with other exchange students
- external page Hear from students who travelled environmentally friendly from and to their exchange destination
- external page Tips for your environmentally friendly journey
- external page Interrail Pass
- external page Tips from Green Erasmus
Other topcis
If you need a language certificate for your partner university or your visa and have not yet submitted it, you must do so as soon as possible.
Language courses
If you have little or no knowledge of your host country’s language, it is advisable to start learning it. The external page ETH/UZH Language Center offers courses.
Workshops
The Language Offers offers a external page workshop on Intercultural Communication as well as the external page "Academic communication: Intensive preparation for studies in English" course, both in June.
Culture shock
You might experience "culture shock" when staying abroad. The culture shock guide helps you recognising, avoiding and dealing with it.
In general
Reach out to your partner university early for guidance on the necessary processes. This is especially important for special learning and examination arrangements and accommodation options.
Swiss-European Mobility Programme (SEMP)
If you have a special need, you can apply for additional funding to help cover extra costs. To do so, contact the Student Exchange Office at least four months before your exchange.
"Get Ready to Go" - online session
Practical tips on travel planning, visas, data security, insurance, scholarships, culture shock, intercultural competence and networking – and how to represent ETH Zurich as an ETH ambassador at your partner university.
"Get Ready to Go" - meet and connect
You will have the opportunity to meet fellow students who are also preparing for an exchange or have already completed one. At the event, you can network, form travel groups, and benefit from the firsthand experiences of others.
The study reports provide valuable insights into partner universities, including their academic programmes, campus life, housing market, leisure activities, and more.
Inform the Student Exchange Office immediately if you will not be participating in the exchange or will be breaking it off early.