Erasmus guide University of Zürich
Courses, housing, visa, campus life and exchange basics for studying at University of Zürich in Zürich, Switzerland.
City
ZürichCountry
SwitzerlandInternational
5,570 international students
Enrollment
Large university community; verify the current headcount on the official page.
Study abroad at University of Zürich (UZH): overview
Study abroad at University of Zürich (UZH) makes sense when the academic fit is stronger than the destination brand alone and you are honest about everyday logistics. The University of Zürich (UZH), founded in 1833, is Switzerland's largest university with around 28,664 enrolled students, including roughly 5,570 international students from more than 120 countries. Useful proof points: Large university community; verify the current headcount on the official page.; 5,570 international students; Medicine and Life Sciences, Law, Economics, Business Administration and Information Technology. Before choosing, confirm teaching language, faculty seats and housing near the campus.
Enrollment
Large university community; verify the current headcount on the official page.
International Mix
5,570 international students
Why students choose it
Best for students who want Medicine and Life Sciences, Law, Economics, Business Administration and Information Technology and are willing to check language, seats and campus rules before choosing. In zurich, housing and the daily route matter as much as reputation.
Language of instruction: German (most bachelor's programmes), English (most master's programmes and many exchange-eligible courses)
Exchange & application at University of Zürich (UZH)
Start with home-university nomination, then application, Learning Agreement, insurance and course approval. At University of Zürich (UZH), rules can sit at faculty level, so do not promise yourself courses before they are validated.
✅Requirements
Exchange students need a home-university nomination, the UZH online application, a learning agreement or course plan, valid passport/ID, and proof of health insurance. Non-EU/EFTA students additionally need visa and residence-permit documentation.
📨Nomination Process
Contact your home university's international/exchange office; they nominate you to UZH before UZH's published deadline for the relevant semester.
🛂Visa Support
EU/EFTA students do not need a visa but must register with their commune and apply for a residence permit (Permit B) if staying over 90 days. Non-EU/EFTA students need a Type D student visa from a Swiss representation before travelling, then convert it to a Permit B after arrival.
🧭Orientation Week
Events hub: https://www.int.uzh.ch/en/in.html
🗓️Deadlines by intake
| Intake | Nomination deadline | Application deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn semester (or full year) | 30 April | 30 April — submitted online once the nomination is received |
| Spring semester only | 30 September | 30 September — submitted online once the nomination is received |
Arrival Checklist
- Register with the joint UZH/ETH Housing Office (free for matriculated and exchange students) or WOKO as early as possible — Zürich's rental market is tight.
- Register with your local commune (Gemeinde) within 14 days of arrival.
- Attend the Global Student Experience Welcome Program held in the two weeks before lectures start.
Academics & courses at University of Zürich (UZH)
Academics combine ECTS credits, exam calendars and faculty-level rules. Check prerequisites, the real teaching language of each course and whether course lists can change before enrolment.
📝Course Registration
Course registration opens after admission is confirmed; exchange students typically aim for around 30 ECTS per semester for a full-time load, though this varies by faculty and home-university requirements.
🎓Credit System
ECTS
💯Grading System
Swiss 1–6 scale: 6 is the best grade, 4 is the minimum pass.
✍️Exam Culture
Exam sessions follow the academic calendar (January/February for autumn semester, June/July for spring semester); exchange students should confirm their own faculty's exact exam dates before booking return travel.
📚Library Access
Library, learning platform and study spaces normally activate after enrolment.
Tuition & fees at University of Zürich (UZH)
For exchange, separate home tuition, local admin fees, insurance and living costs. Full-degree tuition is a different category and must be checked on the official fee page.
| Student Type | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EXCHANGE | CHF 0 | Confirmed via UZH's official Global Student Experience factsheet for 2025/26. |
| Full degree (all levels) | CHF 720 base tuition/semester, plus a CHF 500/semester surcharge for international Bachelor's students or a CHF 100/semester surcharge for international Master's, PhD, or Teacher Training students, plus a mandatory CHF 59/semester contribution (scholarship fund, library, sports association, student services) | Figures confirmed on UZH's official fees page; these apply to full-degree students, not exchange students, who pay no tuition under Rule 2's separate categor… |
| Full degree - EU/EEA | Check official fee page | Full-degree fees depend on programme, credits and region; do not mix them with exchange status. |
| Full degree - non-EU/EEA | Check programme and canton rules | Non-EU/EEA students can face different programme rules; verify the official page. |
CHF 0
Confirmed via UZH's official Global Student Experience factsheet for 2025/26.
