As a MSc Biomedicine student at KI, you soon get a taste of all the different areas of research available for your future career. I’ve always been curious about what else is out there and what other people are doing in the field. In my particular case, translational biomedical research has always intrigued me, as well as its interconnection to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Upon reading up on all the universities available for exchange, I came across ETH Zurich and its renowned Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences; of course, Switzerland's reputation as one of the largest pharma epicenters of the world only helped convince me that it was the right choice. This would certainly be an exciting learning opportunity. 

At KI, the application process went smoothly - I think my enthusiasm was very evident, and my study plan was designed in such a way to complement my education at KI. At ETH, the mobility online platform is very well established, and the entire procedure thoroughly explained, so that you really cannot get lost. Deadlines and requirements are given to you with plenty of time in advance for you to plan ahead, as long as you check your email regularly, that is. Both at KI and ETH I found that the exchange coordinators were all eager to help, very friendly, easy to approach, which makes things a lot easier for the students. I never hesitated to send them an email, even if the questions were sometimes fairly basic, they were always kind and extremely resourceful.

For the Swiss study visa, as everyone will tell you, you need to apply as soon as possible because it does take some time to process. However, you get all the required documents from ETH (invitation to the university, etc) so that makes it a lot easier.

Students were encouraged to arrive 1-2 weeks before the start of classes, since there is also some exchange paperwork to deal with once you get there. The exchange office at ETH has some particular opening hours, so it’s best to deal with all that before you start attending classes. If you have applied for accommodation through the university housing office or WOKO, then you also need to stop by their offices and sign the contract before you can move in.

There is an official introduction week, with various different events planned for all incoming exchange students. You receive general information about the coursework, the examination procedure, who is your contact person according to your department. The different student associations also give a short presentation about who they are, what they can do for you, how to join, etc. I strongly recommend to attend the mingling and social events organized by these organizations, since you get to meet a lot of people from the different sections this way. There’s always an ESN welcome BBQ at Irchel park, then some other events throughout the semester, like karaoke night, sports activities, dinners and ice-skating in the winter. Each department has their own student association, which is in charge of giving the students a walking tour of their campuses, and show you around where the lecture halls for your specific program are, where the cafeterias are, etc.

In Switzerland, getting registered with the authorities and having a valid health insurance for your stay is paramount. ETH organizes information sessions about the different insurance options you have depending on your situation and how to go about getting your paperwork in order. Most of these insurance formalities are dealt through by post mail, so make sure you have your housing situation settled as soon as possible and that you have a mailing address. Also, the letters from the authorities will most likely all be in German, so don’t be afraid to ask your neighbors, colleagues, classmates for some help – it’s also a nice excuse to meet some new people.

Switzerland is among the most expensive countries in the world, so be prepared to spend more than you are used to. Starting off with the visa, the consulate will charge 600-700 SEK to non-EU citizens for handling and processing of the application. Once in Switzerland, I can recommend SwissCare for health insurance, which has the cheapest student insurance option at 80 CHF per month (normal price with other insurance companies can go up to 200 CHF/month), however they charge three-months’ worth in advance and you have to file an exemption application to the Zurich authorities.

(http://www.swisscare.com/en/all-plans/swiss-plans/student-insurance/student-health-insurance-switzerland/)

Food-wise, a regular student price meal at any university cafeteria can be between 8-12 CHF (70 – 110 SEK), and many food stands and kiosks nearby offer other options in that price range. Grocery shopping can also be an expensive endeavor, and it can vary quite a lot depending on the supermarket you choose. Denner, Lidl and Aldi tend to have the lowest prices, followed by Coop and Migros, and finally if you’re looking for specific or imported products, Manor and Globus carry more high-end assortments.

Public transport is also another big expenditure. If you plan on using the bus/tram/train regularly, it is best to pay for your pass on a monthly basis. This can be purchased at any ticket dispenser or at the train station if you want someone to help you figure out the zones you need for your specific commute. If you plan on travelling a lot within Switzerland by train, I can also recommend to invest in a Half-Fare card; additionally, if you are under 25 and don’t mind travelling at night, there is an add-on to your Half-Fare card called Track7 (Gleis7 / Voie7) which allows you to take any train between 19h-5h for free.

(http://www.sbb.ch/en/travelcards-and-tickets-html)

ETH and the University of Zurich (UZH) provide accommodation for most of the incoming exchange students, which is almost always ensured if you wish to stay for less than one year. Once you have received your acceptance/invitation letter, you can sign up for the apartment queue of the Housing Office. 

(http://www.wohnen.ethz.ch/Wohnraum_suchen/Suchportal_ETH_UZH/index_EN)

Otherwise, you can apply directly to the WOKO student housing association, which also provides accommodation in shared flats for students not enrolled at ETH or UZH. 

