International Reader - Zürcher Hochschule der Künste

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Zurich University of the Arts
International Office
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Useful Information for Your Stay in Zurich
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Imprint
Publisher: Zurich University of the Arts,
International Office
Editor: Bettina Ganz,
Head of the International Office ZHdK
Essay: Adrian Müller, Zürich
Concept & design: unfolded, Zürich
Pictures: Peter Hauser, Zürich
English translation: Linguapool Zürich
Printed by: Druckerei Odermatt, Dallenwil
PDF Preview Version, May 2012
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Zurich University of the Arts
International Office
Ausstellungsstrasse 60
PO Box
8031 Zurich
[email protected]
+41 43 446 2058
––
www.zhdk.ch
––
Switzerland and Zurich
The Pleasant Side of Life
Zurich, the City of Your Dreams
History
Facts and Figures about Switzerland
Facts and Figures about Zurich
Nature and Climate
Language
Vocabulary
Ich han en Schatz am schöne Zürisee
Language Courses → 7
→ 19
→ 27
→ 27
→ 31
→ 31
→ 35
→ 39
→ 39
Useful Information
Visa and Entry
Travelling to Zurich
Travelling in Zurich and Switzerland
Living in Zurich
Formalities for Registering in Switzerland
Currency, Banking, Payment Methods
Living costs
Working in Switzerland
Health Insurance
Illness and Emergencies
Emergency Numbers
Public Holidays
Shopping Guide
Phone Calls
Post Service
TV and Radio
Newspapers
Electricity
Water
Rubbish Disposal
→ 39
→ 43
→ 47
→ 51
→ 51
→ 53
→ 57
→ 57
→ 61
→ 61
→ 65
→ 65
→ 65
→ 69
→ 69
→ 73
→ 73
→ 77
→ 77
→ 77
Cultural Events and Nightlife
Erasmus Student Network – ESN
Trips out of Zurich
Eating Out
→ 81
→ 85
→ 85
→ 89
Checklist
Before Departure
After Arrival in Zurich
Before Leaving Zurich
→ 89
→ 89
→ 93
Final
What students say
→ 93
If you pause for a moment and look through
the windows of the teaching rooms, workshops, practice rooms or corridors of the
,
ich f
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upper floors of the university buildings,
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yo
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i
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you will notice that the sky over Zurich is
the dream
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often a light, pallid blue. That lends the
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yo
city a sense of almost surreal lightness,
and even a certain detachedness. If, however, you go down the
stairs and leave the buildings, you will feel the comfort even
a patch of grass, a quiet street, a wide square or a small park
with fountains and trees can provide, and the sense of unreality and detachedness are gone. If you continue, you will come
to streets with trams, busy roads and lively squares – places
that are firmly rooted in reality.
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and &
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e
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t
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Reality in Zurich is often hard, as you will see, for example,
when you pay for a pizza, a cinema ticket, entry to a nightclub
or a beer. You may well not be used to such prices. And then
there are the rental fees for simple rooms in shared flats, which
are simply disastrous. At the beginning of the 1990s, there was
a sign saying «Zureich» (meaning «too rich» in German) in the
fine lettering of the Swiss Railways, in white on dark blue, that
came into view as the trains entered the main railway station
in the Wohlgroth premises, which was occupied by squatters
at that time. «Alles wird Gut» (Everything Will Turn Out Well)
was also written there in bright colours.
Don't stop dreaming, because you are here and you will live
with the reality of Zurich. That is not intended to alarm you. On
the contrary. The reality of Zurich is incredibly diverse. You are
here in the reality of the city.
Zurich is a magnificent city. A lake and river, whose water one
could drink, invite you to bathe. The Üetliberg mountain is
home to wild forestland not far from Zurich, while the Zürichberg, Adlisberg and Käferberg are covered in gentle woodland.
In winter the Dolderbahn and Üetlibergbahn rail lines will take
7
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you to a white, almost alpine wonderland, which is a sledging
paradise when there is snow. Zurich also has its rituals, starting with Sechseläuten, the parade of Zurich guilds. Revellers
engage in a middle-class booze–up starting at daytime, drinking
one glass of white wine after the other, a wild ride around a
massive burning woodpile as an effigy of winter in the middle
of the city. After dark it turns into a massive barbecue party like
none other. At midnight the inebriated and the stoned revellers
strike up a fast-paced drumming duel on Bellevue. The First
of May. It heralds a family celebration and unlicensed demonstration with property damage and the same old political
responses, the call for more police and for more equality.
The Street parade, massive, loud, littered, peaceful. Knabenschiessen, a chilbi (fair) in the Allmend below the Üetliberg, is
traditionally a mud-bath in the autumn rain and is a match for
every open-air event. Shopping frenzy in the Bahnhofsstrasse
on Christmas Eve. The perfect measure of consumer stress like
in every city. And then there are the facts and figures about
the present and past of the city and country. About the city
council, the districts, celebrities and equal rights. About the
Opera House, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich
(ETH), the Grossmünster («Great Minster»), Züri-West, the
Prime Tower, the Lochergut, the Swiss Mill and the business
centre. About Lenin, Dadaism, the chestnut stalls, the banks,
gentrification, the Weststrasse and the «Südanflug». About the
Globus-Provisorium, about AJZ, about Letten, Zwingli, Tirrgel
and Luxemburgerli. You will find everything on the net. Make
the most of that treasure trove.
