National semester mobility for prospective teachers
Prospective teachers have the option of studying in another language region of Switzerland for one or two semesters. They get to know a new region of Switzerland, immerse themselves in its culture and language, expand their didactic knowledge and practise a foreign language. ECTS credits earned during the stay are recognised.
Overview
For whom
- Students at a university of teacher education in Switzerland
Duration
- One to two semesters
Where
- At a university of teacher education in another language region of Switzerland
What we fund
- Financial support for the participants and the sending institution
What to do
- Participants contact the international office of their institution
- Institutions submit a funding application to us and coordinate the mobilities
Deadlines
- Application deadline: 1 March
- Project start: At the beginning of the semester, in consultation with the sending institution
In detail
Prospective teachers can complete an exchange semester in another language region of Switzerland during the course of their studies. During one or two semesters, they gain insights into other teaching methods, expand their pedagogical knowledge, and improve their language skills at the same time. ECTS credits earned at the host institution are generally recognised.
Requirements
For participants:
- You are enrolled at a university of teacher education, a university or another institution of teacher education in Switzerland recognised by the EDK. Students of the Intercantonal College of Special Needs Education (specialising in special needs education) are also admitted.
- You are enrolled in an educational programme for the primary, lower secondary, or upper secondary level (all subject profiles are permitted).
- Please also consider the respective criteria of your institution.
For institutions:
- Your institution is an institution for teacher training in Switzerland recognised by the EDK or an intercantonal university for special needs education.
- You offer an educational programme for the primary, lower secondary, and upper secondary levels and/or special needs education
Funding amounts
- Organisation fee for the institution:
- 300 CHF per exchange (for up to 100 activities per year)
- 100 CHF per exchange (from 101 activities per year)
- For participants:
- 200 CHF/week up to 4 weeks
- From the 5th week on a lump sum of 440 CHF per month applies for travel and accommodation
- For the specific needs of individuals with disabilities or those suffering from physical, mental, or chronic illnesses: Max. 12,000 CHF (actual costs based on the note of requirements)Insurance and any visa fees are at your expense.
You can find all the funding contributions and the calculation in detail in our grant table:
Procedure
For students
Contact the international office of your institution. They will advise you on deadlines and procedures and place you at an institution in another language region of Switzerland.
For institutions
Teacher training institutions submit the funding application.
Study semesters and internships for prospective teachers are applied for in one funding application at the same time.
Follow the following steps:
-
1
1. optional Agreements with partner institutions
- To enable your students to spend an exchange semester at an institution in another language region, you can conclude an agreement with the partner institution in question. In this agreement, you set out the guidelines for the collaboration.
- If you do not yet have such an agreement in place and would like to conclude one, we will be happy to advise and support you. To the mail.
-
2
2. Plan project
- Contact your partner institution(s) approximately one year before the submission deadline.
- Discuss the most important aspects of the collaboration, for example, the type, duration, and number of planned activities.
- Make sure that your institution recognises the students' achievements at the partner institution.
-
3
3. Submit funding application
- Submit a funding application once a year via our application platform. Please bear in mind the application deadline at the beginning of March.
- Apply for all activities for the semester mobility and the internship for prospective teachers in the same funding application.
- Indicate the partner institutions in the application as well as the type, duration, and number of planned activities.
- It is important to us to also enable persons with disabilities or with physical, mental, or chronic diseases to participate. Therefore, we provide additional funding for persons with special needs, for which you can apply in the funding application. You may also submit a request for funding for special needs at a later stage during the project duration. You can find more information under Inclusion and equal opportunities.
-
4
4. Contract and payment of funding amounts
- We will review your application once the deadlines has expired.
- You will receive the funding decision together with the contract for the number of approved activities from us. As a rule, the funding decision is issued within 60 days of the application submission.
- The project start date is 1 June of the relevant application year. Funded activities can take place between 1 June of the year of application and 30 September of the following year.
- Payment is made in accordance with the details in the contract. We will transfer the first installment (80% of the funding awarded) to you no later than 60 days after the institution has countersigned the contract.
- You coordinate the payment of the funding amounts to the participants.
-
5
5. Planning and implementation of activities
- Plan the implementation of the approved activities together with the participating institutions: timing, number of students, and semester schedule.
- As the sending institution for your students, you allocate the study places in cooperation with the partner institutions. You are also responsible for promoting the mobilities and for preparing the students.
- In collaboration with the students, the host institutions determine the recognition of the work achieved during the exchange semester.
- You can use the notification of requirement for additional financial support for persons with special needs to apply for additional funding for participants with physical or mental disabilities if you have not already done so in the funding application.
-
6
6. Submit interim report
- With the interim report we can check whether the activities have taken place or will take place as planned and whether additional funding is needed. Depending on the assessment, the contractual funding amount is adjusted.
- Submit the interim report by the beginning of March of the following year.
-
7
7. Submit final report
- Submit the final report by the end of November of the following year.
- In addition to the proof that the activities have been carried out as planned, we need information on the students' stays.
-
8
8. Spread the word
- Inspire those around you and talk about your mobility experience as much as possible. Be sure to mention the funding by Movetia. We provide a logo and text modules for this purpose.
- Share the content widely via your institution's channels, e.g. newsletter, social media, blog, etc. Thus you present your institution as an innovative, open-minded, and attractive employer. You will also stimulate professional exchange in the education sector.
- Contact us to increase your reach, e.g. by placing a magazine article on our website.
You can find all the detailed information on national semester mobility for prospective teachers in our guide
Q & A
Where can I complete my exchange semester in Switzerland?
Your institution has various agreements with other teacher education institutions where you can spend a semester. Contact your international office for more information.
