ERASMUS
Introduction
Partner
Dates
Period of Study
Application
Grant
Tuition Fees
Final Report
Useful Information
Introduction
The ERASMUS programme is an education and training programme of the European Union (EU) which has been set up in 1987 with the aim of promoting cooperation and mobility between higher education institutions across Europe. As a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), Switzerland was accepted as a partner within the ERASMUS programme.
For the subsequent programmes ‚Socrates’ (as from 1995) and the Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP, since 2007), Switzerland could not negotiate an agreement as a full member. Therefore, Switzerland does not officially participate in the ERASMUS programme anymore and has a status of a ‚silent partner’. In order to be able to continue the inter-university cooperations established during the period of official participation, the Federal Office for Education and Science (FOES) finances an indirect Swiss participation in the programme. A national agency, the Information and Coordination ERASMUS Switzerland (ICES), is responsible for awarding mobility grants to ERASMUS students both going from and coming to Switzerland.
Partner
The University of Zurich has so far concluded 503 ERASMUS agreements within 46 fields of study with 230 partner universities in Europe. The ERASMUS agreements provide the basis for the ERASMUS student exchange.
Dates
Application deadline for the following academic year (fall and spring semester) is March 20th. The complete application documents have to be submitted to the International Relations Office of the University of Zurich. Applications might be accepted after that date. However, since the budget for the grants is calculated from the applications received by March 20, a grant can't be guaranteed to students that submit their application after the deadline.
Period of Study
ERASMUS allows a stay of one or two semesters. The length of stay has to be discussed with the departmental coordinator at the home university. The lecture period lasts from mid September to Christmas (fall semester, "HS") and from mid February to the end of May (spring semester, "FS"). Students that intend to come to Zurich for a period of study outside of the regular semester dates, should get in touch with the International Relations Office of the University of Zurich.
Application
Application is open to all students whose home university has a bilateral ERASMUS-agreement with the University of Zurich in the according subject. Students are nominated by their home university and have to be announced by March 20th the latest. Please read the application instructions carefully.
Grant
By applying for an ERASMUS exchange you are automatically applying for an ERASMUS grant. The grant is intended for a contribution to the extra costs that accrue during the study abroad period. Over the past years we could always disburse ERASMUS grants. However, there exists no right to an ERASMUS grant.
The national ERASMUS agency of Switzerland decided in 2006 to align the level of scholarships for all ERASMUS students regardless of their home country (except for students from Romania and Bulgaria). The scholarship usually ranges between CHF 200 and CHF 250 (EUR 130-160) per month.
Tuition Fees
Incoming ERASMUS students remain enrolled at their home university and do not pay tuition fees at the University of Zurich.
Final Report
Before leaving Zurich incoming students have to fill in a final report online. The link to the online form will be sent out by e-mail at the end of the semester. After having filled in the final report students will receive the final instalment of the grant.
Useful Information
Further information on studying and living in Zurich can be found under Useful Information.