Student Exchange in Switzerland Study at the FHNW School of Engineering
Student Exchange in Switzerland The School of Engineering of the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland FHNW is located at the centre of Europe, in Switzerland’s high-tech and strongest economic region. It is a practice-oriented educational and applied research institution for engineers and computer science professionals.
The FHNW School of Engineering
The experience of a lifetime
The FHNW has established itself as one of Switzerland’s most innovative universities of applied sciences. It can offer you the experience of a lifetime on your exchange semester in Switzerland. Northwestern Switzerland’s high density of industrial, engineering and IT companies is an important advantage for the area. The FHNW and its students benefit greatly from these conditions with real case projects and client relations. In turn, the FHNW itself is a valuable asset for the region, providing innovative technical and business solutions as well as a pool of highly qualified and motivated young talent.
Study at the
FHNW School of Engineering The FHNW School of Engineering offers students from abroad attractive learning opportunities at bachelor‘s and master‘s degree level. ■ Unique educational offering including the innovative Professional Experience Project ■ Students receive personal attention (small classes; coaching) ■ Top class lecturers with industry background ■ Swiss peers with practical professional experience ■ Applied research and development for Swiss and international companies ■ Modern teaching, research and sports facilities ■ German and English language classes offered for free at any level ■ Accommodation guaranteed ■ Two international airports within thirty minutes ■ The best of both worlds - close to nature and major Swiss cities (Zurich in thirty minutes)
Study offers for exchange students The FHNW School of Engineering offers a diverse range of innovative degree programmes with an interesting choice of technical, natural science, management, cultural and language modules taught in English. Wide range of modules taught in English
In the fields of computer science, engineering, and management, we offer specific modules in English, international tracks and a special project format for incoming exchange students. ■ Professional Experience Project
This is an innovative semesterlong project-based programme with a focus on project management, intercultural and communication skills. ■ International Track in Computer Science
The International Track in Computer Science allows you to study
in English, the language of the computer science industry. It covers a wide range of courses at Basic, Intermediate and Advanced levels. ■ International Track in Engineering and Management
This track offers English-taught modules which prepare graduates for the challenges of work in today’s competitive global environment. ■ Modules taught in English at undergraduate level
We offer eleven Bachelor of Science programmes in computer science and engineering-related topics which are primarily taught in German.
Exchange students can freely combine a wide range of Englishtaught modules from these undergraduate programmes. ■ Modules taught in English at master’s level
The practically-oriented Master of Science in Engineering MSE offers students a wide range of options, and is taught partly in English, partly in German.
Professional Experience Project At the FHNW School of Engineering you will apply your technical knowledge in a real-life project while improving your intercultural, communication and project management skills. In this special project format developed by the School of Engineering, incoming exchange students work together with their Swiss peers on project assignments from both Swiss and international clients. You learn how to apply your technical expertise in a challenging real-life
context which demands excellent intercultural, communication and management skills. This allows you to gain valuable international project experience while still at university and to develop and demonstrate key skills for your future career.
Che Eun Hong, Seoul National University, South Korea, Electrical and Computer Engineering
I gained the experience of making progress on project work by learning step by step. This was very valuable for me.
“I worked in a team of nine people with the client from a Swiss company. Besides the project work I took classes in project management, software development process, intercultural awareness, Swiss culture and society, and German language. All the lectures helped me to manage the real project, to communicate with the different people like students, lecturers and the client. I gained the experience of making progress on project work by learning step by step. This was very valuable for me.”
Student experience at the
FHNW School of Engineering Alfredo Castillón Macías, University of Guadalajara, Mexico, Computer Engineering
What is your experience of Switzerland?
■ It’s the best country I know! I want to come back when I finish my studies in Mexico. ■ Public transportation is awesome. Everywhere is well connected – even small towns and villages. I can always get on a train and get to a big city in under an hour.
Best country I know! I want to come back.
■ It’s a very peaceful country. The landscape is amazing. You can really enjoy the quiet and beauty of nature. Normally I listen to music all the time but here I even take off my headphones and just look and listen to what’s around me! ■ I’ve visited all the main Swiss cities and travelled in Europe. There’s so much to do at weekends. I’ll never forget snowboarding in the Alps. My Swiss friends taught me how to do it. It was an incredible experience. ■ And by the way, Swiss people are not as serious and reserved as I had heard. Everyone I have
met in these past months has been really nice to me. You just have to be open. ■ Only one problem - I’m gaining weight with all the delicious Swiss chocolate. Three months going hard and I still have a long way to taste all the different varieties. Tell us about your time at the FHNW School of Engineering
■ I like this campus. Everything seems to be modern and well designed. They have all the newest technical facilities. I really appreciate that. ■ I love the classes and think the professors are very good. I’m learning a lot. ■ I also enjoy working on a real computer science project. The students are great and I like how every member has a defined role so we develop a more complete final product. The teamwork is very professional. At the beginning though I was thinking about quitting this module because it was very chal-
lenging. As time passed, I felt more comfortable with my role in the team and now I can contribute well to the project. ■ I find the exams are harder here than in Mexico. What new insights will you take home for your studies/life in Mexico?
