Biology Undergraduate Summer School

Frequently asked questions

When will I know if I have been admitted to BUSS?

At the end of April you will know if you have been accepted to the BUSS program and after that we
will send out more information in a Welcome Letter.

Can I start earlier than July 1st or leave earlier/later than August 31st?
No. BUSS start and end dates are inflexible

Where will I live during BUSS?

Student residences are close to the Irchel Campus. You will receive further information by e-mail
once the location of your host lab is established.

Where will I eat?

The cheapest way to get a warm meal is at the Mensa of University. Please note that the Mensa and
Cafeterias of University are not open in the evening and on weekends. Please ask your personal su-
pervisor or people in the lab which Mensa / Cafeteria is closest to your host lab. Most of you will
have access to a kitchen in your student residence. Please ask people in your host lab where you can
buy food in your vicinity.

Am I eligible if I hold a Master degree?

No. The BUSS program is designed for undergraduate students.

What Currency do I need for Switzerland?

Switzerland has its own currency system, Swiss Francs. Some big department stores in Zurich accept
Euros, but it’s certainly better if you change your money to Swiss Francs.

What is the exchange rate for Swiss Francs?

For daily exchange rates please visit the following link:
http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic?lang=en
How do I get from the airport to Zurich City?
The easiest and cheapest way to get from the airport to Zurich main station is to take the train (S-
Bahn) or tram number 10. A one-way ride costs around 6 CHF.

How do I get to the campus from Zurich City/Main station?

From Zurich main station, the student residences are reachable by VBZ (the Zurich public transporta-
tion system, composed of trams and busses).

What does transportation within Zurich cost?

You will need a pass for the trams and busses in Zurich. This pass is personal, requires a photo, and
costs around 60 CHF per month for people younger than 25 years.

Is there a travel card for transportation within Switzerland?

The public transport in Switzerland is called SBB. They offer various package deals. Please inquire at
the main station. For all those who would like to see more of Switzerland it might be useful to get a
pass called Halbtax-Abonnement. It costs approximately 120 CHF per month or 165 CHF per year and
allows you to travel by train, tram, some boats and cable cars in Switzerland with half prize tickets.

What are the opening hours of the shops?

Shops are usually open from 8 or 9 am to 6h30 pm. Downtown Zurich many shops are open until 8
or 9 pm. On Saturdays, the shops close at 5 pm, and basically all shops are closed on Sundays. How-
ever, the shops at the main station are also open on Sundays, there is also a big grocery shop at the
main station.
Banks and post offices have very restricted opening hours. It might be worth to call.

Power supply?
If you are planning in bringing your own electrical equipment, please consider the following:
The voltage in Switzerland is 220 Volt, as in most EU-countries. However, as each country has its own
adaptor system, you will have to buy an adaptor between your power cable and the bus bar here.

Are there public holidays during my stay?

Switzerland celebrates its National Birthday on August, 1. It’s a public holiday, most shops will be
closed, most importantly: Mensa and Cafeterias will also be closed.
How about health care?
Health insurance is not mandatory for persons that stay less than 3 months in Switzerland. However,
we request students organize insurance during their stay. The University does not supply health in-
surance. There are several ways how you can assure that expenses for illness and accident are cov-
ered for the two months of your stay in Switzerland:
- Participants from EU-countries:
If you have health insurance in your country of residence, you can ask for a EU-Card. Contact your
insurance company at home. Please fill in the section in the application form and upload a scanned
copy or send the proof by e-mail.
- Participants from Non-EU countries:
The easiest and maybe cheapest way is to apply for insurance with Swisscare. This includes third
party liability which you must also procure: https://swisscare.com Please fill in the section in the ap-
plication form and upload a scanned copy or send the proof by e-mail.
- Alternatively:
You can get travel insurance from your own insurance company in your country of residence.

Student card?
Since your stay is only two months, and you do not have to enroll at the University, you will not get
the official student card from University. However, you will get a student ID card from BUSS that will
enable you to get student prizes at the Mensa and Cafeterias of the University.

What is this?
If you receive a letter in German (eg the University) and don’t understand what it means, please do
not hesitate to ask a person who speaks German to explain it to you. This way problems with author-
ities can be avoided right away.

Is there a possibility to do sports during my stay?

Yes, you can acquire a membership card for the University Sports club ASVZ for two months and
costs CHF 50.- Let us know if you would like to purchase such a card.

Do I have Internet access in my student residence?

Yes, there is Internet access in all students residences