Application

Before you submit your application, make sure you have all the required documents.

Even if you apply for different partner universities (IKMZ = subject-specific & UZH = university-wide), you submit only one application.

• Motivation letter
  You address the letter of motivation to UZH. Mention why you would like to apply for an exchange and which universities you are particularly interested in. Go into detail about each partner university you have chosen and show that you have done some research regarding the course offering. The letter of motivation must be a minimum of one and a maximum of two pages. If you are (also) applying for a partner university where the language of instruction is other than German, the letter of motivation must be written in English. You only need to submit one letter of motivation, even if you indicate three priorities.
• Transcript of Records
  Students in their first semester who do not yet have grades at the time of application must submit their transcript of records as soon as it is published (calendar week 8 and 38). In this case, at the time of application, you upload a document with one sentence why the document cannot be uploaded and that you will do so as soon as possible. If you have already received some grades, you may submit a screenshot from the student portal.
• Language certificate
  You do not need to upload proof of language proficiency at the time of application. However, you must credibly demonstrate that you are able to attend courses in the relevant language (e.g. expired language certificates, stays abroad, list of successfully completed courses in English at UZH, ...) and that the necessary certificate can be submitted by the registration deadline of the host university. Students with German as their native language who apply for an exchange place at a partner university where German is the language of instruction do not have to submit a language certificate. In that case, upload a document where you state that you will take German modules only. Find out early what kind of proof the host university requires (IELTS, TOEFL, CAE, CPE, PTE, DELF, DELE, signed statement, …). As soon as you are nominated at a university, it is mandatory that you provide the language certificate required by the partner university and therefore, if necessary, register for the test immediately. If you start the exchange in fall, you need the proof by March/April, and if you start in spring by Sept./Oct. At the UZH Language Center you can attend TOEFL, IELTS and Cambridge semester courses, take an English test, study for the test in the self-study center, as well as sign up for TOEFL and IELTS coaching and learning advice.

• Study plan
  If you apply for a non-subject-specific agreement - UZH-wide destination - you must submit a study plan. The study plan is provisional and does not have to be detailed. It shows that you are familiar with the courses offered at the partner university and have found modules that are relevant to your studies. You can refer to the courses offered this or last year. The study plan must be submitted for all university-wide priorities. There is only one field for this in Mobility-Online, so if you apply for several non-subject-specific universities, you should submit one document with all the study plans. Much later in the process, once the final course offering is known, the final Learning Agreement (in case of Erasmus+/SEMP partner university) and/ or a credit recognition agreement (mandatory in all cases) will be drawn up. SeeCredit Recognition.

• Subject-specific documents
  You do not need to submit any subject-specific documents.

The allocation criteria are:

• Timely submission of complete application
• Grades
• Letter of motivation, especially mentioning the academic added value of the exchange stay
• Provisional study plan: Research done on course offerings & availability of relevant courses
• Sufficient knowledge of the language of instruction at the partner university

It also depends on the competition (students from the entire UZH in case of UZH-wide partner universities or students from IKMZ in case of subject-specific partner universities) and how popular the destination is (big cities are usually more popular than small towns, English-speaking countries are popular). The decision about the final admission is up to the partner university. It is your responsibility to check with the partner university regarding semester dates, language requirements and courses offered and to obtain the necessary certificates.

The allocation takes place directly after the application deadlines. You will be notified in Jan., Feb. or March if you got the exchange place. If you are applying in summer, you will be notified in July or August. You have to accept or decline the exchange place within five working days.

After you have accepted the exchange place, we nominate you at the partner university. If you start the exchange in fall, you will be nominated in Feb./March and if you start in spring in Sept./Oct. Once you are nominated, you will be contacted directly by the partner university and informed about the next steps: the registration at the partner university. In general, the partner university contacts you directly to submit your passport, transcript of records and language certificate. Some host universities also require the Learning Agreement at this stage. If the modules are not yet known at this point, you can base your choice on the courses offered in the previous fall/ spring semester. See Credit Recognition.

You can also study in another city in Switzerland. In that case, you apply to the Student Administration Office CH-Unimobil