A Blog about Education Abroad

Category: University of Zurich

  • Nthatisi Mota at the University of Zurich, Switzerland

    Nthatisi Mota at the University of Zurich, Switzerland

    Nthatisi Mota

    M. Economics

    Semester Exchange in the First Semester, 2024 at the University of Zurich

     

    Pre-departure:

    Embarking on a semester exchange at the University of Zurich (UZH) in Switzerland was an experience of a lifetime. As a master’s student in Economics from Stellenbosch University, this exchange provided me with an invaluable opportunity to expand my academic horizons immerse myself in Switzerland’s rich culture and travel across Europe. From attending world-class lectures to exploring the picturesque Swiss landscapes and attending the Montreux Jazz Festival (a bucket list event of mine), every moment of my exchange was a journey of discovery, learning, and personal growth. 

    The pre-departure process for UZH was remarkably smooth, thanks to the comprehensive guidance provided by UZH.  From sorting out visa applications to securing accommodation, UZH’s exchange office was prompt and responsive to every query I had. They ensured that I was well-prepared before leaving South Africa, sending reminder emails for any outstanding documents, and providing detailed information about what to expect upon arrival. 

    Selecting modules was another crucial part of the pre-departure phase. UZH assigns a faculty mentor to each exchange student, and my mentor was instrumental in helping me navigate the different course options, and student life more broadly. There is also a popular app called Matricula, where students share their experiences and advice about various modules, which is incredibly helpful. Importantly, UZH offers flexibility in changing modules even after you arrive, which provided a sense of security knowing I had options once I settled in. The modules I took included: Big Data Methods for Econometrics, Gender Economics, Introduction to the Philosophy of Economics, Econometrics for Policy Analysts and Social Choice Theory. All were incredibly fulfilling and encouraged me to challenge myself.  

    Experience at the Host University:

    Once in Switzerland, UZH’s exchange office continued to provide support, hosting welcoming events that made the transition smoother. Additionally, the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) played a significant role in fostering a sense of community, organizing events and city tours where I met some of my closest friends during the exchange. 

    UZH is truly a world-class institution, and this was evident from the moment I stepped onto the campus. The state-of-the-art facilities, coupled with the caliber of lectures and course content, initially felt intimidating. Coming from Stellenbosch, where my master’s class had around 30 students, the large class sizes at UZH were overwhelming at first. However, I soon realized that Stellenbosch had more than adequately prepared me academically for my exchange. It was affirmed that UZH was not only a place where I would survive, but I could also thrive.  

    One of the biggest challenges was adapting to a different educational system, particularly the grading scale, which operates on a 6-point system instead of percentages. My advice to future exchange students is to make an effort to connect with your classmates. Despite the Swiss reputation for being reserved, I found that everyone I approached was warm and welcoming. Contrary to what I had been told, most of my friends ended up being full-time UZH students rather than fellow exchange students.  

    Living with international students who were full-time at UZH also greatly enriched my experience. My flatmates quickly became like family, and together, we shared countless dinners, game nights, and even a memorable trip to a cabin in the Swiss mountains, where we hiked in the snow and bonded over home-cooked meals. Their openness and willingness to help me navigate my new environment made a world of difference. I lived in the housing suggested by UZH, the WOKO housing.  

    Nthatisi and her flatmates’ end of semester ‘fancy’ party

    It’s no secret that Switzerland is an expensive country, and this was something I had to manage carefully during my exchange. I was fortunate to receive the Henning Roelli Scholarship, which provided me with 4,000 Swiss Francs, a significant contribution towards my expenses. To access my scholarship, I had to open a Swiss Bank account. I did with UBS. The process was incredibly easy. However, there are a range of options available to students, with most banks offering student benefits.  

    The major costs I encountered included accommodation and travel. To make the most of my time in Switzerland and beyond, I invested in several travel passes that were invaluable. These included the GA Night Fare Card (which made travel between 7 PM and 7 AM free), the Half-Fare Card (which gave me a 50% discount on most travel outside Zurich), and the Zone 110 Card (covering all travel within Zurich). Although these cards required a steep initial investment, especially as someone under 25 who qualified for discounted rates, they were worth every franc. 

    During my exchange, I took the opportunity to travel to several countries outside of Switzerland, including Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Spain, and France. To manage costs effectively, I tried to adopt a strategic approach to travel. One of my key cost-cutting strategies was to stay with friends or family whenever possible, which significantly reduced my accommodation expenses. This not only allowed me to save money but also gave me the chance to reconnect with old friends and build new friendships. Additionally, I made it a point to book my flights or train tickets well in advance, ensuring I could take advantage of lower fares.  

    Return to Stellenbosch:

    As I write this blog, I’m on a flight back home, reflecting on the incredible journey I’ve just experienced. Although I haven’t yet had the chance to settle back into life in South Africa, I’m filled with excitement and anticipation. I’m eager to reunite with my family and friends, share stories of my adventures, and, of course, indulge in some much-missed biltong. While I know it will take some time to fully adjust back to my routines, I’m looking forward to bringing all the knowledge and experiences I gained in Zurich into my remaining SU journey.  

  • Wouter Bezuidenhout at University of Zurich, Switzerland

    Wouter Bezuidenhout at University of Zurich, Switzerland

    Wouter Bezuidenhout

    MCom in Economics

    Semester Exchange in the First Semester, 2022 at the University of Zurich

     

    Pre-departure:

    The University of Zürich (UZH) has an excellent international exchange where an exchange coordinator assists you in preparing all your documents. This is facilitated through their “Mobility Online” platform. After filling in my application and sending documents to UZH, I received a letter of acceptance from them that I had to send to the Swiss Consulate in Pretoria together with my passport. I received my passport back within 1-2 weeks along with my entry visa. Due to UZH’s assistance, this process was greatly efficient.

