D-BSSE Project Mobility Students
Information for Project Mobility Students at D-BSSE in Basel
The Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE) is located in Basel
- all classes from the MSc Biotechnology curriculum are held in Basel
- all D-BSSE research groups are in Basel
To study in Basel, students must provide evidence of sufficient financial means to support themselves in Switzerland (CHF 2,000 per month) for the entire duration of their stay.
Important: students joining D-BSSE and taking up residence in Basel must apply for a student visa for the canton of Basel-Stadt.
Nationals of Switzerland, the external page European Union or EFTA states do not require a visa for studying in Switzerland.
Nationals of other countries must apply for a student visa or entry permit prior to arrival.
Nationals of external page countries that require a visa must apply for a student visa prior to arrival. This process will take up to three months, so a timely application is essential.
Nationals of visa exempt countries OR non-EU/EFTA nationals with a Schengen D visa must apply for an entry permit prior to arrival by e-mailing the documents below to the .
Students who require a visa or entry permit will need to submit the following documents:
- Proof of sufficient financial means: CHF 2'000 per month from a FINMA bank
- Valid copy of your passport or ID card
- CV (add diplomas in attachment)
- Confirmation letter from ETH which you will receive via email
- Scholarship confirmation (if applicable)
- Written statement containing the following details:
- Reasons for studying in Basel
- Total duration of stay in Basel
- Future plans and career prospects after your exchange
Here it is important to mention how long you plan on staying (6 or 12 months) and that you intend to go to your home country afterwards - Diploma you are aiming towards in Switzerland
State that you are visiting courses that you can accredit at your home university.
- A statement that you commit to leaving Basel at the end of your exchange.
Upon arrival: registration
Within 14 days upon arrival, students must apply for a residence permit. For this, students must register with the cantonal Registry Office in person.
The office is at Einwohneramt Basel-Stadt, Spiegelgasse 6, 4001 Basel
Documentation needed:
- Extended Confirmation of matriculation (available in myStudies)
- Confirmation letter from ETH which you will receive via email
- Proof of sufficient financial means, e.g., statement of account
CHF 2'000 per month from a FINMA bank
OR (EU/EFTA nationals only!): a letter from your parents confirming that they will support you with CHF 2'000 per month. - Scholarship confirmation (if applicable)
- Valid copy of your passport or ID card (including entry visa, if applicable)
- Proof of accommodation (rental agreement)
- Any other documents you submitted for your visa/entry permit (if applicable)
The Registry Office reserves the right to ask for additional documents.
Prior to departure: deregistration
Students must deregister in person prior to departure at the cantonal Registry Office.
Border region / cross-border commuting
Students from the border region holding EU/EFTA citizenship who do not intend to take up residence in Switzerland are not required to hold a residence permit.
Within 3 months students must either buy Swiss health insurance or apply for an exemption.
- Students with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) can apply for an exemption
- Students who do not have an EHIC must buy Swiss health insurance
Start day
On the start day, the ETH Student Card can be picked up at the office of the Department Administration Services (BSS E 55.2). The student card is the access badge for restricted areas within the building and must always be carried.
Building and lab safety
Students will be called for safety training – the safety training is mandatory and must be completed to obtain building access permission.
Leaving D-BSSE
On the last day of their stay, students must complete and sign the D-BSSE leaving protocol and return their ETH Student Card at the office of the Department Administration Services (BSS E 55.2).
Course work
In exceptional cases, project mobility students may be granted permission to attend courses. However, it is not possible to obtain credits for courses, nor can a confirmation of attendance be issued.
Information on Basel
Students can find information on student life in Basel - the city, accommodation, living costs, student associations and more - on the MSc Biotechnology website.
Student Associations
We are proud to host the Biotechnology Student Association (BSA) at the D-BSSE in Basel. All exchange and project mobility students are automatically members of BSA and welcome to join their events.
Additionally, all exchange and project mobility students are welcome to attend the events of the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) in Basel.
Please note: The information on this page is meant for information purposes only. No responsibility is taken for the correctness of this information. The rules and regulations may have changed in the meantime. For legally binding information please contact the respective authorities.