European programme (SEMP)

Availability of exchange places

The Student Exchange Office cannot provide any general information on the popularity of places at individual partner universities. However, it can be assumed that places in Scandinavia and the United Kingdom are in high demand.

Duration

General

You can take part in a European exchange for between 3 and 12 months.

You may undertake an exchange via SEMP (exchange and Projects & Traineeships) for up to 12 months at each level of study (Bachelor's and Master's). It is, therefore, possible to apply and receive funding more than once, as long as they are at different study levels or the 12 months have not yet been reached at the respective study level.

British academic year

Most British universities divide the year into trimesters which might affect your examination planning.

Partner universities

Requirements of the partner universities

Before applying, check which partner universities are open to your degree programme and their requirements (curriculum, any restrictions on course attendance, required language certificates).

You can find this information in Mobility-Online:

1. Select your degree programme and the academic year.
2. Search for the partner university.
3. Click the info icon next to the university¡¯s name in the results list (¡°Display details for this bilateral agreement¡±).

You will find the relevant documents and / or the link to the partner university there. If you cannot find what you are looking for, search directly on the partner university's website.

• See partner universities in Mobility-Online

Imperial College London (ICL)

For students in D-BAUG, D-BIOL, D-CHAB, D-MATH, D-MATL, D-MAVT:

• Generally, only applications for an entire year are accepted. Projects and work without course enrolment are excluded.
• In the Department of Aeronautics, exchanges are currently limited to projects only; course attendance is not possible.

Language requirements

Your responsibility

• Check early whether your partner university requires a language certificate.
• Ensure that you can follow courses in the language of instruction.

Certificate required

If your partner university requires a language certificate, you must submit it with your application to the university. (It is not required when applying to the Student Exchange Office.)

In Europe, the following documents are often accepted:

• ETH language confirmation (English only): After acceptance, you will receive an informal confirmation of English level C1, provided you indicated a corresponding language level in your application.
• Matura / Abitur academic record: A copy of your record documenting the relevant language subject is accepted by many partner universities.
• Language Centre confirmation: Early enrolment in language courses (both the language of instruction and / or the national language) at the Language Center is strongly recommended. Upon successful completion, the Language Center will issue a confirmation, which is often accepted in Europe as proof instead of a formal language certificate.

 Open the Language Center website

Brexit

• Inform yourself if necessary

Scholarship

• You will receive CHF 1,900 per regular semester.
• For trimesters and short semesters (courses lasting less than 91 days), you will receive CHF 1,330. This applies primarily to the United Kingdom.

No additional application is required for this scholarship. You will receive the scholarship contract by email in due course.

You may apply for a top-up if you choose an environmentally friendly travel option.

Top-up for environmentally friendly travelling

You can apply for a top-up of CHF 100 for travel to and from ETH by train, bus and / or ferry. The top-up will be added to the normal scholarship with the final payment.

The prerequisite is that you upload travel receipts for the outbound or inbound journey to Mobility-Online at the end of your mobility. (Only upload the receipts for one journey). The receipt must contain your name, date of travel and the departure and arrival location. 

• Apropos: Find out how you can make your arrival, departure and stay more sustainable

Projects / papers / theses

Principle

• Projects and theses are allowed if you also attend courses and the partner university allows it.
• Exception: At University College London (UCL), exchanges are only possible for courses. For projects, consider the alternative below.

Alternative

If you are only writing a thesis (MSc / BSc thesis) at the host institution, SEMP Europe projects & traineeships is generally a more suitable option for financial support. Administrative support is not provided.

• Find out more

Brexit: Entry and visa

Observe the regulations for short-term visitors regarding electronic travel authorisation (ETA).

• Learn more

The British migration guidelines may demand a valid language certificate for the visa application.

• Learn more