You will find everything in Zurich. I am tempted to describe
it as the most beautiful city in Switzerland, but who am I to
judge? After all, who wants to live in Zurich? There are surely
more Swiss people who would prefer not to live in Zurich than
to live there. And you too – perhaps you live in Baden, Uster,
Weiach or Wil, in Dübendorf, Dietikon, Dürnten or Dorf, each
a rich world in itself. Judge for yourself. Although Zurich is not
a bicycle city, it's wonderful to cycle there. Zurich has no
11
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«Viennese coffeehouses», but it has places with a café vibe.
Zurich is not a metropolis, but it is metropolitan at the edges,
and everyone is happy that it is not a major city through and
through. Zurich is a city where you can feel the stress, but it still
makes room for leisure. Zurich is large in its smallness. Zurich
is absurd in its oh-so-sensible, puritanical regulations.
«Zurich» or even «Switzerland» as such doesn't exist. Take a
trip from one terminus to the other with Tram 3 or 7, or with Bus
33, or travel with Swiss Railways (SBB) from Basel to Chiasso,
or from Geneva to Romanshorn. You, who are new to the city,
need to find Zurich for yourself. You need to create the city
and yourself within it. Just as you will change here, so will
your unique perspective and otherness change the city and
the university. Why not begin with the thread that takes you
from the university and keep on spinning it through the city in
a delicate web that will continue to become greater and more
elaborate, taking you far beyond the city itself? This environment will shape you and lift you up or let you fall.
Don't forget to dream. You are following a dream and perhaps
will come to Limmatplatz, then over the Kornhausbrücke, across
the river. You will look down towards Letten and then climb the
hill, ever further and steeper, until you lose yourselves among
the villas and find yourself standing by the edge of the forest,
high over Zurich, where the allotments enjoy even more beautiful views than the villas, again closer to the pallid blue of the
sky. Or you will follow a heavy-traffic road and will suddenly
be standing on Escher-Wyss-Platz, and then go along the steep
Rosengartenstrase up to Bucheggplatz – a tour of busy streets.
From there you can go along the edge of the forest and up to
Käferberg, so that you can again pause high over Zurich, and
let your eyes roam over the houses, the glittering lake in the
distance and the mountains on the horizon. Again you will be
closer to unreality, and perhaps also to a feeling of lightness.
Or you will go to perhaps the strangest square in Zurich, the
bus station, then past the Swiss National Museum, through
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the main railway station, and into the centre, and will seek
out these oases of calm in the midst of urban commerce. You
will find them there too. For example, in the large station hall,
when the clock strikes eleven in the morning, with the sound of
a village church in Tessin, a light, dry chime that is so different
from the demure bell-ringing of all the Zurich churches on
Sunday morning. A chime that will perhaps open up to you one
of the many unreal places that you can find in Zurich.
When you look out of the widows of the teaching rooms, workshops, practice rooms and corridors of the upper floors of the
university buildings, perhaps you will consider what you are
actually doing here in Zurich. Zurich is no metropolis, and not
even a capital city, but a city and a world in itself. You will live
in it, shape it and make it come alive.
The formation of the Alps is the starting
point, and not just from a chronological
Swi
point of view. The Alps have defined and
ory
t
s
i
still define the feelings, thoughts and
h
actions of the population of this small
country today. The Celtic tribe of the Helvetians was the first
people living in the area that is Switzerland today of which
we have written evidence. In around 400 AD, in the course of a
large «migration of peoples», Germanic tribes advanced into
Central, Western and Southern Europe, and the Burgundians
settled in West Switzerland and in the neighbouring Burgundy.
They adopted the language (Latin → French) of the Romans,
and partly also their culture. The Alemanni, on the other hand,
settled in the areas left free in the Mittelland (Swiss Plateau)
and retained their German language and way of life. In the
Middle Ages, they established the large German empires,
Christendom and the feudal system (nobles, the clergy,
peasants). The Old Swiss Confederacy was initially (1291)
just a loose alliance of the valley communities of Central
Switzerland, which wanted to defend their vested autonomy
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tzerla
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rights against the power-hungry Habsburg counts. Whether
the Swiss freedom fighter Wilhelm Tell really lived or not is
contested. Regardless, he still embodies today the spirit of
the Old Confederates in the minds of large swathes of the
population. The Reformation (16th century) was a severe test
for the country with several civil wars between the cities of
the Swiss Plateau and the conservative rural areas of Central
Switzerland. However, the new ideas gradually prevailed.
In 1830 the canton constitutions were amended in several
cantons and greater popular rights were introduced. In 1848
the federal constitution established the modern federal state.
The cultural war between liberals and conservatives led to the
first complete revision of the federal constitution of 1874 with
the introduction of the referendum as the most important
element of direct democracy. In 1891 the people's initiative
was ushered in as the second main pillar of direct democracy.
The eventful 19th century brought far-reaching economic and
social change with industrialisation and the rapid development
of transport and means of communication. The 20th century
started out with great hopes of peace and prosperity, but soon
such hopes were dashed by the First World War (1914 to 1918),
the Russian Revolution (1917), the General Strike in Switzerland (1918) and the Great Depression (1927). National Socialism
plunged Germany and the world into the Second World War.
