Types of exchange

This programme offers the possibility of spending a mobility period at another Swiss university. A framework agreement signed between the ten Swiss universities and the two Federal Institutes of Technology on mobility for study purposes ensures the principle of recognition of examinations. The cantonal grants and those of the university of origin continue to be paid during the mobility period.

Partner universities

The list of partner universities for Swiss mobility is available here.

Following the suspension of negotiations on Switzerland's participation in the Erasmus+ programme, the Federal Council drew up a transitional solution (SEMP - Swiss-European Mobility Programme) in 2014 to ensure European mobility. The SEMP follows the precepts and processes of the Erasmus+ programme, thereby facilitating Switzerland's indirect participation in exchange programmes. 

SEMP scholarships are provided by the Movetia National Agency. 

To date, USI has 112 agreements with over 90 partners in Europe, thus guaranteeing around 200 mobility places.  

Partner universities

The list of partner universities for SEMP mobility is available here.

The Università della Svizzera italiana has bilateral agreements with 12 universities outside Europe for a total of approximately 30 places. For these destinations, the same rules apply as for the SEMP programme. 

The list of partner universities is available here.

Some study programmes have established structured agreeement. A structured agreeement is a "packaged" exchange where the student follows a pre-established study plan or has the possibility to access a selection of pre-approved courses and does not have to deal with the equivalences between the courses provided in USI and those of the host university. These are exchanges with some renowned universities with the aim of developing "dialogue" training programmes, i.e. designed to have a complete pedagogical integration between the courses provided by the two universities.

Bachelor in Communication

• ICSE Programme with Zeppelin University (Germany) 

Bachelor in Economics

• ICSE Programme with Zeppelin University (Germany)

Master in Marketing and Transformative Economy

• Southern Denmark University. This exchange allows students to follow courses in three specialization areas: Brand Management and Marketing Communication, Global Marketing and Consumer Culture and Marketing Anthropology. Additional information including the course selection will be soon available on the page of the Master dedicated to exchanges. 

These are agreements that allow students selected within the framework of specific programmes, developed in collaboration with certain partner universities, to obtain a degree awarded jointly by USI and the partner university (joint degree) or, together with the USI degree, a degree from a foreign university (double degree).

The agreements currently active at USI are as follows:

Faculty of Biomedical Sciences:

• Joint degree in Cognitive Psycology and Health Communication with Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan

Faculty of Communication, Culture and Society:

• Double degree at bachelor level (specialisation in Digital Culture and Technologies) with University of Pisa
• Joint degree at master level in European Studies in Investor Relations and Financial Communication with Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan
• Double degree at master level in Digital Fashion Communication with Université Paris 1
• Double degree at master level in Lingua, letteratura e civiltà italiana with University of Verona and University of Rome, La Sapienza
• Double degree at master level in International Tourism/Food Industry Management with The University of Gastronomic Sciences, Pollenzo

Faculty of Economics:

• Double degree at master's level in International Economics and Policies with Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan
• Double degree at master's level in Economics with Università degli Studi Federico II, Napoli
• Jonit degree at master level in Public Management and Policy with Université de Lausanne and Universität Bern

Faculty of Informatics

• Double degree at master level in Computational Science with Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg/Lappeenranta-Lathi University/Università degli Studi di Bologna/Luxembourg University/Politecnico di Milano/Sorbonne University
• Double degree at master level in Informatics with Università degli Studi di Milano Bicocca
• Double degree at master's level in Software and Data Engineering with Università degli Studi di Milano Bicocca/Università degli Studi del Molise, Campobasso

Where no agreements exist, it is possible to seek information on a university of interest and initiate initial contact. The organisation of such a stay is mainly individual, with possible limited support from the International Relations and Study Abroad Service.

Freemover students remain matriculated at USI and will be subject to the host university's tuition fees. USI tuition fees are halved during the semester of the exchange, and for a further reduction the student must present the tax statement and confirmation of the destination university's tuition fees to the Studies Administration.

This option is not available to students at the Academy of Architecture.

This website allow a thorough research of universities offering a Freemover programme: https://www.wearefreemovers.com/. The website is not managed by Università della Svizzera italiana and the information herein contained may not be exhaustive. It is yet a good starting point to gather information about universiries and it is possible to set selection criteria such as country or area of study.

Summer Schools or other short mobility programmes organized by partner universities are regularly promoted in the section dedicated to this type of exchanges. It is the student's responsibility to verify if the chosen programme is recognized and the accreditation of the results is guaranteed with his/her director of studies (bachelor level) or the appropriate master programme director. Please bear in mind that only a maximum of ECTS points can be transferred. In particular:

• students enrolled at the Faculty of Economics (both levels) can earn up to 6 ECTS points, with a maximum of 30 ECTS points obtainable through mobility programmes;
• students enrolled at the Faculty of Communication, culture and society (both levels) can earn up to 9 ECTS points, with a maximum of 30 ECTS points obtainable through mobility programmes.

These points are to be earned through course attendance and examination (or other assessment forms).

Once the application has been approved by USI, the student will complete the application at the host university individually. Remember to inform USI's International Relations and Study Abroad Service about your period of study abroad.

A mobility for the thesis offers USI students the opportunity to spend a limited period of time at another university – whether or not it is a USI partner institution – with the aim of writing (part of) their thesis, thereby immersing themselves in a different academic and cultural environment. This type of mobility is open to all USI students for whom thesis work forms an integral part of their study plan; in particular, those on programmes where the course structure does not provide for traditional mobility.

Requirements

• Approval of the thesis mobility project by your USI supervisor;
• Identification of a lecturer at the host university who is willing to supervise the student on their project.

Interested students should also bear in mind the following important points

• The thesis must be coordinated and written under the supervision of an USI professor. The university where the thesis mobility takes place will not grant any credit for this kind of activity; 
• If you are interested in a USI partner university, please contact the International Relations and Study Abroad Service, which can act as an intermediary and help you find the necessary information;
• Finding a supervisor requires a significant amount of time, which should not be underestimated. It is therefore advisable to start well in advance (at least 8–10 months beforehand);
• Generally speaking, this type of exchange does not provide access to the services normally offered to students on traditional exchange programmes (such as accommodation). The host university will set out the conditions for participation in this programme;

Opportunities 

• NII International Internship Program, Japan: https://www.nii.ac.jp/en/about/international/mouresearch/internship2026-1/

The Swiss Confederation and the Career Service have scholarships available for an internship in Europe or worldwide, in order to encourage professional mobility. Through the SEMP programme (Swiss European Mobility Programme), you can benefit from financial support for the duration of your work placement in a country different from your home country.

For more information, please visit the page on Scolarships for internships abroad.