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.

• Questionnaire motivation & tentative study plan
  Show that you have made yourself familiar with the courses offered at your selected partner universities. More information about transferable courses at partner universities can be found on the websiteCredit Recognition.
• 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.

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

The allocation criteria are:

• Timely submission of complete application
• Grades
• Questionnaire motivation & tentative study plan
• 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 March/April 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