Switzerland was one of the few countries in Europe that was
largely unscathed by the war, but its restrictive refugee policy
and the acceptance of Nazi gold left it morally at fault. The
second half of the 20th century saw almost unchecked economic growth, which first made possible the liberal, affluent
society of today, along with its dark underbelly (environmental
problems, rampant individualism).
–
www.geschichte-schweiz.ch, www.admin.ch
23
EN
Total area: 41,284.5 km2
Population: 7.7 million,
with roughly 21 % foreigners
d
s an out Capital: Bern
t
c
fa s ab
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nd Languages / Swiss: 64 % German,
figu tzerla
20 % French, 6.5 % Italian,
swi
0.5 % Romanian, 9 % other
Languages / Zurich: predominantly Swiss German / High German
Political system: Switzerland is a federal, democratic state.
It comprises 26 cantons, each with their own constitution,
parliament and government (federalism). The national
government consists of seven federal councils.
Religion: 42 % Catholic, 35 % Protestant, 23 % other
urich
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Number of residents in the city:
385,000 with 30.5 % foreigners
from 167 nations
Number of people employed in the city:
370,000
Residents of the Zurich metropolitan area:
1.9 million
Students: 43,300
Part of the creative industries of Switzerland in proportion
to the entire economy: 20 % (CHF 9.2 billion)
Overnight hotel stays: 2.6 million
Total area: 91.9 km2
Forest area: 21.5 %
Altitude: 406 metres above the sea
–
www.zuerich.com
–
www.zvv.ch/en/tickets/tickets-and-prices/zuerich-card.html (ZürichCARD - so much pleasure for
little money)
–
writeon.swissinfo.ch (blog about life in Switzerland)
27
EN
In Switzerland distinct differences in nature
and landscape are condensed in a small
d
area. Switzerland is home to part of the
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re a
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t
Alps, which stretch over almost 1,000 km
Na imate
l
from Nice to Vienna. There are hundreds
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of soaring peaks, with the Dufourspitze
rising to 4,633 metres above sea level. Closely connected
to the Alps (60 %) are the Mittelland (Swiss Plateau) (30 %)
and Jura (10 %), the other two major landscapes. Switzerland
extends to the Po Valley in the south, where Mediterranean
influences can be felt, and to the Black Forest in the north.
All the major rivers, the Rhone, the Rhine, the Reuss and the
Ticino, have their source in Gotthard, and each flows in a
different direction.
urich
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Thanks to its location in the temperate zone and the fact that it
extends both to the north and south of the Alps, Switzerland has
an extremely varied range of climates and therefore habitats.
Zurich has a continental climate, and it can get very hot in the
summer. The mercury can go above 30 degrees C and then
people bathe wherever possible. In winter the weather is cold
and damp, with temperatures sometimes falling as low as
minus 20 C. Warm, waterproof clothing is highly recommended
in such weather.
Switzerland has four national languages
according to the federal constitution:
e
German, French, Italian and Rhaetog
ua
g
n
Romance. The linguistic areas are divided
la
into numerous dialects. Swiss German has
the greatest variety. High German is the written language. In
Zurich the people speak «Züritüütsch«. However, it is common
for Swiss people to use High German when speaking with guests
from abroad. If that is not the case, then do not hesitate to
mention that you cannot understand the dialect. Although
urich
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Swit
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EN
Zurich is a cosmopolitan city and many people speak several
languages, we recommend that you acquire some German.
In addition to learning German, you will not be able to avoid
getting to know a little «Züritüütsch». Here is a short and funny
course in Swiss German «Schwiizertüütsch» on the Internet:
www.eldrid.ch/switzerland.htm & www.idiotikon.ch
urich
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and &
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t
Swi
ry
bula
a
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vo
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EN
Hoi
→
Hi
Grüezi
→
Hello
Wie häsch es?
→
How are you?
Tschüss / Adiöö
→
Goodbye
Ässe
→
Food
Trinkä
→
Drink
Beiz
→
Restaurant
Schoggi
→
Chocolate
Pulee
→
Chicken
Rüebli
→
Carrots
Wäje
→
Fruit flan
s Cüppli
→ glass of champagne
Stange
→ small beer (barrel)
s Händi
→
mobile telephone
Poschte
→
to go shopping
de Stutz
→
money
Floomi
→
Flea market
Gwafför
→
Hairdresser
s Billet
→
Ticket (transport)
seckle
→
to hurry
echlii
→
a little
gäll
→
isn't that so?
