FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The way UZH works might be confusing if you’re a new student. Since students are obligated to get all the information they need by themselves, we’ve compiled some common questions and answers to help you. The English Department website also contains everything you need, be sure to check there for official rules and such. They also have an FAQ.

You get ECTS-credits for passing modules. Every credit is represents more or less 30 hours of work at UZH, and you need 180 credits to get your bachelor’s degree and 120 for your master’s. A full-time student usually does 30 credits per semester, so some students finish their bachelor’s after six semesters, but most study for one or several semesters longer.

A module is basically a unit of teaching. It might consist of just a lecture. It might be a lecture plus a seminar like IntroLing (Introduction to English Linguistics). A module also includes the Leistungsnachweis. Lectures often have exams while in IntroLing, you have a paper, a presentation and an exam in the end.

OLAT (Online Learning And Training) is where you’ll find all lecture slides, homework, preparatory reading and so on. You can access it here. Before you can log in, you need your UZH shortname, so make sure you have that and know your password. Some instructors upload slides before lectures, others do it afterwards and again others do it after like three weeks. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

This can happen quite often because there are a huge amount of programs at UZH, all with their own timetables and there are only so many hours in the week. If two compulsory lectures clash with one another, unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do. You’ll have to drop one of them and do it later. You could try to visit the lectures alternatingly or try to keep up with uploaded slides only, but this isn't the best idea. Not least because exams are usually in the lecture time slot and you can’t write two exams at once. Try to check lecture times before deciding on a minor/major. If only one of the lectures/seminars/whatever is compulsory, it’s generally smart to prioritize that one. Also, if it’s a seminar of a first year course, you might be able to change into a different group.

Here. Scroll down to the bottom and click “Zum Login Modulbuchung.” Again, you’ll need your UZH shortname and password.

The main villa is PLH and the building with the flat-looking part on the opposite site, up the stairs, is PET. You will probably have seminars in both. Lectures are usually in KOL, UZH's main building.

If you'd like to go on an exchange for one or two semesters, the English Department offers many places. Generally, the best time to go is sometime after your first year and before your last semester. Usually, there is an info presentation every fall detailing the many ways to gain international experience. After that, you can apply for the next year, have an interview and get your decision in winter. Find more information on the English Department website’s study abroad section.

Cakes are sold at different prices depending on how much time and effort went into them, as well as the cost of the ingredients. As for coffee and the printer, the system is based on trust and only works if nobody steals. We set our prices at student-friendly levels and the FAVA uses all revenue to improve amenities (such as the furniture in the KafistĂźbli) and events.