I am very happy and grateful to have received the opportunity to do a semester exchange at the University of Zurich in Switzerland for the Spring Semester of 2017. I will be leaving the sunshine and blue skies of my home town, Cape Town in search of knowledge in a land currently made up of ice and snow. I have booked my flight with Emirates airlines who are extremely generous as they have given me a total 46kg check in luggage with a regular economy ticket.
Also they were the most affordable airlines. I will check in one 60 litre backpack and one hard shell suitcase. Inside my suitcase includes technical winter cloths, coats, boots and sport cloths as there are many sport activities to get involved in at the University. I am also an avid rock climber so my rock climbing shoes and harness is already packed as well as my swimming gear including a swimming cap. I also took some food with me, because I have been warned about the high prices of Switzerland more than once. I brought with cornflakes, peanut butter, honey, rice and 3kg Cape Snoek. This gave me security that I would be sorted with food for the first two days, and also something traditional for me to cook for my new housemates.
I received my visa from the Swiss Consulate General in Cape Town and it surprisingly only took 2days. The Swiss Consulate is super-efficient and hassle free. I have been in contact with my coordinator at the University of Zurich who is super friendly and prompt in responding to my queries and over all very welcoming. I received two months before my departure a surprise email from a student from the Political Science department. He wrote me to welcome me to the University and to inform me that he will be my buddy during my exchange. We exchanged emails until my arrival and he collected me from the airport and traveled with to my new home. Should you not have been allocated a buddy, request one from the University as it helps a lot when arriving for the first time to Zurich.
There are many opportunities for housing where you can stay with International students. However, should you want a more authentic experience, and should you already be speaking some German, try to find a “Wohngemeinschaft” (shared housing) with local Swiss students/professionals. This will help you to not only improve German on a daily basis, but you will be able to pick up Swiss German that helps with integration. I found a house with 6 Swiss students 10 minutes by train from the city center in Wallisellen. I choose not to go the WOKO route, but searched for a local house though couchsurfing.org and workaway.org. Couch surfing worked for me, I wrote a few people explaining my situation and preference to live with locals, and to my luck someone responded positively that they had a room that I could rent in a 100-year-old Swiss house. We met on skype about two months before my arrival. The rent costs CHF 646 per month, I receive my own semi furnished room that is fairly large, access to a big fully furnished kitchen, lounge, dining room, laundry room, climbing room in the roof, a garden and access into the perspective of Swiss students and the opportunity to build friendships with locals. It is a regular regulation / arrangements to pay up to three months’ deposit when renting a room in Switzerland.
Experience at the Host University:
Because I my degree is a BA International Studies, my majors in third year included Political Science, History and German as a foreign language. I participated in the two week intensive German course before the semester started. I would highly recommend any prospective student to UZH to participate in the pre-semester-intensive language course regardless of your level of German. This gave me an opportunity to make many new friends from various parts of the world such as Japan, Ukraine, El Salvador, Egypt, Denmark, and Swiss students from the French region of Switzerland.
There is also weekly excursions that is included in the course like hiking. Because I completed an advanced German Course, Level B2, I was thereafter allowed to enter into German courses offered at the University. This was useful because there are not many History courses offered in English. I choice a highly stimulating course focused on the Soviet Union in an International Context. The class was conducted entirely in German that included class discussions student presentation and a written paper. This allowed me to advance my German as I learnt a new vocabulary related to the content as well as methods to discuss complex themed topics. Most of the required readings were in English, but the class was in German. The rest of my modules were all conducted in English.
Most of my courses expected me to prepare a presentation for my colleagues, a handout related to the presentation and a research written paper. Giving presentations was something I was not accustomed to as we do not do them at Stellenbosch University. My lectures were all very accessible during the preparation for the presentation and essays and each lecture would give you feedback. The feedback I received form my lecturers has really helped me to improve my presenting skills that can be very useful one day when working for a company or organization.
I also participated in two German courses during the semester, one focused on reading and writing for Social Science students and the other was a theater improvisational class in German. The “Sprachenzentrum” offers a diverse range of various German courses during the semester. I would recommend you to do the German Improvisational class, should your German level be on a minimum of B1. The improv class was by the far the most fun, because it is focused on playing games that improves your ability to respond spontaneously in German; after the class everyone goes together with the lecturer to one of the bars located on campus for socializing. The University is truly beautiful, with great views overlooking Zurich. The University also has the most affordable place to eat lunch in the cafeteria, other than packing in your own lunch. The Sport facilities offers a wide range of gyms across the city and sport clubs. I got involved with rock climbing, bouldering, swimming and slacklining/high lining, and ultimate Frisbee. There is more than 200 different types of sports so there will be something that interest you. Also it is free of charge! Other societies I got involved in was the Model United Nations. Sport clubs and societies is an excellent place to meet people with similar interests.
Not yet returning to Stellenbosch:
UZH offers students to do an exchange at the University for up to two semesters. Therefore, instead of returning back home after the Spring Semester I have begun preparing for the Fall semester at UZH! This included getting my Swiss resident permit updated. You can do this as soon as you have received your acceptance letter from the University. I suggest you do it immediately when receiving the acceptance letter.
The second important thing to do after receiving your acceptance letter is to apply for a scholarship. I applied for the second time to the Heyning-Roellie foundation and received a positive response of the scholarship after three weeks. I highly recommend you to take wrapped gifts with you when you initially arrive to Zurich. Try and give a gift to everyone in Switzerland that you were in contact with before you arrived to Switzerland, including your coordinator at the University, academic supervisors, your buddy, new housemates as well to the foundation that offered you the scholarship. Deliver each gift in person within your first week of arrival so that you can make a good impression and stand-out from other international students. Gifts can help you strengthen relationships early in your stay as you will need the assistance from these people throughout your stay in Switzerland. I took with me simple, authentic, and affordable, “fresh-pack” rooibos tea, 20 per box.
You will need to contact your student advisors at UZH from the various departments to request the modules offered in English for the following semester. The next step is to communicate with Stellenbosch University with regards to your new learning agreement for the following Semester to sort out your credits that is important. During the semester you may receive like I did invitations to apply to various summer schools offered by the University or its partners. There is the IBH International School, that is in Constance Germany where you can do a six week German course. Constance is close to the boarder with Switzerland with a stunning lake and a great holiday atmosphere especially in the spring/summer. I was there once, just to do grocery shopping as it is cheaper in Germany, the little town is easy to explore by bicycle. You can take a bus there for about 10 Swiss Francs, one way.
I however applied for a Business and Human Rights summer course of that which I got accepted. The course runs for two weeks that includes excursions, for example the UN Head Quarters in Geneva and the opportunity to earn credits that can make your following semester less academically demanding. Also I will highly recommend you to find an internship when you are in Switzerland for the summer as it will be an additional bonus to receive professional experience in your field of study while you are in Switzerland. I have hustled and applied to various organizations related to peace building and human rights in Geneva and Zurich. I am still waiting for a confirmed response. The Political Science Institute at UZH awards credits for a min of 6 week internships as well. This once again can lessen your academic load during the following semester, however check first with Stellenbosch University should they accept credits transferred from an internship. I am not yet done with Switzerland for now and just happy and grateful that I have received the opportunity to complete two semesters at the University of Zurich.
To be continued.