s Liibli
→
T-shirt
Chnüüsi
→
socks
uf d Gass gaa
→
to go out
Abmache
→
to arrange
Blöffsack
→
Braggart
es Gabaree mache →
make a scene
en Stei haa
→
have a headache
urich
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and &
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t
Swi
tz
cha
s
n
ne
ne
i ha schö
am risee
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Ich han en Schatz am schöne Zürisee,
So giz e käine mee, jolo lolo liuh
Drum gan ich immer gern an Zürisee,
Won ich min Schatz cha xee, jolo liuu
Ich han en gern vo ganzem Herze,
S tät mer schüli wee,
Wän ich müessti tänke,
Das ich iin hüt nüme xee
I have a sweetheart at the beautiful Lake Zurich
He / she is one of a kind, la la la
That's why I always like to go to Lake Zurich
Where I can see my sweetheart, la la la
I love him / her with all my heart,
It would grieve me so
If I had to think
Of never seeing him / her again
–
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oudHc0Qclg
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Zu
and &
erl
Switz
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www.klubschule.ch
www.flyingteachers.com
www.eb-zuerich.ch
If you are the citizen of an EU country, you
do not need a visa to enter Switzerland. All
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you need to do is register with the relevant
d
an
a
s
i
office after your arrival. If you are not an
v
y
entr
EU citizen, you need to apply for an entry
visa at the Swiss representation in your
country. Make sure you find out the details about applying
ion
t
orma
ul Inf
39
EN
for a visa well in advance (at least 3 months). Note that you
must not enter the country with a tourist visa. If you do so, you
will not be able to apply for a residence permit. Once you are
here, you will not be able to have your tourist visa changed to
a student visa. You will have to leave the country and reapply
for a visa in your home country.
–
www.bfm.admin.ch/bfm/en/home.html (for more information about the visa obligation)
–
www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/reps.html (Swiss representations abroad)
By train: The Zurich main railway station
is located in the centre of the city. An
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t
excellent network of Intercity and fast
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llin
e
v
trains connects the city on a half-hourly
tra urich
basis with all major Swiss cities and with
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daily connections to various European
metropolises (Paris, Barcelona, Milan, Rome, Vienna, Munich,
Berlin, Hamburg, Amsterdam and Brussels). Over 3,000 trains
pass through the station daily.
ion
t
orma
ul Inf
By air: Zurich Airport (Kloten Airport) is 11 km or 10 minutes by
train from the Zurich city centre. A railway station is situated
on the lower level of the airport. Five to ten trains travel directly
to the Zurich main railway station hourly. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket counter or ticket machines and are valid
for one hour. Travelling by taxi is very expensive in Switzerland.
By car: We would advise against arriving by car. Zurich is
known for its lack of parking spaces. It is extremely timeconsuming and expensive to park a car in the city.
43
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The public transport (ÖV) network in
Switzerland is very well developed. Every
Usef
n
i
last corner of the country is accessible
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llin d
e
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by public transport. Anyone keen to see
tra ich an d
the country and travel from time to time
zur erlan
z
t
should buy the Halbtax, with which you
i
Sw
can travel half price throughout Switzerland on all lines of the SBB (Swiss Railways), as well as on
many private and mountain trains, shipping lines and post
buses. For young people aged between 16 and 25, there is also
the Gleis-7-Abonnement, which entitles you to travel free of
charge by train on the whole network of the SBB between 7 pm
and 5 am.
tion
orma
ul Inf
–
www.sbb.ch
–
www.mapsearch.ch, www.map.search.ch/zuerich
–
www.map24.ch
The public transport network in Zurich is even denser. The Zürcher
Verkehrsbund (Zurich Transport Network) offers connections in
all directions, every few minutes during the day, and throughout the night at weekends. For young people aged up to 25,
there are discounts on travel passes. The monthly ticket for
Zone 10 (city area), the Regenbogenabonnement (rainbow pass)
allows unlimited travel on buses, trams, trains, boats and cog
railways (of which there are 3 in Zurich). If you head out of the
city, you need to buy a ticket for the additional zones as required.
–
www.vbz.ch
–
www.zvv.ch
–
www.stadt-zuerich.ch/content/aoz/de/index/shop/veloverleih/standorte.html
A cheap alternative is the bicycle. The city, which is partly
hilly, will keep you fit. Second-hand bicycles are available in
thrift stores and at the flea market. From May to October there
are various bicycle rental stands, where bicycles can be hired
free for a day if you leave behind a deposit.
47
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The living situation for students in Zurich
may well be quite different from what you
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ich are used to. None of the campuses offer
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g
accommodation. Instead three or four
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i
liv
students typically look for a flat together
and rent it as a shared flat («Wohngemeinschaft – WG»).
For students who are new to Zurich that it can be somewhat
difficult. However, many ads are published online. The Home
from Home for Students in Zurich (WOKO) lets over 1,400
furnished rooms in student shared flats or student halls of
residence, some of which are specifically for foreign students.
tion
orma
ul Inf
Start your search for a flat in Zurich as soon as possible.
We would recommend that you reserve temporary, cheap
accommodation in a youth hostel or backpacker hotel for the
first days if you plan to continue your flat search once you are
in Zurich. Don't forget to cancel the reservation in time, if you
have already found a definite place to live from abroad.
–
Home from Home for Students in Zurich (WOKO): www.woko.ch
–
Accommodation platforms (for rooms): www.wgzimmer.ch, www.students.ch, www.housinganywhere.com
–
Accommodation platforms (flats): www.homegate.ch
–
Youth hostel: www.youthhostel.ch
–
Backpacker hotel: www.city-backpacker.ch
–
Accommodation network: www.belodged.com
–
ZHdK housing suggestions: www.zhdk.ch/index.php?id=wohnen
–
Houseswap: www.casaswap.com
ion
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r
s fo
e
i
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i
g in
mal
for isterin nd
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51
EN
Anyone staying in Switzerland for longer
than three months needs a residence
permit. In the city of Zurich you need to
register within 8 days of your arrival with
the relevant district office and apply for
a residence permit. The city is divided into
8 districts, each with its own district office.