CHF 720 base tuition/semester, plus a CHF 500/semester surcharge for international Bachelor's students or a CHF 100/semester surcharge for international Master's, PhD, or Teacher Training students, plus a mandatory CHF 59/semester contribution (scholarship fund, library, sports association, student services)
Figures confirmed on UZH's official fees page; these apply to full-degree students, not exchange students, who pay no tuition under Rule 2's separate categor…
Check official fee page
Full-degree fees depend on programme, credits and region; do not mix them with exchange status.
Check programme and canton rules
Non-EU/EEA students can face different programme rules; verify the official page.
Fees change annually — verify current rates on the official exchange office page
Student housing at University of Zürich (UZH)
Housing near University of Zürich (UZH) should move in parallel with the application. Compare residence, private room, transport route and contract terms before arrival.
Full housing guide
Find housing in Zürich
Official contacts, student residences, private platforms, tips & red flags.
Insurance & campus support at University of Zürich (UZH)
Use the international office, faculty coordinator, library, wellbeing services and student groups from week one. Asking early prevents small admin mistakes from becoming blockers.
🛡️Mandatory Insurance
Yes — basic LAMal/KVG-compliant health insurance is legally required for all residents, including exchange students staying more than 3 months.
🇪🇺EHIC Accepted
No
🏥Campus Clinic
UZH does not operate its own general medical clinic for students; students use Zürich's ordinary system of Hausarzt (GP) practices and Permanence walk-in clinics, with 144 for ambulance emergencies.
🧠Mental Health
UZH's Psychological Counselling Service (Psychologische Beratungsstelle) is available to enrolled students, including exchange students, free of charge for an initial number of sessions.
Standard Swiss LAMal/KVG basic insurance
Approx. CHF 250–400/month, varies by canton and insurer
Mandatory baseline coverage; compare insurers via the official priminfo.admin.ch comparison tool.
EU/EFTA home-country exemption
Home-country dependent
EU/EFTA students can apply to be exempted from Swiss insurance if their home policy provides equivalent coverage — apply within 3 months of arrival via the cantonal health authority.
Campus services
Global Student Experience — Coming to UZH
Central hub for incoming exchange students: programme overview, application process, deadlines, and the pre-semester Welcome Program.
Fees and Contributions
Official, current tuition and mandatory-contribution figures for all student types.
Housing Office of University/ETH Zürich
Free accommodation-search service for matriculated and exchange students at UZH or ETH.
UZH for International Students and Scholars
Practical living-in-Zürich guidance for incoming international students: accommodation, registration, insurance.
Student life at University of Zürich (UZH)
Student life depends on repeatable routines: associations, sport, ESN or faculty groups. Do not wait for the campus to do all the work; join repeated channels early.
Student Clubs
- VSUZH (the official UZH student association) runs an Activity Fair and lists subject-specific and interest-based clubs each semester — browse the current directory via VSUZH's site.
Buddy Program
Departmental mentoring/buddy schemes vary by faculty — ask your exchange coordinator which one applies to your programme on arrival.
Sports & Recreation
- ASVZ: hundreds of weekly classes (climbing, sailing on Lake Zürich, ski weekends) open to all enrolled students, shared with ETH
Public Groups & Communities
VSUZH — official UZH student association, events, and club directory
ASVZ — joint UZH/ETH sports association, a fast way to meet people outside your faculty
Your First 2 Weeks
- Confirm housing first via WOKO or the Housing Office — Zürich's market does not wait.
- Register with your commune within 14 days of moving in.
- Attend the Global Student Experience Welcome Program for registration, health-insurance, and library guidance.
- Join VSUZH and the ASVZ sports programme to build a social circle outside your own faculty.
Key exchange dates at University of Zürich (UZH)
The critical dates are nomination, application, fee or registration steps, course selection, housing, arrival and exams. Keep resit periods visible before booking return travel.
-
1
Nomination + application deadline (Autumn semester or full year)
30 April
Home university must nominate the student by this date; UZH then opens the online application.
-
2
Nomination + application deadline (Spring semester only)
30 September
Same nomination flow as autumn but on a spring-intake timeline.
-
3
Welcome Program
Two weeks before lectures start
Information sessions on registration, health insurance, libraries, and intercultural workshops, organised by Global Student Experience.
Campus events hub: Browse all events