Despite the wealth of information available about studying at the University of Zürich, you may still have certain questions about English Literature and Linguistics. The Frequently Asked Questions will hopefully answer these. Before you contact a member of staff for information, please check that the question has not already been answered below.

Latin

Q: Do I have to have Latin to study English in Zurich?

A: Most probably. With the exception of English as a second subsidiary for the old Lizenziat course of studies,  the kleines Latinum or equivalent is required for all courses in English at all levels (except PhD). Further information about the Latin requirement in the Faculty of Arts can be found here. Please note that if you wish to attend a lecture offered by the English Department for the Studium generale, you do not need Latin. 

Q: Do I have to have Latin before I can matriculate? 

A: No. The Latin requirement must be fulfilled before you can be allowed to graduate with your first degree from Zurich. Therefore, you may take the Latin courses alongside your studies.

Q: How long will it take me to do the Latin courses?

A: On average, you should reserve c. 15-20 credit points of the recommended annual total of 60 credit points (Regelstudienzeit) in order to allow enough time successfully to complete the two-semester Latin course.  Full information about Latin courses provided for the Latinum in Zurich can be found here. 

Admission and Accreditation

Q: I have a degree from a foreign university or college / from a Fachhochschule or Pädagogische Hochschule. Does this qualify me to register for an English degree?

A: The English Department does not have any jurisdiction over admissions. This is regulated by the Kanzlei (Student Administration Office). Please contact them concerning all admission matters. Foreign qualifications will be assessed by the KAVA office (Admissions Office for Students with Foreign Qualifications).  

Q: I have transferred to Zurich from a different university (either in Switzerland or abroad). Can I get credit for work done in English studies there to count towards my degree in Zurich?

A: It is normally possible to credit some or all work done at other equivalent educational institutions. This is decided on a 'sur dossier' basis once admission to the university has been completed. Only courses which cover the same material at a similar level and in the same depth as the programme in Zurich can be credited. Students may be asked to do supplementary work if there are minor discrepancies. Where major discrepancies occur, credit cannot be awarded. 

Q: I have done a University of Cambridge ESOL exam / TOEFL / TOEIC or similar. Can I get credit for this towards a degree in English?

A: No. 

Beginning Studies

Q: Is it possible to begin studying in either the Spring or the Autumn Semester?

A: In principle, it is possible to begin your studies in English in either the Spring or the Autumn semester. However, if you are a Bachelor student, please note that the majority of the Grundstufe courses are two semester courses which begin in the autumn semester only. Therefore, if you wish to begin a Bachelor course in the Spring, you can attend only the Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology and the Study Skills courses. This would also mean that the Grundstufe would take at least three semesters rather than the usual minimum of two. 

Master students should note that the Literature Pflichtkurs, 'Methods and Theory', runs in the Autumn Semester only. However, there is no requirement that this is completed before you attend other literature courses (though this is strongly recommended), and thus commencing your studies in the Spring should not be affected. 

Studium Generale

Q: Can I do English courses for the Studium Generale?

a: Yes, but only lecture courses for 2 KP. 

Study Abroad

Q: Can I spend some time studying abroad during my degree and have the courses count towards my degree in Zurich?

A: Yes. See the Study Abroad section for more information on the possibilities available with the support of the English Department, or contact the Erasmus Coordinator, Dr. Christiane Schlote. Note that currently you should plan an Erasmus exchange within your Bachelor degree.

In the Lizenziat programme, students are equally encouraged to study abroad. For work to be credited upon your return, you should ensure that the seminars done at the foreign university are of a similar level and scope to seminars in Zurich. You must also complete an equivalent amount of work for credit. For example, seminar papers must be c. 15 pages in length to earn credit for a Seminar mit Seminararbeit. Proseminar papers should be between 4,000 and 5,000 words in length. You should take all relevant information (course description, papers, proof of credit at the foreign university) to the Advisor of Studies, Katherine J. Williams to have the work assessed for accreditation upon return to Zurich.

Lizenziat to Bachelor Transfer

Q: I am currently studying in the Lizenziat programme, but would like to change to the Bachelor programme. Is this possible?

A: Yes, this is possible, but certain conditions are attached. Transfer is possible only once the Zwischenprüfung has been passed in the Hauptfach. Students with their Hauptfach in English may transfer only after successful completion of both Zwischenprüfungen, for which they will be awarded 60 KP. Students with English as a 1NF or 2NF may transfer after successfully completing the relevant Akzessexam. They will be credited with 40 KP or 30 KP respectively. All transfers require a written application to be made to the Dean's Office.

Please note: We recommend that Lizenziat students consider a transfer to Bachelor only if they do not intend to continue to Master level, and thus wish to complete their studies more quickly than would be possible by staying in the Lizenziat programme. As a Lizenziat degree is simultaneously also an Master degree, there is otherwise no reason to make the change. 

Enrolling for Courses

Q: How do I enrol for a course at the English Department?

A: This depends on whether you are a Lizenziats- or a Bachelor/Master student:

Lizenziat: Proseminare do not have lists, but you should register with the instructor by e-mail before the course begins. In the case of Seminars, please consult the Informationen Anglistik in good time, since you must sign up on the list available in the Sekretariat at the end of the previous semester (and sometimes attend the preparatory meeting at the end of the previous semester) to ensure a place in the course. For language courses, there is no need to enrol apart from for the Sprachakzess Exam course. This list is available in the Sekretariat three weeks before the beginning of classes. 

Bachelor/Master: You must use the online module booking tool. The booking period opens four weeks before the beginning of teaching in any semester, and closes two weeks after teaching has begun. It is still possible to cancel a booking for a further two weeks (i.e. until the end of the fourth week of semester). After this date, no further changes can be made. Please note the conditions attached to booking modules. 

B.A. Vertiefungsstufe

Q: I have completed Textual Analysis parts I and II, but I have not yet done the Introduction to Linguistics course. Can I do Bachelor seminars in literature nevertheless? 

A: You may do literature classes in the Vertiefungsstufe provided you have successfully passed the Textual Analysis course, Study Skills, and Language Skills and Culture (Introduction).

Likewise, you may do Linguistics courses in the Vertiefungsstufe, provided that you have passed the Introduction to Linguistics and Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology courses, as well as Study Skills and Language Skills and Culture (Introduction).

You may take the Language Skills and Culture Advanced I course if you have passed the Language Skills and Culture (Introduction) course and Study Skills.

Bachelor to Master

Q: Can I do Master courses in English even if I have not completed the Bachelor courses in my subsidiary subjects? 

A: No. You must have completed all courses and course requirements (papers etc.) in all Bachelor subjects and have graduated with a Bachelor before you may commence any Master courses. You may apply for the Master. before you graduate with a Bachelor, but until Bachelor graduation is complete, you may only enrol for Bachelor courses.