City of Zurich:

With a population of nearly half a million inhabitants, Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and very well connected through public transport and the local airport. It is situated at Lake Zurich and extends along the Limmat River. The Alps, cities such as Basel or Lucerne, and other beautiful places like the Rhinefalls can be reached within an hour. Zurich is not only one of the economic hubs, but also one of the cultural centers of Switzerland. The diversity of Zurich is due to the city’s cosmopolitan and international population, its renowned cultural institutions as well as various alternative and small-scale cultural performances and events.
The official language in Zurich is German. The language spoken in daily life is Swiss German. Further information can be found here: www.zuerich.com or here: www.stadt-zuerich.ch

Things to See in Zurich:
There are numerous sights in Zurich, which are worth a visit. You can find some inspirations here:
https://www.zuerich.com/en/visit/sightseeing
https://www.zuerich.com/en/discover-zurich
https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/destinations/zurich/

If you arrive on Saturday, 1. July 2023, you have the option to be picked up at the airport by some of your fellow students from the University of Zurich (UZH). In the questionnaire sent with the email that provides you with information on our social program, you are asked to provide your approximate time of arrival in Zurich. 

Arrival at the airport 

The best way to reach the city center from the airport is by public transport. For public transport, we highly recommend to download the SBB mobile app. The app offers simple and personalized timetable enquiries.  

After your arrival, follow the signs towards the train station, which is located in the lower level of the airport, under Terminal B. Traveling to Zurich Main Station (Zürich HB) takes approximately 12 minutes by train.

If you prefer a taxi, you can either go to a taxi stand or call +41 44 444 44 44 (Taxi444). A taxi from the airport to the city center will cost you approximately CHF 50.00. As an alternative you can download the Uber app. 

Arrival at the Train Station 

The main Train Station (Zürich Hauptbahnhof) is centrally located. Many tram, bus and train lines run to and from the main Train Station. The best way to travel to your accommodation is by public transport. We highly recommend downloading the SBB mobile app. The app offers simple and personalized timetable enquiries for buses, trams, trains and boats.  

Should you choose bus or tram to travel to your accommodation, follow the signage for your respective bus or tram line. All bus and tram lines have a number and color which identifies them. Should you choose to take a train, follow the signs to your platform.

Tickets for public transport

For the duration of the Summer School, we will provide you with public transportation tickets for the city of Zurich (except for the two day trips). However, on your arrival and for your departure, or if you stay longer, you will need to buy one-way tickets from and to the airport. These tickets can be purchased from vending machines located next to the platforms. You can pay by cash or credit card.

http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html 

You will receive your public transport pass on arrival (if you are picked up by one of our helpers) or at the Welcome BBQ.

If you are staying at one of the rooms offered through the summer schools, meals are not included in your stay. You will, however, receive a student meal card that gives you access to the discounted student rate at the UZH cafeteria on the main campus. In the student housing you will have access to shared kitchen amenities and will be provided with all necessary kitchen equipment. 

If you have booked your accommodation through us, you will be able to move into your room on 1 July 2024, at 12.00pm (noon). It is possible to arrive later, but we do not recommend arriving any later than in the morning of 1 July 2024. Please note that you will need to leave your room (tidied and emptied of all your belongings) on 21 July 2024, at 12.00pm (noon) at the latest. The first summer school event takes place on Monday, 1 July 2024, in the afternoon, and the last event ends on Friday, 19 July 2024, in the evening. You can find more information on the program in the schedule you received in the welcome note. 

The following amenities and services are included in your room package: 

• Bed linen and kitchen utensils  
• The room is furnished with a bed, a desk, a desk chair, a lamp, a bookcase, and a sink. 
• For shared use: kitchen, showers, toilets, Dining-/TV-/common room, laundry, bicycle shelter, garden patio 
• Services included: Heating, electricity, sewage/water, basic refuse fee, facility maintenance, internet, radio/TV fee, cleaning of staircase/laundry room, weekly cleaning of communal kitchen/wet rooms, final cleaning after moving out 

Please note that if you have requested a specific living arrangement or specific amenities for your accommodation, the available amenities and included services listed above might differ slightly.

In June, you will receive a separate email with the contract for your Summer School accommodation. Please note that the accommodation is offered by our housing partner, WOKO, and you will therefore receive your contract directly from them.

Download an overview of the schedule here: Indicative_Schedule_UZHISS2024

Please note that this schedule is only indicative and is meant to provide a sample for the course programs of the UZHISS. The Social Program events are finalized and registration for the individual events will be accessible to enrolled students in a few weeks. If you have any questions regarding the schedule or about a specific event, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team via summer@int.uzh.ch.

Public Transportation: Day Pass

On your arrival day (or at the Welcome BBQ, at the latest) you will receive a public transport ticket that is valid in central Zurich (Zone 110) for the duration of the summer schools, 1 – 21 July 2024. You can use it on all forms of public transport (bus, tram, S-train, boat) within the valid zone.

Rooms for lectures

The classroom-based part of the Summer School will be in the main building of the University (Rämistrasse 71, 8006 Zürich).

The Welcome & Introduction session will take place in KOL-G-110 (“Aula” – the auditorium). We will have signage posted guiding you to the room from the main entrance (on Rämistrasse) and the side entrances (Künstlergasse, Karl-Schmid-Strasse and Doktor-Faust-Gasse).