53
EN
Für die Anmeldung brauchst du folgende Dokumente:
– Gültiger Pass oder Identitätskarte
– Studienplatzbestätigung der ZHdK
– 2 Passbilder
– Nachweis über genügend finanzielle Mittel für den Aufenthalt
in der Schweiz
– Mietvertrag
– Studierende aus EU-Ländern: European Health Insurance Card
– CHF 20.– für die Gebühren
There are many banks in Zurich. The largest
banks with several branches are UBS,
Credit Suisse, Zürcher Kantonalbank ZKB and die Post (post
office). Most are open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4.30 pm.
Change bureaus can be found at all railway stations. They
change 90 different currencies with good conditions. At the
Zurich main railway station, the change bureau is open daily
from 6.30 am to 9.30 pm.
Y,
ENC YR
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CU NG, PA
DS
KI
BAN METHO
T
MEN
–
www.stadt-zuerich.ch/content/prd/de/index/bevoelkerungsamt/personenmeldeamt/Kontakte_und_
Oeffnungszeiten.html (Adressen und Öffnungszeiten der Kreisbüros der Stadt Zürich)
Einige Wochen nach deiner Anmeldung erhältst du ein offizielles
Schreiben, welches dich auffordert, deine Aufenthaltsgenehmigung abzuholen. Ist die Zeit der Genehmigung abgelaufen,
kann sie verlängert werden. Die jährlichen Kosten betragen ca.
CHF 65.–. Erasmus-Studierende bezahlen im Kanton Zürich keine
Gebühren.
Usef
orma
ul Inf
tion
The official currency is the Swiss Franc.
Common abbreviations are SFR, Fr or
the official banking abbreviation CHF.
1 Franc corresponds to 100 Rappen.
A few weeks after registering you will receive an official letter
asking you to collect your residence permit. If the residence
permit expires, it can be extended. Annual costs are approx.
CHF 65 (Erasmus students do not pay any fee in the Zurich
canton).
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To register you will need the following documents:
– Valid passport or identity card
– Confirmation of your place at the Zurich University of the Arts
– 2 passport photographs
– Proof of sufficient financial means for your stay in Switzerland
– Rental contract
– Students from EU countries: European Health Insurance Card
– CHF 20 to cover the administrative fee
–
www.stadt-zuerich.ch/content/prd/de/index/bevoelkerungsamt/personenmeldeamt/Kontakte_und_
Oeffnungszeiten.html (Addresses and opening hours of the district offices of the city of Zurich)
If you live outside the city, you should go to the residents'
registration office (Einwohnerkontrolle) of the local government.
Ask your landlord or flatmates at which office you should register.
Die offizielle Währung ist der Schweizer
Franken. Gängige Abkürzungen sind SFr.,
Fr. oder die offizielle Bankabkürzung CHF.
1 Franken entspricht 100 Rappen.
H
Banken gibt's in Zürich viele. Die grössten
MET
Häuser mit mehreren Filialen sind UBS,
Credit Suisse, Zürcher Kantonalbank ZKB und die Post. Die
meisten sind von Montag bis Freitag, 9 bis 16.30 Uhr, geöffnet.
Die Wechselstube Change ist in allen Bahnhöfen zu finden. Sie
wechselt 90 verschiedene Währungen zu guten Konditionen. Im
Zürcher Hauptbahnhof ist die Wechselstube Change täglich
von 6.30 bis 21.30 Uhr geöffnet.
In der Schweiz kannst du fast überall ein Bank- oder Postkonto eröffnen. Es kann dir dienen, um Geldüberweisungen zu empfangen
und Rechnungen zu bezahlen. Die meisten Banken bieten ein
53
DE
In Switzerland you can open a bank or post office account
almost everywhere, enabling you to receive money transfers
and to pay bills. Most banks offer student accounts for students
aged up to 30 (UBS: «UBS Campus», Credit Suisse: «Academia»,
ZKB: «Bildungsplus», die Post (post office): «Ausbildungskonto»).
Such accounts typically have special conditions and offer a
Mastro card enabling you to withdraw money at cash machines
and to pay directly in most shops. To open an account, you
will need a valid passport and a copy of your registration confirmation for the residence permit.
Zurich has a very high standard of living,
but it comes at a price. Living costs are
Use
S
T
relatively high in Switzerland, especially
COS
G
N
in Zurich. You should reckon with at least
LIVI
CHF 1,500 per month, depending on
individual needs. Rental fees for flats and rooms in shared
flats, in particular, are very expensive because of the short
supply. It is possible to reduce daily spending somewhat by
shopping at the flea markets, Zurich thrift stores and second
hand shops, of which there are many. They are all listed on
the Internet: www.nichtneu.ch
ation
form
ful In
Depending on the nationality international
students can work up to 15 hours a week
Use
N
during the academic semester and 42
I
ING D
K
R
hours a week during semester holidays.
