Student Exchange
D-MTEC supports the concept of mobility promoted by the Bologna Accord and encourages students to consider the possibility of an exchange semester.
D-MTEC is part of a variety of exchange programmes with universities in Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America. Detailed information on programmes, scholarships and application procedure is available at the ETH Student Exchange Office.
Annual Deadlines for Applications
Learn more about ETH international relations and the experience of exchange students within the ETH International Knowledge Database (accessible for registered ETH students and faculty).
"Studying abroad means getting out of your comfort zone: Meet people from all around the world, explore new ways of teaching and studying, and make new friends. You will like it!"Romeo Bütler, MSc MTEC Exchange Student at TU Delft, The Netherlands, Autumm 2015.
Students from other universities who would like to apply for an exchange semester at D-MTEC must have completed their Bachelor's degree in engineering sciences or natural sciences (technology-oriented). They should also have performed well.
As per their learning agreement, incoming exchange students can choose lectures from the ETH course catalogue A minimum of 20 credit points (CP) has to be earned per semester, of which at least 14 CP have to be earned at D-MTEC (course numbers starting with 363). The student’s home university, as well as D-MTEC, have to approve every learning agreement.
Alternatively, exchange students can participate in a research project and write their Master's thesis. To that end, a letter of acceptance from a professor at D-MTEC is required. Interested students may contact the professor doing research in their favourite field of research directly. Detailed information about the professorships, their research areas and contact addresses is available here.
Incoming exchange students are expected to take their examinations during the official ETH examination periods. Once all grades have been reported, the students can request a transcript of records from the .
D-MTEC recommends planning an exchange semester during the second or third semester of the Master's programme. It is advisable to start planning a visit abroad at an early stage to be able to prepare carefully and meet all deadlines.
Based on information provided by the students may choose a host university. If there is a limited number of available opportunities, D-MTEC will make a pre-selection among the candidates. The student exchange office then makes the nominations, which also have to be approved by the respective host university.
Students wishing to go abroad for a semester have to submit a learning agreement that fits into D-MTEC’s curriculum and the mobility advisor has to approve the individual learning agreement. If a course is meant to count as core course, a written «confirmation of equivalence» from the competent D-MTEC professor has to be submitted. If a course is meant to count as supplementary course, it needs to be documented in the ETH learning agreement via myStudies. Elective courses can be approved by the mobility advisor. A maximum of 30 credit points (CP) acquired at another university can count toward the ETH diploma. The translation of grades and credits into ETH’s grading and credit system is under the responsibility of D-MTEC.
An additional option is to participate in a research project run at another university, and write the Master's thesis abroad. Interested students are invited to plan and organise such a project in consultation with their tutor.