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4. Arrival & starting your stay

Before you read on: Have you prepared your arrival? If you are unsure, go back to step 3.

Deadline

14 days after your arrival in Switzerland (required by Swiss law)

Registration procedure

Non-Swiss scholar coming from outside of Switzerland

You need a residence permit, regardless of your nationality or visa requirements.

Learn how to apply for your residence permit

Non-Swiss scholar already living in Switzerland

You should have a valid Swiss residence permit.

If the residence permit was issued by the canton of Zurich and you are living in the canton of Zurich: Learn how to extend your residence permit

Swiss citizens

You do not need a residence permit, yet still need to register upon arrival at your place of residence (unless you have already registered). For this you need a valid Swiss passport.

Learn how to register

Scholarship holders from non-EU/EFTA countries

  • The Advisor Swiss Insurance OPTIMA and HMO programme already includes the personal liability insurance.
  • If you desire, you can additionally purchase household (home contents) insurance from Advisor or any other insurance company.

Scholarship holders from non-EU/EFTA countries

We strongly recommend that you purchase a personal liability insurance and if desired also the household (home contents) insurance from Advisor or any other insurance company.  

  • As a principle, personal liability and household (home contents) insurance are not mandatory in Switzerland.
  • ETH is covered against material damage but is subject to a high deductible. If damage to installations or equipment is caused by the gross negligence of a scholar (e.g. in the laboratory), ETH can require the responsible person to cover the damage, wholly or partially.
  • ETH strongly recommends taking out liability insurance if you do not already have liability insurance. This insurance protects you from claims for damages if you injure another person or damage property belonging to another person. Insurance premiums are lower than the costs of potential damage.
  • There is no special insurance for cyclists but if you ride a bike or do sports like skiing you are recommended to take out personal liability insurance.
  • Some landlords insist on seeing evidence of your personal liability insurance before you can sign a rental agreement.
  • Home insurance covers damage to your personal belongings in your home caused by fire, water damage, theft or broken glass. If you have valuable belongings, this insurance is recommended. It is often combined with personal liability insurance. 

Always keep your address up to date.

Update your address if it changes

Initially, after your arrival in Switzerland, you must also enter your official email address in Mobility-Online (see your workflow). Enter the email address used by the Doctoral Administration Office.  

Note:

  • Post is only delivered if the name of the recipient is on the letterbox. Either put your name on the letterbox or (if you are subletting) have your post sent c/o to the name of your proprietor. Include your room or flat number if there is one (e.g. in student residences).
  • Inform the responsible residents' registration office, your health insurance company, your bank or post office, FCS, and the Reception Service as well as any other office you maintain business with of any address change.

First two instalments

  • From 1 September you can pick up your first two instalments (usually a full scholarship rate for September and October) at the cash desk (room HG F 67.1, main building / "Hauptgeb?ude"). 
See opening hours
  • Financial support for rental costs amounts to CHF 300 and is paid once with your first scholarship instalment.
  • To cover your initial expenses (e.g. half-fare card, deposits, etc.) when you arrive in Switzerland, you should bring at least CHF 500 to CHF 1000 or have a debit / credit card that you can use to withdraw money from an ATM in the first few days until you can collect your scholarship. 
     

Further instalments

  • Open a Swiss PostFinance or bank account after your registration for the residence permit and no later than six weeks after your arrival (see the AVETH's "survival guide" for information on banks if necessary).
    • Add your account details in Mobility Online: Enter the details correctly with all letters and numbers, as you can only enter them once.
    • Any subsequent change of your account details must be communicated to the Reception Service immediately, including the correct IBAN, to guarantee your scholarship payment.
  • To open an account, you will need at least the following documents: 
    • Passport, ID
    • Copy of rental agreement
    • Residence permit (or confirmation of registration "Meldebest?tigung")
  • Reminder: The address you use to open your Swiss PostFinance or bank account must be identical with the correspondence address in www.address.ethz.ch.
  • From the third instalment onwards, the scholarship will be transferred to your PostFinance or bank account in Switzerland (provided you have entered the details in Mobility-Online by usually 15 October). 
  • Note: The scholarship will be transferred to your account at the end of each month for the following month, while any salaries will be paid at the end of each month for the previous month.

Deadline

31 October

Description

How to get your refund

Follow these steps:

  • Upload in the workflow of Mobility-Online one PDF file that merges the following:
    • Scan from the back and front side of your Half Fare Travelcard (or GA Travelcard)
    • Original receipt that shows the sum paid and your name
  • You can only upload one PDF.
  • The money will then be transferred to your bank or post account until the end of December at the latest.
  • If you do not hand in the PDF on time, you forfeit your right to receive a refund.

In the following two cases you are not entitled to a refund and must inform the Reception Service within the deadline:

  • You do not purchase one of the described travelcards.
  • Your supervisor or institute has already paid for your travelcard.
  • You are allowed to take up to 5 weeks / 25 days of leave per year (pro rata) without the scholarship being reduced or suspended.
  • Any absence must be agreed with your supervisor.
  • Any absence of two weeks or more must additionally be reported to the Reception Service in good time before your departure.
  • You are responsible for clarifying your insurance situation when you leave Switzerland. Please contact your insurance company directly and, if necessary, take out additional travel insurance at your own expense.
  • Check possible visa requirements for your journey.

Next step: Two options

Contact persons

  • Administrative matters: Reception Service, Sandra Zweifel, , Tel +41 44 632 51 52
  • Academic matters: FCS Delegate, Prof. Stefano Bernasconi, , Tel +41 44 632 36 93
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