WO ERLAN
Z
T
Please note that any form of employment
I
SW
is subject to students holding an official
work permit. Please contact the Office for Economy and Labour
of the Zurich canton for details: www.awa.zh.ch
ation
form
ful In
–
Vacancies are best found online: www.marktplatz.ethz.ch, www.arbeitsvermittlung.unizh.ch,
www.jobpilot.ch, www.jobs.ch, www.monster.ch, www.students.ch, www.telejob.ch
57
EN
Anyone living for longer than three months
in Switzerland is required by law to have
Usef
health insurance. If you have health insurlth
hea nce
ance in your home country, check whether
a
r
u
it covers the basic insurance obligation
ins
in Switzerland. If that is the case, bring a
European Health Insurance Card, E111 form or confirmation of
your insurance cover with you to Switzerland.
tion
orma
ul Inf
If your insurance cover is not sufficient, you will need to take
out supplementary insurance. If you do not have any health
insurance cover, you will need to take out insurance. That is
possible in Switzerland, but it is very expensive. In any case,
insurance confirmation is always necessary, because otherwise you will be compulsorily insured at your own cost.
–
For detailed information see:
www.zhdk.ch/fileadmin/data_zhdk/studium/Versicherungen/Krankenkasse/Merkblatt_
Krankenversicherung_d.pdf
www.zhdk.ch/fileadmin/data_zhdk/International_Office/Krankassenangebot_CSS_E.pdf
(Offer of low-cost health insurance for international students)
In the case of an accident or illness, you
can contact the Emergency Medical
Usef
d
Service at any time. The «Ärztefon» is the
n
ss a ies
e
n
official medical emergency call line of the
l
il
enc
g
r
city of Zurich and the surrounding areas.
eme
The staff is available around the clock,
puts you in contact with emergency doctors and pharmacists
and advises on medical questions. The service is free of charge.
tion
orma
ul Inf
–
Emergency Medical Service Ärztefon around the clock daily: +41 44 421 2121, www.aerztefon.ch
–
Emergency doctor around the clock daily: Neumühlequai 38, Zürich, +41 44 360 4444
–
Permanence medical station daily from 7 am to 10 pm: at the Zurich main railway station,
+41 44 215 4444, www.permanence.ch
–
Bellevue Pharmacy, around the clock daily: Theaterstrasse 14, Zürich, +41 44 266 6222
–
Bahnhofapotheke (Railway station pharmacy), daily from 7 am to midnight: at the Zurich main railway
station, +41 44 225 4242
61
EN
Police: 117
Fire department: 118
Usef
y
Ambulance: 144
c
gen
r
e
Toxicological institute
s
em
ber
m
u
(for poisoning emergencies): 145
N
Roadside assistance service: 140
Psychological hotline – die dargebotene Hand
(a Hand Extended): 143
tion
orma
ul Inf
January: 1 New Year's Day, 2 Berchtoldstag
March / April: Good Friday, Easter Monday,
s Sechseläuten (2nd or 3rd Monday in April)
y
Usef
a
id
Hol
c
i
May / June: 1 May Labour Day, Ascension
l
pub
Day, Whit Monday
August: 1 August National Holiday
September: Knabenschiessen (2nd or 3rd Monday in September)
December: 24 – 26 December Christmas
tion
orma
ul Inf
Migros and Coop are the two largest
supermarket chains in Switzerland. They
e both have low-budget product lines for
d
Use
i
u
g
ping
daily consumption that are nevertheless of
p
o
sh
good quality (Migros Budget / Coop Prix
Garantie). Migros is cheaper, but does not sell any alcohol or
tobacco products. Aldi, Denner and Lidl are additional discount
stores, but the products they sell are often somewhat lesser
quality. In Zurich food shops are open from Monday to Friday
from 8 am to 6.30 pm and on Saturday from 8 am to 4 pm. In
the city centre almost all shops are open Monday to Saturday
from 9 am to 8 pm. The Coop Bahnhofbrücke at the Zurich main
railway station offers a very large selection and is open Monday
to Saturday from 7 am to 10 pm.
ation
form
ful In
Flowers, fresh vegetables and fruits are available at the
markets on Bürkliplatz and Helvetiaplatz (Tuesday / Friday),
65
EN
in Örlikon and on Lindenplatz (Wednesday / Saturday).
Delicacies from all over the world can be found at the Wednesday market in the large hall of the main railway station.
It is possible to reduce daily spending somewhat by shopping
at the flea markets, Zurich thrift stores and second hand shops,
of which there are many. They are all listed on the Internet:
www.nichtneu.ch
In recent years, many Swiss designers have established themselves with their labels and workshops in the Zurich districts
4 and 5. The large department stores Globus, Jelmoli, Manor
and St. Annahof are located around Bahnhofstrasse and on
Bellevue. Dotted between them are the shops of international
brands (H&M, Esprit, Bodum, Bally, Bata, Versace, Prada etc.).
Zurich has a large shopping selection, mostly with steep prices.