(http://www.woko.ch/en/)

Through the Housing Office or WOKO, a single room in a shared apartment can range from 500-800 CHF/month, which is actually pretty decent for Swiss realty standards. Depending on whether you’ll be spending most of your time at the Central campus, the Hospital or the Hönggeberg campus, it might be worth taking a look at the location of these student housing buildings to choose the one that works best for your commute. My room near Berninaplatz was very convenient since it was walking distance to the tram stop for the 10 and 14 lines (10 min to ETH Central, 20 min to ETH Hönggeberg changing to the bus at Milchbuck). The WOKO buildings are usually very well maintained, equipped with the usual amenities, so there’s nothing to worry about. Each building has a student housing representative living there, in case you have any questions, concerns, complaints, etc.

Swiss universities have a good reputation worldwide because of their teaching standards; of course, these standards also come hand in hand with hard work, engagement and commitment on the students’ behalf. The lectures are very well thought out, and professors are usually experts in the subject they teach, making the classes highly interesting but also knowledge-dense. In my experience, the best lectures also had a close rapport to the real and practical cases, where the teacher would promptly exemplify the theory with concrete scenarios that most students could relate to. In general, teachers expect students to revise the lecture contents at home and be up to date, so they will normally continue the next time where they left off unless anyone has any questions from the previous lecture.

Lectures are usually carried out in a relaxed manner, where students are encouraged to ask questions at any time and demand clarification if necessary. If you are shy and don’t want to speak in front of the entire class, professors are usually available during the break or just after the lecture so that you can approach them and talk to them more privately.

The courses I chose were all taught and carried out in English, so that wasn’t a big issue since at KI I was already used to speaking it 24/7 despite it not being my native language. However, life beyond the sheltered classroom walls and international student housing was different for a non-germanophone. Not a lot of people speak English, despite it being such an international city. Even worse, most Swiss-German regions actually speak Swiss-German, a completely different language to German. However, all forms of written communication, street signs, billboards, etc. are written in proper German, which I believe is not that much of a problem to understand for Swedes. In any case, I took it as an amusing challenge rather than a cultural obstacle.

The university offers free German lessons for interested incoming students which go on once a week throughout the semester. You must register for the level and schedule that suits you best, but be warned, they expect you to take it seriously, so don’t sign up if you don’t intend to attend the classes. The classes are free, but the learning material costs 10 CHF, which covers the cost of the printouts and photocopies.

(http://www.sprachenzentrum.uzh.ch/angebot/kurse_ba/index_en.php)

Swiss universities in general have a well-developed offer of extra-curricular activities for students and staff alike. Every major Swiss university has a comprehensive sports center, with ETH/UZH sharing a large complex of facilities scattered all around town. As a student of a Swiss university, you are entitled to use the facilities of other universities when visiting other cities as well. In Zurich, the biggest centers are at the Hönggerberg and Central campuses, but also have some facilities at Irchel, and even in Winterthur. You have a million courses at your disposal, from core training and body shaping to Zumba classes and Pilates. To have access to all these facilities, you must become a member of the student sports association ASVZ – the membership fee for a whole semester is only 25 CHF.

(http://portal.asvz.ethz.ch/english/Seiten/default.aspx)

Related to the sports community are the dancing classes organized by Tanzquotient. Here you can sign up for many different dance styles, with classes running all through the semester and also in the summer.

(http://tq.vseth.ethz.ch/en/)

Another famous social event is the annual student formal ball, Polyball. Students come together as organizers, planning and getting ready for this event all year long. Each year the event has a different theme, and the parties are legendary. With over 15 different environments, dance rooms, live bands, entertainment all night long, it is no wonder the tickets are sold out within hours. Here’s a short review about last year’s edition, “The Dance of the Elements”: 

(https://www.ethz.ch/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2014/12/dance-of-the-elements-at-the-2014-polyball.html)

In general, Zurich is a very live city, with many student options for recreation and socializing. The old town, Hardbrücke and Langstrasse are the preferred places for going out, full of restaurants, cafés and bars. Public transport usually stops after midnight, but on the weekends they have night busses which run through the major areas of the city all night long.

As a foreign student at KI, to be given the opportunity to experience yet another culture, another education system, another perspective on life, I think is a great way to grow and learn very quickly. To bring new, fresh ideas, to broaden your scope on what it is that you really want to achieve in your career and in your personal life. I believe that this exchange has shaped me into the driven and ambitious person I am today. In the educational and professional arena, it has helped me immensely by expanding my network, opening up doors for future collaborations, as well as refining my knowledge and skills. In the end, for those who understand how to take advantage of an opportunity like this to the fullest, an exchange will always be a most rewarding experience.