1 University of Lucerne International Relations Office Guide for International

1 University of Lucerne International Relations Office Guide for International Students CONTENT About Switzerland and Lucerne 4 About the University of Lucerne 7 Planning your period of study abroad 8 Arriving in Lucerne 13 Studying at the University of Lucerne 16 Life on campus 23 Living in Lucerne 27 Important contacts 33 Important emergency and service numbers 34 City map 35 Dear student Thank you for choosing the University of Lucerne for your period of study abroad. We hope that you will enjoy your stay and that your semester spent studying in Lucerne will be the experience of a lifetime. This step-by-step Guide for International Students will take you through all the informa­ tion you require to plan and organise what will hopefully be an exciting and enriching stay at the University of Lucerne. We are looking forward to welcoming you in Lucerne! International Relations Office University of Lucerne Introduction to the Guide for International Students: Please note that this brochure contains information for different categories of ­ students: exchange students, international degree students, students with a Swiss government scholarship, and others. Please consider only the information that ­ applies to your ­ status. WELCOME TO SWITZERLAND, WELCOME TO LUCERNE © Bruno Rubatscher | cover © Roberto Conciatori 4 Switzerland is a small country located in the heart of Western Europe. It shares ­ borders with Germany, Austria, the Principality of Liechtenstein, Italy and France. Around 7.7 million people live in Switzerland, and there are four official languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh. Switzerland has an area of 41,285 square kilometres, of which more than 60% is ­ occupied by the Alps, a vast mountain range that stretches approximately one thou­ sand kilometres from Austria to France. Switzerland enjoys one of the most competitive economies in the world (ranked first in the WEF Global Competitiveness Report 2010–2011), which relies mainly on the tertiary sector (many large multinational corporations such as Nestlé, Novartis and ABB have their headquarters in Switzerland, as do several international banks). Switzerland also has a high ranking in terms of its standard of living. A well-kept ­ environment that is easily accessible by public transport, safe cities, and excellent infrastructures make living in Switzerland very pleasant, and explain why the Global Ranking of Cities with a High Quality of Life ranks three Swiss cities among the top ten (Mercer’s 2010 Quality of Living Survey). Information on Switzerland www.admin.ch www.ch.ch Lucerne is located in the German-speaking region of central northern Switzerland and is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the largest city in Central Switzerland, with around 76,000 inhabitants. Lucerne has long been a destination for tourists due to its location on the shores of Lake Lucerne (the Vierwaldstättersee), within sight of the Pilatus and Rigi ­ mountains in the Swiss Alps. One of the city’s famous landmarks is the Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke), a wooden bridge built in the 14th century. Lucerne was voted one of the top 12 travel destinations in the world by TripAdvisor. Other famous attractions include the Lion Monument, the Culture and Convention Centre (KKL), and the Swiss Museum of Transport. Tourist Information Lucerne www.luzern.com/en ABOUT SWITZERLAND AND LUCERNE © Emanuel Ammon/AURA 5 6 FACTS UNIVERSITY OF LUCERNE Number of Students (fall semester 2011) 2710 International students 11% Female students 57% Professors 65 Mid-level faculty 235 Lecturers and visiting professors 115 Administrative staff 90 7 The University of Lucerne is the youngest university in Switzerland. Its roots stretch back as far as 1600, but it has only existed as a modern university since 2000. In the decade since it was founded, the number of students has grown from approximately 250 to around 2700 today. The University of Lucerne comprises three faculties: Theology, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Law. It holds the leading position in tertiary education in Central Swit­ zerland, and is a key player in the fields of scientific research, education and further education. It helps to shape the economic life of Central Switzerland and is a driving force in regional and cross-regional development. The University of Lucerne is located in central Lucerne next to the central railway sta­ tion, the Culture and Convention Centre (KKL) and Lake Lucerne. The campus is 23,000 square metres in size and has seven levels, of which two are underground. All lec­ tures are held in the main campus building, and the Main and University Library (ZHB ­ Luzern) is also located on the campus. Main address: University of Lucerne Frohburgstrasse 3 P.O. Box 4466 CH-6002 Lucerne Switzerland Phone: +41 41 229 50 00 (general number) Fax: +41 41 229 50 01 (general number) Web: www.unilu.ch Opening hours: Monday – Friday 07:30 – 22:00 Saturday 07:45 – 16:00 The University of Lucerne is closed on Sundays and public holidays. ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF LUCERNE © Bruno Rubatscher 8 PLANNING YOUR PERIOD OF STUDY ABROAD In this chapter, we cover the key issues that you need to consider before coming to Lucerne. APPLICATION AND ADMISSION Exchange students Exchange students coming to the University of Lucerne as part of an exchange pro­ gramme do not need to apply for admission at the University of Lucerne. Once you are accepted as an exchange student, you will receive all necessary information from our International Relations Office. The application deadlines depend on your home university. Please ensure that you ­ request all relevant information in good time. Once you have been nominated for a semester of study abroad at the University of Lucerne, you will receive an information package containing all necessary information regarding your stay at the University of Lucerne. International degree students International degree students must apply for admission through the University of Lu­ cerne Admissions Office. Once you are admitted to study at the University of Lucerne, registration will be carried out by the Admissions Office. Admissions Office www.unilu.ch/eng/anmeldung_4142.html The application deadlines for international degree students are: Spring semester November 30 Fall semester April 30 Students with Swiss government scholarships Students who wish to apply for a Swiss government scholarship can find information on the website of the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students, FCS. Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students www.sbf.admin.ch/htm/themen/bildung/stipendien/eskas_en.html 9 SEMESTER DATES Spring semester weeks 8 to 22 Fall semester weeks 38 to 51 TUITION FEES CHF 785.00 per semester for Swiss citizens CHF 1’085.00 per semester for non-Swiss citizens (not applicable to exchange students) ENTRY AND VISA Exchange students from EU/EFTA countries You require a valid passport or identity card to enter Switzerland. Please consult the Swiss embassy or consulate in your home country for the current entry requirements. Exchange students from non-EU/EFTA countries You need to apply for a visa at the Swiss embassy or consulate in your home country at least three months before entering Switzerland. Students with Swiss government scholarships and international degree students (EU/EFTA and non-EU countries) You need to apply for a visa at the Swiss embassy or consulate general in your home country at least three months before entering Switzerland. If you are unsure as to whether or not you require a visa, please ask the local Swiss representation office. Representations of Switzerland abroad www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/reps.html Entry and visa conditions for Switzerland www.bfm.admin.ch/bfm/en/home/themen/einreise.html 10 TRAVEL TO SWITZERLAND By plane: The three largest international airports in Switzerland are Zurich Airport (the largest airport in Switzerland, with intercontinental services), Geneva Cointrin International Airport (the second largest airport, with intercontinental services) and EuroAirport ­ Basel Mulhouse Freiburg. The closest airport to Lucerne is Zurich Airport, which is a one-hour train journey from Lucerne. Swiss International Air Lines www.swiss.com By train: ICE, TGV, Railjet – You can travel to Switzerland on Europe’s fastest trains. Within a few minutes of your arrival, there is usually a connecting train to Lucerne from almost every large city in Switzerland. All trains have regular timetables. Swiss Railway Corporation – SBB www.sbb.ch CLIMATE The climate in Switzerland is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. Westerly winds trans­ port the sea air to Switzerland and are responsible for the country’s precipitation ­ levels. The Alps act as a climate barrier: Southern Switzerland, which is mainly influenced by the Mediterranean Sea, is characterised by a much milder climate than Northern ­ Switzerland. Lucerne has a central European climate, which means that it is hot in summer and cold in winter. It often snows in winter, but it is unusual to have snow on the ground for more than a few days in the city. However, you should be prepared for sub-zero temperatures during the winter months (November–February). Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology (including weather forecast) www.meteoschweiz.admin.ch/web/en/weather.html © Bruno Rubatscher 11 12 13 ARRIVING IN LUCERNE Living and studying away from home can be a challenging experience, particularly at the beginning of your stay. There are several formalities that must be taken care of during your first few days in Lucerne. REGISTRATION AT THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OFFICE As an exchange student, you must register at the University of Lucerne International Relations Office during the first week after your uploads/Litterature/ guide-international.pdf

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