Sustainability During Your Exchange

Things to Consider When Going Abroad

Spending time abroad can enrich your studies tremendously; however, mobility also comes with a carbon footprint. A single flight from Zurich to New York and back emits, per passenger, twice the annual per capita greenhouse gas budget that could be tolerated from a climate point of view. The following tips can help you make your trip abroad more sustainable:

Select closer destinations. Europe has outstanding, excellent universities, many of them in neighbouring countries. Select your destination with reference to your field and the persons you can meet: Which researchers and teachers have published convincing ideas relating to the core questions that interest you?
Combine multiple travel purposes. If possible, plan your trip so that it fulfills multiple purposes.
Have a look at sustainability initiatives at your university of choice. Information on UZH sustainability research can be found here
Calculate your route: Compare energy consumption, CO2 emissions and other environmental impacts for different modes of transport.
Travel by bus or train. Trains and buses are environmentally friendly ways to travel within Europe.

Opportunities for an exchange within Europe can be found here:

Outgoing students (from UZH)

Incoming students (to UZH)

Factsheet "Sustainability During your Exchange"

Tipps and tricks for train travel (PDF, 212 KB)

Trains versus planes (PDF, 166 KB)

Grant for eco-friendly travel from the Swiss-European Mobility Programme (SEMP)

Within the framework of the SEMP, based on the call for projects 2021, financial aid is now available to students who choose to travel to and from their destination using a means of transport generating lower CO2 emissions than the plane. You will receive a 100 CHF top-up at the end of your stay if you are able to submit proof of travel by train, bus or bike (e.g. copy of the original travel ticket/s).

The flat rate of CHF 100 is paid in accordance to the rules set out by the University of Zurich.

More information on Living Sustainably in Zurich

Weiterführende Informationen

Enhance your exchange experience and profit from discounted train travel with the Interrail Pass for stundents, created by Eurail and the Erasmus Student Network!

Learn more here

UZH is proud to be a partner in this EU project to support the ongoing transition to more environmentally friendly student travel. The SET project will analyse student travel data , showcase sustainable travel experiences and incentivize greener travel in Europe.Further information

The “Green Course Catalogue” lists teaching modules relating to sustainability for each study program, even if the description in the course catalog does not include the word “sustainability.”

Green Course Catalogue

Movetia, Switzerland's National Agency for Exchange and Mobility, is committed to promoting sustainability in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).