Student exchange

Under certain conditions, engaged, high-achieving students have the opportunity to complete their 2nd, their 3rd and/or the Master's thesis in their 4th semester at another university while studying for a Master’s degree at ETH Zurich. It is not possible to spend the first 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 Director of Studies consents.
  
• 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. Further information
  
• 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 courses 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 university must therefore cover approximately 2/3 of the lectures on geomatics 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. A maximum of 60 credits from another university can be counted towards the Master's degree.

The compilation of the curriculum and specialist organisation are the responsibility of the student (arrangement of recognition with the director of studies or study advisor, 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 Geomatics will help with procedure.

The form for the recognition of courses can be found here 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 Geomatics 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 gather information at an early stage from the ETH Zurich student exchange office and the degree programme exchange advisor.  

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