Outside of Europe

Outside Erasmus+ Programme countries, many universities are very strict in terms of adherence to a set exchange balance (e.g. due to high tuition fees). Provided multiple faculties or subjects are interested in a new partner, it makes sense to aim for a university-wide agreement. This allows students from all faculties and subjects to take advantage of an exchange opportunity and makes it easier to maintain the overall exchange balance at the university level.

Whenever possible, University-wide agreements (Student Exchange Agreements, SEA) are concluded with universities in non-European countries. Ideally, UZH agreement-templates should be used for this purpose; otherwise, those of the partner university can be used. Agreement-templates from non-European partner universities can be exceedingly broad. Information on data security, and referrals to laws valid in the respective country in particular, necessitate thorough examination, including by Legal Services and the Delegate for Data Protection. On the other hand, other institutions may use very short templates.

A Guideline Document (PDF, 97 KB) provides information on the process, the essential elements of the agreement, and the signing procedure. 

Subject-, Institute- or Faculty agreements are initiated by lecturers or departmental coordinators. If interest in an institution is limited to a faculty, institute, or degree program, exchange agreements may be concluded at the corresponding level. Researchers' relationships commonly provide an excellent basis for launching agreement-negotiations.

Global Student Experience (GSE) is responsible for negotiating university-wide agreements, as well as for reviewing the content of subject-, institute- or faculty agreements. GSE works closely with the Department of Legal Services and Data Protection, coordinates the collection of signatures, preserves a copy of the original contract, and manages agreements in the Mobility Online database.