–
www.kreislauf4und5.ch, www.zuerich.com/en/Visitor/Experience/Shopping.html, www.montagsmarkt.ch
For calls inside Switzerland, first dial 0 + the
area code. For international calls, dial 00 +
Usef
s
l
the international country code. Various
l
e ca
n
o
operators offer monthly subscriptions
ph
or prepaid cards. The largest company,
which is state-owned, is Swisscom. It is worth comparing current
offers. The website www.comparis.ch is recommended for that
purpose. For consultation and offers, visit one of the 8 Mobilezone shops.
ion
t
orma
ul Inf
–
www.mobilezone.ch
–
www.swisscom.ch
tion
orma
ul Inf
Usef
ice
rv
t Se
pos
69
EN
Switzerland has a public post service
called «die Post», with branches in almost
all villages, towns and cities. The post
offices are usually open between 7.30 am
and 6 pm (Monday to Friday) and from
9 am to 12 pm (Saturday). The main post office (Sihlpost) at
the main railway station, Kasernenstrasse 95, is open from
6.30 am to 10.30 pm (Monday to Friday), from 6.30 am to 8 pm
(Saturday) and from 10 am to 10.30 pm (Sunday) www.post.ch.
In addition to the state television broadcasters SF (German), TSR (French) and
Usef
o
i
TSI (Italian), there are also some private
d
Ra
d
n
broadcasters. It is possible to receive most
tv a
foreign TV channels via the various digital
TV providers. If you own a radio set, television or a computer
with Internet access, you are required to pay monthly radio
and / or television fees in Switzerland, which are charged by
Billag. and to actively register www.billag.ch. If you fail to do
so, you could be fined up to CHF 5,000. In shared flats the fee
is paid collectively. If you are renting a room, ask whether the
household is already registered or not. Provider for TV reception
via the internet: www.zattoo.com
ion
t
orma
ul Inf
Newspapers in all languages and from
many countries are available at the large
Usef
s
newspaper kiosks at the railway station.
er
pap
s
The «Neue Zürcher Zeitung» (NZZ) is
w
ne
probably the best-known newspaper and
is popular with banks and companies because of its business
section. It also has an appealing magazine section («Feuilleton»)
with in-depth articles about current cultural events. The «Tagesanzeiger», abbreviated to «Tagi», is the newspaper that best
informs about events in and around the city with its Thursday
insert «Züritipp». You can also pick up the «Züritipp» throughout
the week at the tourist information office in the main railway
station. In the mornings and evenings free newspapers are
barely distributed before they can be found lying around as
rubbish.
tion
orma
ul Inf
73
EN
If you bring electronic equipment with you,
make sure that the voltage and frequency
Usef
y
of your appliance is compatible with that
t
i
ric
t
c
of the Swiss electricity network (voltage:
e
el
230 V, frequency: 50 Hz). The sockets have
either two pins or three pins: CEE 7 / 16, standardised European
plug or SEV 1011. Adaptors can be purchased everywhere in
electronic shops and large supermarkets.
tion
orma
ul Inf
In Switzerland good, clean water is a matter
of course, rather than a luxury. You can
Usef
drink the water from taps in flats, public
er
Wat
buildings and the city's fountains without
any hesitation. The quality is always very
good. The Swiss lakes and rivers are also clean everywhere and
suitable for bathing.
tion
orma
ul Inf
Rubbish is separated. Glass, paper, cardboard, metal, wood, batteries, PET, textiles
Usef
and aluminium are collected separately
bish l
b
u
free of charge. What remains can be
r
sa
o
p
s
collected in a rubbish bag called the
di
«Zürisack». Zürisacks are available at
supermarkets at the cash desks and you need to ask for them.
They are not all that cheap. You have to pay a surcharge per
bag according to the «polluter pays» principle. You should not
use other rubbish bags, as these will not be taken away by the
rubbish disposal service. Zürisacks, paper and cardboard are
collected, but you must take the other rubbish to the designated disposal sites. Ask your landlord or flatmates about the
nearest disposal sites.
ion
t
orma
ul Inf
–
www.erz.ch (Disposal and Recycling Zürich)
77
EN
ife
e of L
Zurich's cultural life is varied and immensely rich. In addition to the renowned,
lea
ts traditional institutions such as the Opernn
The P
e
ev
ral tlife haus (Opera House), Schauspielhaus
u
t
l
cu d Nigh
(Playhouse), Tonhalle (Concert Hall) and
an
Kunsthaus (Art Museum), there are also
countless theatres, music restaurants, cultural clubs, dance
houses, trendy bars, culture factories and concert halls of all
sizes, and above all, a considerable number of media, design,
theatre, music, dance and art festivals. The list of art galleries
is long and dotted with household names. The Zurich University
of the Arts alone offers over 1,000 events yearly: theatre performances, concerts, exhibitions, lectures, podium events, films etc.
Sid
sant
–
www.zhdk.ch/index.php?id=agenda
In addition, there is a multitude of restaurants, bars, clubs
and discos and a wide range of films showing at the countless cinemas in Zurich. The many cinemas that offer films in
the original language with German and French subtitles are
particularly popular. The cinema (Filmstelle) of the Students'
Association of ETH (VSETH) screens good films at low prices.
–
www.filmstelle.ch
Information about current events and leisure activities can be
found in Züritipp. This cultural guide with editorial contributions
is published as an insert in the Thursday edition of Tagesanzeiger. The Züritipp is available throughout the week from the
Zurich tourism office in the main railway station or online at
www.zueritipp.ch
Ron Orp's mail connects you and brings the gems of everyday
life to your inbox – inspiring and surprising. Tips about concerts,
art, parties, food and drink, shopping, media, jobs, people,
conversations, projects, special offers, flats and everything else
going on in the city.
