5) Arrival & starting your stay
Picking up your student card
You need to pick it up at the desk of the Student Exchange Office. Refer to our email “Arrival at ETH Zurich” for details.
If you have applied to the D-BSSE in Basel, you have to pick it up there. The details are in the fact sheet below.
Depending on your project dates, you may have to be enrolled in more than one semester. Your card is valid beyond the end of the semester in which you are initially enrolled in, which also applies to your matriculation confirmation. Nevertheless, you only have student status at ETH for the duration you find in Mobility-Online (regardless of the validity date on your card). The departure date of your mobility stay is also relevant for your residence permit and determines when you will be dematriculated.
Late applications: There might be some delays.
About your student card
In Swiss German, your student card is called "Legi".
Depending on your project dates, you may have to be enrolled in more than one semester. Your card is valid beyond the end of the semester in which you are initially enrolled in, which also applies to your matriculation confirmation. Nevertheless, you only have student status at ETH for the duration you find in Mobility-??Online (regardless of the validity date on your card). The departure date of your mobility stay is also relevant for your residence permit and determines when you will be dematriculated.
If you stay enrolled in more than one semester
You will need to validate your card at a terminal for the each subsequent semester. Information about how to do this will be sent to you by email towards the end of the previous semester.
Registration procedure
This varies depending on your nationality and current place of residency.
Swiss citizen
You do not need a residence permit, yet still need to register upon arrival in Zurich (unless you have already registered in Zurich). To register, see the website on residence permit.
Non-Swiss student already living in Switzerland
You should already have a valid Swiss residence permit and therefore have two options: “Wochenaufenthalt” (weekly commuter) or “Kantonswechsel” (change of canton, to be applied for in advance). To register, see the website on residence permit.
Non-Swiss student coming from outside of Switzerland
- You require a residence permit, regardless of citizenship or visa requirement. Open this link to learn how to apply for your residence permit.
- The duration of your mobility stay starts on the day you enter Switzerland. Never enter Switzerland before the start date stated on your official confirmation of acceptance. If you do, you risk your residence permit to expire before the last day of your planned mobility stay, which implies that you might not be able to finish your project / thesis nor write your final exams. You would have to apply for an extension of your residence permit, at a charge. This applies especially to all non-?EU/EFTA nationals, external pagewith and without a visa requirementcall_made, even if the visa authorisation or the issued visa theoretically allows an earlier entry to Switzerland. (If you need visa, make sure you have read our information regarding visa.) Student who do not need visa, must furnish a proof of sufficient financial means for their residence permit.
Procedure
You have to take out health insurance or, if you have your residence in the EU / EFTA, apply for an exemption from the mandatory insurance obligation. If you miss this deadline you will be allocated an insurer at the discretion of the respective authority (which might be very expensive). Read the linked information carefully.
You will find exhaustive information on our health insurance website. We cannot provide further or individual advice to project mobility students.
If you have purchased a Swiss health insurance for international students or if you are an EU card holder and have applied for an exemption, you are covered for any accident you might suffer. This, however, applies only if you do not have an income. Scholarships or grants are not regarded as an income. If you have an additional employment, accident insurance should be covered by your employer.
General
IT, sports, ESN student network, "culture shock" and many other topics and offers are covered on the websites.
Where can I ...
- chevron_right use WLAN in ETH's buildings and how?
- chevron_right find a workspace?
- chevron_right scan or print documents?
- chevron_right eat around campus?
- chevron_right find the ETH Library?
- chevron_right shop for ETH merch, IT supplies or get a hair cut?
- chevron_right park my bike, find a pump or toolbox for it, and learn about offers surrounding bikes?
Now your project at ETH with your ETH supervisor begins.
The Student Exchange Office provides detailed and comprehensive information on our websites and in our FAQ. Beyond that, the Student Exchange Office cannot provide further individual advice and support during your stay, but rely on you to take responsibility yourself. If you have any further questions, please contact the relevant contact point or authority directly.
Questions?
Consult the FAQ first and – if you cannot find the information – use the contact form for project mobility students.