Study abroad (outgoing)
The spectrum of degree programmes at other universities covers not only general environmental courses but also specialist trainings, e.g. in organic agriculture, forestry sciences, environmental medicine, environmental management and ecotourism.
Here you will find everything you need to know about an exchange semester - from registration to the recognition of credit points.
Detailed information about the exchange programme can be found
- at the student portal at ETH Zurich
- in the course of the Bachelor's degree programme: during the introduction at the beginning of the 2nd/3rd BSc year (normally mid/end of September)
- in the Master's degree programme: at an information event for the department in November
- at the International Knowledge Base. You will find reports from students who have been abroad.
Studying abroad in the Bachelor's degree programme
During the Bachelor's degree programme, a semester abroad is possible from the fifth semester onwards.
Prerequisites:
- first-year examinations passed with an average grade of at least 4.5
- Additional requirements may apply to individual programs (e. g. worldwide agreements). Please visit the ETH Student Exchange Office for further information.
- Language requirements: Some universities require international language tests to be taken (TOEFL, IELTS). Please make yourself familiar with these requirements at the desired host university well in advance.
Studying abroad in the Master's degree programme
- Students with a Bachelor's degree from ETH Zurich can have 20 credits recognized towards their Master’s in Environmental Sciences in the Electives category.
- Students with a Bachelor's degree from another university can also obtain recognition of 30 credits for a Master’s thesis written abroad.
Worldwide programmes
ETH Zurich maintains partnerships with selected universities outside Europe.
Departmental programmes
Departemental exchange programmes normally provide a window into Europe or other universities in Switzerland. Additionally, the University of Georgia provides three places for students in the Departments of Environmental Systems Science and Health Sciences and Technology.
external page University of Georgia, Athens, USA
In Europe / partner universites from the Swiss-European Mobility Programme (SEMP)
- Austria: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Technical University Graz
- Belgium: Gent University
- Denmark: Technical University of Denmark (Lyngby), University of Copenhagen
- Iceland: University of Iceland (Reykjavík)
- Netherlands: Utrecht University, Wageningen University & Research, Vrije University Amsterdam
- Norway: Norwegian University of Life Sciences (Ås), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Trondheim)
- Sweden: Lund University, Swedish University of Agricultural Science (Uppsala, more suitable for Master students), University of Gothenburg, Stockholm University
- United Kingdom: University of Exeter, Lancaster University, University of Leeds
Swiss-European Mobility Programme (SEMP)
In Switzerland
The Swiss Mobility programme enables students to undertake an exchange within Switzerland, particularly in the French- or Italian-speaking regions.
Overview
Factsheets about all partner universities are available on Mobility-Online.
Before you apply, we recommend to take part in the ETH Infomarkt and at the information event of the department. Another source of information is the International Knowledge Base. Check the requirements and conditions of the department and then decide on an exchange programme and a host university.
The grade average of the first-year examination is decisive for the place allocation. If this is less than 4.5, the performances in examination block I (Regulations 2011) or examination blocks I and II (Regulations 2016) are taken into account.
Unless otherwise stated, your application via the Mobility-Online portal will be processed as follows:
- Inform the departemental exchange coordinator regarding the application for the University of Athens, Georgia
- Preselection for the European exchange programme via Mobility-Online
- Application with Mobility-Online or as stated in the respective programme (Worldwide exchange programme or Swiss Mobility programme)
- Decision ETH
- Application host university
- Decision host university
Before entering the exchange, you must fill in the Learning agreement of the study programme and have it approved by the responsible persons. This form records the courses and credit points earned at the host university.
Different application processes and deadlines apply for the different programmes.
Departmental exchange
Students interested in the University of Georgia should register for a preselection by e-mail by 1 December with the departmental exchange coordinator in the degree programme (with the following information: name and first name, expected specialisation, planned exchange semester, average grade of the first year examination or Bachelor's degree grade).
Worldwide exchange programme
Apply directly to Mobility-Online by 9 January 2025, 13:00 h at the latest for the following academic year. Please inform the departmental exchange coordinator of the programme in advance (by e-mail) about your application for a worldwide ETH programme.
Students can apply for a worldwide ETH programme in Mobility-Online as well as participate in the pre-selection via Mobility-Online for the SEMP programme at the same time.
Swiss-European Mobility Programme (SEMP)
Announce your prioritised universities via Mobility-Online between 15 January and 4 February (preselection D-USYS). After allocation, apply to the student exchange office 1 March for the following academic year.
In Switzerland
Apply on Mobility-Online by 1 April for the following autumn semester or by 1 October for the following spring semester. Please inform the departmental exchange coordinator of the degree programme about your application by e-mail.
After you have received the transcript of records from your host university, please bring it in person to the Departmental exchange coordinator. The study programme must be approved by the study advisor of the specialisation, the adivsor of Humanities and Social Sciences and the exchange coordinator of Environmental Sciences before starting the exchange programme. Courses successfully completed at the host university are credited – as agreed on the Learning Agreement.
Responsibilities
- The ETH Student Exchange Office provides information on ETH-wide exchange programmes, helps with the preparation of your exchange stay, answers questions about the application process and can help you with problems with Mobility-Online.
- The departmental exchange coordinator will advise you on the departmental exchange programmes and how to organize the curriculum.
Contact