–
www.kulturinfo.ch, www.guide.local.ch, www.events.ch, www.museen-zuerich.ch, www.tom-brain.ch,
www.students.ch, www.usgang.ch, www.zuerich.ch, www.ronorp.ch/zuerich, www.restkultur.ch
81
EN
ife
e of L
The Erasmus Student Network is a Europewide student organisation with over 350
lea
branches in 34 countries. The aim of the
The P
s
smu
a
organisation is to provide students with
r
E
ent
d
u
t
S
ESN local support during their exchange
ork
semester and to promote their social and
w
t
Ne
personal integration. ESN Zurich would
like to help international students to feel at home at soon as
possible in Zurich, to enjoy their time here and to familiarise
themselves with the local cultural life. To that end, it organises
numerous events such as parties, excursions, tours, buddy
programmes, provides information and is also there if you are
in trouble.
Sid
sant
–
zurich.esn.ch
ife
e of L
Thanks to its central location in Switzerland, Zurich is an ideal starting point
lea
f
for trips in every direction. Other Swiss
The P
o
out
s
p
cities worth seeing like Bern, Basel, Chur,
i
tr
ich
r
u
Lucerne, Schaffhausen, Solothurn and
Z
St. Gallen as well as the somewhat more
distant Lausanne, Locarno, Lugano and even Geneva, are also
easily accessible for day trips. There are also regular train connections to the mountains. Swiss Railways (SBB) has various
special offers each month (Monatshits). That makes it cheaper
to travel to one of the viewpoint mountains of the north ridge
of the Alps (Säntis, Pilatis, Rigi, Titlis, Jungfraujoch). In winter
there are also offers including daily skiing tickets and accommodation. The northern foothills of the Alps can be reached
quickly from Zurich and provide wonderful landscapes for hiking, cycling tours and mountain lake swimming.
Sid
sant
–
www.zuerich.com, www.myswitzerland.com, www.sbb.ch, www.wandersite.ch, www.veloland.ch,
www.railaway.ch
85
EN
ife
e of L
If you would like to eat in a restaurant,
you should reckon with at least CHF 15
lea
t
for a lunchtime set meal. That includes
The P
u
go
n
i
t
a salad or soup and the daily special. In
ea
the evening it is more expensive. There are
countless restaurants in Zurich with cuisines from all over the
world. The tip is essentially included in the price, but it is also
usual to tip when paying, depending on your satisfaction with
the service and food.
Sid
sant
º Valid passport, ID card
º Visa (for students from non-EU / EFTA
C
countries)
re
º Confirmation of place at university
befo ture
r
º Health insurance card (students from
depa
EU countries)
º Written confirmation of health insurance cover by your
health insurance fund, including a detailed list of all
insurance benefits (students from non-EU countries)
º Proof of liability insurance (if available)
º Sufficient cash (deposit for a room, tickets etc.)
º Bank statement to prove sufficient financial means, grant
confirmation
º Passport photo
º Specialities and information material from home country
list
heck
st
eckli
Ch
ival
r
r
rA
afte zurich
in
89
EN
º Registration at the university
º Registration at the residents'
registration office (within 8 days of
entering the country)
list
heck
C
ing
eav
L
e
r
befozurich
ks
mar
al Re
Fin
ENTS
UD
T ST
A
H
W
SAY
º Termination of rental contract in
sufficient time
º De-registration with the residents'
registration office
Final remarks by students from a selection
of reports written at the end of their studies
in Zurich
«This stay in Zurich, attending Zürcher
Hochschule der Künste has been one of
the most memorable stays i've ever had. Although some of the
Swiss ways are similar to the Japanese, the city its self, simple
beautiful and spectacular, gave me a whole new perspective of
how life should be.» Emilee Taura, Kyoto
«Zurich is a city full of sunshine and passion. I love here very
much.» Yuejun Deng, Hangzhou
«I find Zürich to be a very interesting city and the school to be
a very relevant element in a place where art and creativity is
highly regarded and floursihing.» Michael Roloff, Kolding
«Experiencing an alphorn player during my morning jogging
is one of the unforgettable moments that I am thankful for
because it is a unique feature of life in a city like Zurich.»
Bettina Bühr, Berlin
«I had a great time here in Zürich and the ZHDK. I improved my
German, learned a lot of new people and enjoyed every minute
of Zürich and its beauty.» Ellen van den Munckhof, Rotterdam
«I really had the most incredible time on my Erasmus experience,
met so many amazing people and have valuable connections
93
EN
for my future career. Really, it made this year the best one so
far!» Stephen Maguire, Dublin
«In general as a city, and place to live, i LOVE LOVE Zurich! It
is amazing and beautiful, and everyone has been oh so vey
kind and welcoming to me. It has been and extremely positive
experience, and i will most certainly try to come back in the
future!!!» Bianca Guthrie, Vancouver
«Overall my stay here in your wonderful country has been a
memorable time. I always have it in my heart and my soul.
Thank You!» Annika Brandt, Helsinki
«It was a really great experience and i cant wait for the next
opportunity that our roads with meet again.» Amir Avraham,
Jerusalem
«Choosing Zurich for my erasmus has been the greatest
professional decision of my life.» Eduardo Ibora, Barcelona
97
EN
ce
Servi
es
Not
101
EN
Z