The Swiss-European Mobility Programme (SEMP) is the Swiss student-mobility scheme that took over from Erasmus, and this scholarship is the money attached to a UZH exchange semester. Global Student Experience, the University of Zurich mobility office, administers it for students leaving Zurich for a partner university.
UZH holds more than 400 agreements with 200 partner universities across Europe, and the scholarship also reaches exchange stays outside Europe. It is a contribution towards the extra costs of a stay abroad, not a full scholarship.
Students stay matriculated at UZH and keep paying UZH semester fees during the exchange. At almost all partner universities they are exempt from paying semester fees.
Benefits & funding
- Exchanges within Europe receive the scholarship automatically: CHF 1,330 per trimester for a 2 to 3 month stay, CHF 1,900 per semester for a stay over three months.
- Exchanges outside Europe are paid at CHF 1,750 per trimester and CHF 2,500 per semester, allocated by Global Student Experience from a limited worldwide budget.
- Travelling by train or bus adds CHF 100 on proof of travel, under the SEMP eco-friendly travel grant.
- Students with a disability who incur additional costs during the stay can apply for a further grant through Global Student Experience.
- Payment comes in two parts: the first installment follows the signed Grant Agreement and a fully signed Learning Agreement, the rest follows the Experience Report and the Certificate of Attendance.
Eligibility
- Open to students matriculated at the University of Zurich who are at least in their second year of study.
- The exchange applies to the major subject; a minor is possible with the approval of the departmental coordinator.
- A SEMP study exchange must last at least 2 months and no longer than 12 months.
- Applicants must meet the partner university requirements, such as its GPA and language conditions.
- No nationality, age or gender restriction is stated.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Education required
Bachelor Enrolled · Master Enrolled · PhD Enrolled
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Application process
- 1Search the Mobility Online portal for partner universities and check places and conditions with the departmental coordinator.
- 2Register in Mobility Online from 1 November and complete the profile, listing up to three priorities.
- 3Submit by 15 January for the main round or 15 July for the summer round; the SEMP scholarship application is part of the application for an exchange place.
- 4Accept the placement offer, then upload the signed Grant Agreement and the fully signed Learning Agreement to release the first installment.
- 5After the stay, submit the Experience Report and the Certificate of Attendance to receive the remaining payment.
Program timeline
Main application round opens in Mobility Online
Nov 1, 2026
Main round deadline for the exchange place and the SEMP scholarship
Jan 15, 2027
Most placement offers are sent
End of February 2027
Summer application round deadline
Jul 15, 2027
During the stay
2 to 12 months at the partner university