■ Timing! The fact that everyone is always on time helps to plan and be more productive. ■ Life is well organized here. Everything has an order and everyone respects it. That’s important to live well in society.
■ Teamwork - in all my modules we work in teams. Often I feel better working in a team here than in my own country because here they always keep the goal in mind and don’t get too personal! That’s new for me. ■ In general I like the way people discuss things here. There are always differences in teams, but I think people here know how to
approach and resolve problems in a good way. What are your recommendations for prospective exchange students?
■ Don’t worry if you can’t understand German. So many people speak English here anyway. It’s actually easy to get to know a lot of people once you’re open. You can also look for students who want to learn your language. ■ Learn to cook! Eating out is expensive and you’ll get fed up just cooking pasta! It’s fun and you can invite your friends around. ■ Don’t be afraid to express what you like and what you don’t. You will find Swiss people who also think like you.
Reasons to
do an exchange in Switzerland The FHNW School of Engineering welcomes you
Great place for travel and recreation
■ Accommodation organised by the FHNW ■ Locally based buddy programme to help you settle in ■ Erasmus Student Network organises activities, events and trips ■ Local student advice on how to live well on a budget
■ Attractive tourist destination with lots to see and do ■ Convenient base to explore the rest of Europe (extensive rail, bus and air connections) ■ Excellent public transport system (reliable, punctual and efficient) ■ Vibrant cities with diverse, multilingual and highly educated populations ■ Beautiful natural landscapes – dramatic Alps, lakes, rivers, rolling hills, extensive forests… ■ Paradise for lovers of the great outdoors: Nature always close at hand ■ Huge range of outdoor sports and leisure activities (hiking, biking, skiing, water sports…) ■ Lively arts, culture and entertainment scene (concerts, festivals, open airs…)
Quality of life in Switzerland
■ Top-quality national system of higher education ■ Exciting technology and innovation hub ■ English widely spoken ■ Safe place to live and travel ■ Outstanding healthcare system ■ Consistently one of the happiest countries in the world (World Happiness Report) ■ Tolerant environment promoting equality and freedom of expression
Some Swiss facts Switzerland gave the world:
■ the first solar round-the-world flight (Solar Impulse), the turbocharger, the rack railway, the bobsleigh, Velcro, cellophane, aluminium foil, the zipper, the Swiss Army Knife, hand-held blenders, muesli, fondue, instant coffee (Nescafé), the coffee capsule system (Nespresso), milk chocolate, luxury timepieces and the SWATCH plastic watch, the Logitech computer mouse, the Helvetica font, absinthe, antihistamines, the Winter Olympics, the International Red Cross and Roger Federer…
■ the second highest life expectancy rate in the world (83.4) ■ one of the lowest crime rates among industrialised countries ■ 3 cities which make the top 10 on the Mercer Quality of Living Index ■ 208 mountains over 3,000m high, 24 of them over 4,000m ■ the world’s longest and deepest rail tunnel (the Gotthard base tunnel, 57km) ■ an important renewable energy resource - almost 60% of domestic electricity production comes from hydropower The Swiss:
Switzerland has:
■ a population of 8.4m, including 2m foreign residents, over 80% from Europe ■ 6 cities with a population of over 100,000 (Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Lausanne, Bern, Winterthur) ■ 4 national languages - French, German, Italian and RhaetoRomantsch ■ a university in the top 5 in Europe and in the top 10 globally in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings
■ have earned 25 Nobel prizes, mainly in the natural sciences and medicine/physiology ■ consistently top the WIPO Global Innovation Index ■ are champion waste recyclers ■ travel further by train every year than anyone else (2,400km/ person) ■ eat more chocolate than any other nation in the world (11kg/ person)
The FHNW School of Engineering
in facts and figures
Formalities Type of agreement ■ Swiss-European Mobility Programme SEMP (former Erasmus+) partnership agreement ■ Individual bilateral agreement
15 2 218
institutes
centres
projects of applied Research & Development
519
employees 98 professors Over 200 lecturers
1896
students
1797 bachelor‘s degrees 99 master‘s degrees
11 bachelor programmes Computer Science Computer Science - iCompetence profile Data Science Electrical and Information Technology Energy and Environmental Technology Engineering and Management Information Communication Systems Trinational Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Trinational Optometry Systems Engineering
1 master‘s programme Master of Science in Engineering MSE
Application deadlines ■ For autumn/fall semester: May 15 Semester begins calendar week 38 ■ For spring semester: October 15 Semester begins calendar week 8
Language requirements For all incoming exchange students we require CEFR level B2/ ALTE Level 3 in the relevant language, English or German.
Contact International Office T +41 56 202 99 33 international.technik@fhnw.ch Full details about our offers can be found on our website: www.fhnw.ch/engineering/international
The FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland consists of the following schools: – FHNW School of Applied Psychology – FHNW School of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geomatics – FHNW Academy of Art and Design – FHNW School of Business – FHNW School of Education – FHNW School of Engineering – FHNW School of Life Sciences – FHNW Academy of Music – FHNW School of Social Work
FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland School of Engineering Klosterzelgstrasse 2 CH-5210 Windisch admin.technik@fhnw.ch www.fhnw.ch