Student exchange

Under certain conditions, engaged, high-achieving students have the opportunity to complete their 2nd semester or their Master's thesis in the 4th semester at another university while studying for a Master’s degree at ETH Zurich. Unfortunately, it is not possible to spend the first or third semester abroad for technical reasons.

The following prerequisites must be met for student exchanges:

• Bachelor’s degree previously obtained from ETH Zurich, EPF Lausanne or the University of Zurich. No other students are entitled to participate in the ETH Zurich exchange programme. However, it is still possible to write a Master's thesis at another university, provided that the tutor and the Director of Studies give their consent.
  
• Before departure, any conditions governing admission to the Master's programme must be met in full.
  
• Grade average of at least 4.5 in the Bachelor's diploma.
• UNIZ – or EPFL Bachelor's: Master’s examinations passed with a grade average of at least 4.5 (grade weighting 1).
• The conditions for commencement of the Master's thesis are met before departure in the event of an exchange in the 4th semester.

The credits acquired at the host university can be applied to studies at ETH Zurich, provided that, before the start of the exchange studies, recognition of performance has been agreed in the form of a written curriculum. This curriculum should be collated in such a way that it largely or entirely replaces the teaching missed at ETH. Study at the host institute must therefore cover approximately 2/3 of the lectures on spatial development and infrastructure systems at ETH in the same period (at least 20 ECTS credits per semester). The total duration of the studies should not be extended by exchange studies. Therefore, an exchange must be carefully planned into the overall study programme at an early stage.

The compilation of the curriculum and specialist organisation are the responsibility of the student (arrangement of recognition with the director of studies or study adviser, contact with the person responsible for exchanges at the appropriate universities). The administrative part of organisation (arrangement of registration, organisation of a room, residence permit, and care during your stay) will be assisted by the exchange office. The exchange advisor for Spatial Development and Infrastructure Systems will help with procedure.

The form for the recognition of courses can be found here, the form for the recognition of written work in the column on the right. This must be handed in, along with all the signatures, to the exchange advisor of the degree course in Spatial Development and Infrastructure Systems prior to departure.

Exchange students remain registered as ETH Zurich students and continue to pay tuition fees and obligatory contributions. They are exempt from paying tuition fees at the host university.

Interested students should contact the exchange advisor in the Spatial Development and Infrastructure Systems programme and the student exchange office in good time.

Permission for exchange studies is granted by the director of studies.

Maximum eligible credits for the Master's degree:

• 60 exchange credits, if the previous Bachelor's degree studies have been completed entirely at ETH Zurich;
• 40 exchange credits for all other students.