Student exchange

Students have the opportunity to spend time abroad during their studies. They can choose to do an exchange semester at another university or gain work experience with a traineeship. Financial support is available both for studying and for working abroad.

What it's all about

The Swiss-European Mobility Programme (SEMP) enables students to go on exchange for one or two semesters or to do an internship abroad. Both students from Switzerland (outgoing) and students from abroad (incoming) can receive financial support for their stay.

  • Stays abroad for students, incl. PhD students, at a university or college of higher education

  • Stays last between 2 and 12 months

  • Stays take place at a higher education institution or in a company abroad (outgoing) or in Switzerland (incoming)

  • Information and coordination by the international relations office of a Swiss higher education institution

Added value

For participants:

  • Insight into a different study or work life
  • Improving language skills
  • Recognition of achievements abroad
  • Strengthening intercultural competences
  • Building an international network
  • Easier transition into a professional career
  • No tuition fees at the host institution

For institutions:

  • Strengthening international cooperation
  • Increase of international visibility
  • Increasing the attractiveness of the degree programme
  • Internationalisation of curriculums
  • Creating a solid base for institutional cooperations

Options

  • Semester abroad for students

    • Opportunity to study abroad for one or two semesters

    • For students of universities or colleges of higher education

    • Stays in Europe and around the world (outgoing) or in Switzerland (incoming)

    • Application via the home institution’s international relations office in Switzerland or abroad

  • Traineeship abroad for students

    • Opportunity to do a traineeship abroad

    • For students of universities or colleges of higher education

    • Stays in Europe and around the world (outgoing) or in Switzerland (incoming)

    • Application via the Swiss higher education institution’s international relations office

Similar funding opportunities

  • Gaining teaching experience

    Teaching in Spain, Colombia, or Switzerland? University students or graduates work as language assistants at a host school. The offer applies to Swiss students who go abroad as well as to foreign students who come to Switzerland.

  • National exchange for prospective teachers

    Prospective teachers complete an exchange semester or a teaching internship in another language region of Switzerland.

  • Stays abroad for staff in higher education

    University employees can continue their education abroad by teaching, attending courses or participating in job shadowing programmes.

  • Volunteering

    Young adults can actively support a non-profit project in a field of their choice, in Switzerland or Europe.