Deciphering room codes

Room codes at UZH are generally structured as follows:

Example: KO2-F-174

1. Name of building (KOL = Karl-Schmid-Strasse 4 building)
2. Floor on which the room is based (Floor F)
3. Room number (174)

Finding buildings with the virtual map of UZH

On the virtual map of UZH you’ll find sites on the Zurich city map, and in some cases floor plans of buildings as well. You can use the search function too! https://www.plaene.uzh.ch/ (Website in German)

 Map of your lecture rooms 

The lecture rooms for all three summer schools are located on Floor F in the KO2 Building (Karl-Schmid-Strasse). The room information for the individual sessions can be found on your summer school program schedules. 

Find a map here: https://www.plaene.uzh.ch/KOL/floors 

Restaurants 

There are many nice restaurants in Zurich, but eating out can get expensive. However, if you wish to experience local restaurants, we have prepared a list with recommendations for you. You can find further places to eat out here:  

https://www.zuerich.com/en/visit/restaurants-cafes.   

Internet Access 

There is Wi-Fi all over the University of Zurich. If your home university offers eduroam, you can simply use your home university login to connect with eduroam at UZH. Please make sure to check before travelling to Switzerland, if your account is properly activated and ready to use. Your home university will be able to help you in case of any problems with your eduroam access. 

If you do not have a university account with eduroam: To connect to the network, you can request a login from the University of Zurich on your first day of the Summer School. For that, you will need to connect to “uzh-guest”, where you will be required to provide a phone number. Please note that you will need to be able to receive text messages in Switzerland to get access to the WIFI at UZH. 

Computer rooms at UZH 

For the academic program it is strongly recommended that you bring your own laptop. But if you need another computer, there are several computer rooms in the main building of the University of Zurich. 

Lunch in the UZH Canteen 

There are two canteens at the University where you can eat lunch and if you like, also dinner. You will find different menus and a buffet for salad and some hot meals. We will show you the canteen on your first day of the Summer School.  

We will also give you a “canteen card” on your first day of the Summer School which will allow you the same discount on menus as other UZH students in all UZH Canteens and Cafeterias.

University of Zurich: Facts and Figures 

The University of Zurich was founded in 1833. Today, with a student body of more than 29,000, it is the largest university in Switzerland and it is regularly ranked in the top 100 universities worldwide. With its seven faculties, it is also the most comprehensive higher education institution in Switzerland, including Arts and Social Sciences; Economics, Business Administration and IT; Law; Medicine; Sciences, Theology and Veterinary Medicine. 

UZH has four campuses, spread over the whole city of Zurich. The Summer School takes place in the university’s main building at the City Campus.   

Find out more: http://www.uzh.ch/en.html 

Emergency phone numbers in Switzerland 

Ambulance 144 

Police 117 

Fire department 118 

Taxi +44 444 44 44 

Emergency contacts at the UZH: 

Nina Richard 

Mobile: +41 77 468 44 45 

Office: +41 44 634 20 68 

The Bahnhof Apotheke, Wannerhalle, Museumstrasse 1, 8001 Zurich (pharmacy at the Zurich main station) is open every day from 7:00-24:00. 

Tourist Service Center  

The Tourist Service Center is located at the Zurich main station and open from Monday to Saturday from 8:00am-8:30pm and on Sunday from 8:30am-6:30pm.  

https://www.zuerich.com/en/visit/shopping/tourist-information

Currency and ATM

The Swiss Franc (CHF, SFr., or Fr.) is the currency of Switzerland. Francs are divided into sub-units called Rappen (1 Swiss franc = 100 Rappen). You can withdraw cash around the clock at any of the ATMs spread across the city. In most places (restaurants, supermarkets, shops etc.) you can pay by cash, credit or debit card.  

Euros are sometimes accepted by larger restaurants and supermarket chains. You will be given change in Swiss francs most of the time. 

How to make your money last as long as possible 

Zurich is a very beautiful and vivid city, but it is also expensive. We thought it might be helpful to give you a few tips on how you can save some money.   

• We recommend you buy your lunch for the day trip in advance at one of the local supermarkets. You can find sandwiches, salads and many other things you can take on your trip. For lunch during your regular classes you can also go to the canteen of the University of Zurich.  

• Switzerland is a very clean country. Water from most public fountains and from water tabs in hotels, apartments and the University is potable and usually tastes just as nice as the water you buy in supermarkets. If the water is not safe to drink, it will be displayed with a sign. We recommend always carrying a reusable water bottle with you. You will be able to fill it up on the go.
•  
• Bring your student card from your home University with you. Lots of places offer discounts to students and people under the age of 25. As a short-exchange student at the University of Zurich, you will not be receiving a UZH student card. 

•  
• Make sure you bring an umbrella, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, a swimsuit, good shoes, sandals, and a wind- and waterproof jacket with you. It is likely that you will need all these things and they may be more expensive to buy here if you forget them at home. 

Food  

In general, most stores will be closed on Sundays and will close earlier (around 5pm) on Saturdays. This applies to grocery stores, clothing stores, and many more. Most public offices and services (bank, public administration offices, university services, etc.) are closed Saturday and Sunday and sometimes close over lunch as well. 

The shops and services at the train station are open on Saturday and Sunday as well and usually stay open later than those outside of the main station (“Zürich HB”). 

 Supermarket 

Buying food in the supermarket is a lot cheaper than having dinner at a restaurant. (This is also true for take-out and delivery food.) Especially in summer, picnicking in one of Zurich’s many city parks and gardens, or on the lakeside is a great alternative to a restaurant dinner. There are many supermarkets located in the city center, quite a few directly at Zurich main station. The best-known and most widely available chains are Coop and Migros. You can find a big Coop store located next to “Bahnhofbrücke”, the bridge right in front of Zurich main station that you need to cross in order to reach UZH. This store is open Monday to Saturday between 6am and 10pm. The supermarkets at Zurich main station are open on Sundays as well.