Computational Linguistics and Language Technology as Major (120), BSc
The Bachelor’s Major in Computational Linguistics and Language Technology (120 ECTS credits) is the most comprehensive option for studying computational linguistics at the Bachelor’s level at a Swiss university. The program provides a solid theoretical foundation and practical skills for careers in industry and research, while also preparing you for consecutive Master’s programs in computational linguistics and related fields.
The language of instruction is English.
Study Guide
Sample Curriculum
The sample curriculum shows one possible study plan for completing the program in six semesters as a full-time student. In a Major/Minor combination (180 ECTS credits in total), you will normally earn around 30 ECTS credits per semester. You may take fewer credits per semester, which will extend the duration of your studies accordingly.
For the Major study program, we recommend starting in the Fall Semester. Starting in the Spring Semester is possible in exceptional cases if you already have Python programming skills.
If you are starting your studies, please also consult our Essential Information for First-Year Students for practical information on course booking, study planning, student counseling, and important resources.
Modular Structure of the Study Program
Each module is assigned to exactly one module group. To complete the program, you must earn a minimum number of ECTS credits in each module group and at least 120 ECTS credits in the Major overall. Beyond the minimum requirements, you can freely choose an additional 9 ECTS credits from modules offered within our study program according to your interests.
Assessment Stage
The two-semester assessment stage comprises the module group Introduction to Computational Linguistics (shown in blue in the sample curriculum). The sample curriculum is designed so that you complete 30 ECTS credits from this module group during your first year. Most of these modules are compulsory and provide the foundations for the rest of the program. A failed module may be repeated once. If you fail a compulsory module on the second attempt, you will be excluded from all Computational Linguistics study programs.
After the first year, you have considerably more flexibility to choose modules according to your interests and to develop your own academic profile. In addition to modules from the other module groups, you can also take further elective modules from Introduction to Computational Linguistics beyond the required 30 ECTS credits.
Throughout the program, you will encounter different learning formats, including lectures, tutorials and exercises, seminars, programming projects, internships, and other practice-oriented modules. These formats combine theoretical foundations with scientific, technical, and practical experience.
Minimum ECTS Requirements for the Module Groups in the Major 120
The minimum requirements for the individual module groups add up to 111 ECTS credits. The remaining 9 ECTS credits may be earned freely from modules offered within the study program.
| Module Group | Minimum ECTS Credits |
|---|---|
| Introduction to Computational Linguistics | 30 |
| Core Modules of Computational Linguistics and Language Technology | 36 |
| Scientific Specialization | 6 |
| Computer Science | 18 |
| Computational Linguistics and Language Technology in Practice | 6 |
| Other Curricular Modules | 0 |
| Bachelor’s Thesis | 15 |
| Total Minimum Requirement | 111 |
Official Documents
The following official documents apply to the Bachelor’s Major in Computational Linguistics and Language Technology (120 ECTS credits):
All documents are in German or contain content in German.