    Using the Mobility Online platform, I also applied for housing at the UZH/ETH housing office, and I was allocated a room. The housing office has a partnership with WOKO, a non-profit company that provides housing to students in Zürich. I stayed at the WOKO in Casar-Ritz-Strasse 1, and from my experience, this is where most of the exchange students got placed. I am glad that I chose to stay in the WOKO as one meets many international students who are keen to combine plans and travel together etc. It is also affordable, I paid CHF541 per month.

    Choosing subjects is a tough decision from so far away, but nothing is set in stone as changing subjects once at UZH is really easy. UZH and ETH are positioned right next to another. ETH is the technical university and is world-famous. One cannot do an exchange from SU to ETH, however, once at UZ Hit is really easy to register as a special student and do a few classes at ETH. I did two subjects, and I am really glad that I did. The subjects were part of the Management & Technology (MTEC) master’s programme, which is comparable to an MBA.

    Being an exchange student means you automatically have access to the ASVZ, which are the sport and gym facilities of UZH & ETH. This is a great opportunity to try new things and enjoy it. Lastly, and most importantly, I applied for a scholarship/bursary with the Heyning-Roelli foundation. This is a detailed application process, but it is so worth it. This is for anyone studying in Switzerland. You can google their name for the website and see the forms you need. I received a bursary of CHF5000 of which CHF300 was paid after my exchange experience report was handed in following the completion of my exchange. I therefore received CHF4700 into my Swiss bank account.

     

    Experience at the Host University:

    I think if you’re in finance, economics or interested in business–then I would definitely not look further than Zürich. It is the hub of financial excellence, entrepreneurship, and banking. I had an elective course taught by a UBS banker for example. It was excellent. Zürich is phenomenal, and I would recommend it highly. The only downside is that Switzerland is expensive–but the bursary goes a long way. It is also possible to save money on train tickets if you are quick. Once I arrived at Zürich Airport, I immediately went to the SBB office to buy my train tickets. There are certain advantages to being under 25 when buying train tickets, and because I was turning 25 two weeks after I arrived, I bought annual passes upfront. I bought the Zone Ticket for Zürich (Zone 110) for a year-pass, I bought the Seven-25 ticket, and the Half-Fare ticket. The Zone ticket is a no-brainer, whilst the other two depend on your objectives. TheSeven-25 ticket allows you to travel the whole Switzerland for free after 7pm and before 7am. I am happy I got this as I did many domestic trips to other parts of Switzerland and the ticket quickly became cost-effective. The half-fare ticket gives you discounts on tickets purchased–and in my case was used for discounted prices on longer trips or shorter trips outside the zone. This is up to you, but it is a must if you don’t take the Seven25.
    At the school, I chose subjects that were part of the Quant Finance Master’s programme hosted by both UZH & ETH. This is a well-regarded programme that is very rigorous. I did Advanced Credit Risk Modelling, Quant Finance, and Swiss Financial Regulation. I would look at the subjects on Corporate Finance too. At ETH, I did Design Thinking & Lean Startup. I would recommend Design Thinking highly. It gave me substantial exposure to different institutions and people by doing modules at ETH & UZH, and I would therefore really recommend it. As I said previously, changing subjects is easy–and therefore enroll for a few subjects and figure out which ones fit your schedule best.
    Europe is really accessible for travelling so I did a lot of it, and I was really happy about this. I travelled to 9 countries in total besides Switzerland. Flixbus is your friend, and so are Easy Jets, Ryanair & Wizz Air. I also went skiing in Switzerland, and that was really a highlight. Zürich has a lot happening all the time. During summer months, there are many places to swim by the lake. I watched the Zürich Football derby, FC Zürich vs Zürich Grasshoppers–and it was great. I would have loved to watch the ice hockey too; the Zürich team is good. In the first two weeks after arriving, there is an Intensive German course offered. I did not do this–because I still had a lot of SU work to finish up. But it is something I would recommend if you wanted to quickly meet a lot of people who are exchange students.
    Wouter on a trip
    Also, quick tip: once you arrive, you need to go to the Kreis Buro to register for your residence permit – this replaces your visa and is NB. I recommend you do this on your first or second day. There is quite a hefty fee you pay for this, however once you are given a temporary residence permit, you can use this to open a bank account. I opened an account with UBS as they have a completely free account for students.

    Return to Stellenbosch:

    I am on my way back to SA now, and I am already missing Zürich. An exchange is a good experience because one is immediately completely responsible for your whole person. So, there is an opportunity to really grow and learn to become stronger. An exchange also gives you academic freedom to explore, and this is important. I transitioned from Economics towards Finance using the exchange as a platform.  It is an incredible opportunity to network too, both professionally and socially. I have made a few good friends who I hope to stay in contact with. Switzerland stands in large contrast to South Africa. One sees in Zürich the level at which things can operate and how well. But one also really appreciates the tight knit communities in SA and the spirit of South Africans.

  • Timothy at Zurich University

    Timothy at Zurich University

    Pre-departure:

    I guess it is obvious for anyone planning to study abroad for a semester to go through the application process with the International office at Stellenbosch University and obtain a nomination for an exchange at a partner university. Recounting the application process would then seem trivial and routine considering that the exchange coordinator has already so far laboured hard enough to provide all required information and a flooded the website with experience reports and FAQs for any aspiring student to refer to. But certainly the experience is different for every individual. (more…)