Learning Formats and Theses

The UZH course catalogue contains all modules offered by the Department of Computational Linguistics. There you can find module descriptions, schedules, prerequisites, assessment methods, assessment dates, detailed deliverables and booking information. To display our modules, select Department of Computational Linguistics under Offering Organization.

The following overview introduces the most common learning formats in our study programs and explains what you can expect from each of them. It is not an exhaustive list of all modules offered by the department.

Assessment methods vary between modules and are specified in the corresponding module description in the course catalogue. Depending on the module, assessments may include written or oral examinations, programming assignments, seminar papers, presentations, reports, practical projects, or Bachelor's and Master's theses.

Information on semester dates, lecture periods, and university holidays is available on the UZH academic calendar.

Our study programs combine different forms of academic learning. Each serves a specific purpose and helps you develop the theoretical knowledge, technical skills, and scientific thinking needed in computational linguistics and language technology.

Lectures

Lectures introduce you to central concepts, methods, theories, and applications in computational linguistics and language technology.

All lectures are supported by the OLAT learning management system, where you can access course materials and discussion forums. Many lectures are accompanied by exercises and optional tutorial sessions led by teaching assistants or lecturers.

Tutorials and Exercises

Exercises help you understand, apply, and deepen the material introduced in lectures. They typically consist of programming tasks, problem sets, data analysis, or reading assignments.

Tutorial sessions provide an opportunity to discuss the exercises, ask questions, receive feedback, and review important concepts together with teaching assistants or lecturers. Depending on the module, exercises or tutorial participation may also contribute to the assessment.

Seminars

Seminars give you the opportunity to study a scientific topic independently and to engage critically with current research in computational linguistics and language technology. You will read and discuss scientific literature, investigate a clearly defined research question, present your work, and participate actively in discussions with other students.

Most seminars require you to write a seminar paper that documents your work according to the academic standards of the discipline. Depending on the seminar, you may also give an oral presentation, review the work of other participants, or complete smaller assignments during the semester.  Because seminars combine independent research, scientific writing, presentations, and discussion, they play a unique role in the curriculum.

Detailed information about seminar papers, formatting requirements, academic integrity, and the use of generative AI can be found on the Seminars and Seminar Papers  page.

Summer Schools

Summer schools allow you to explore specialized topics in computational linguistics, language technology, and artificial intelligence in an intensive international learning environment. They also provide opportunities to learn from international experts, meet students and researchers from other universities, and engage with current research.

Approved summer schools can be credited with 3 or 6 ECTS credits. Before registering, please consult the module coordinator to confirm that the event is eligible for recognition and to determine the number of credits that can be awarded.

Further information, including recommended summer schools, is available on the Summer Schools page.

Practice-oriented modules allow you to apply your knowledge in authentic research, teaching, or professional settings. They emphasize independent work, collaboration, and the development of practical skills beyond the classroom.

Student Teaching Assistant

As a Student Teaching Assistant, you support teaching in courses that you have already completed successfully. Typical responsibilities include assisting in tutorial sessions, preparing learning materials, supervising exercises, answering students' questions, and helping with assessment under the guidance of the responsible lecturer.

The module gives you practical experience in university teaching while strengthening your communication, organizational, and mentoring skills.

The module can be credited with 3 or 6 ECTS credits. The exact scope of the teaching duties is agreed with the module coordinator.

Programming Projects

Programming projects allow you to apply and extend your programming skills by developing software for computational linguistics and language technology. Projects may be completed individually or in small teams.

You may propose your own project or work on a topic suggested by the department. Suitable projects may arise from current research, interdisciplinary collaborations, open thesis topics, or existing open-source software projects.

Programming Projects can be credited with 3, typically 6, and at most 9 ECTS credits. The exact scope is agreed with the module coordinator. Further information is available under Programming Projects.

Internships

Internships give you practical experience in research, industry, or the public sector while applying your computational linguistics skills in a professional environment. They may be completed either at the department or at an external organization in Switzerland or abroad.

You are responsible for finding a suitable internship placement. External internships must be approved by the module coordinator before they begin.

Internal internships can be credited with 6 or 9 ECTS credits; external internships with 3 or 6 ECTS credits. The exact scope is agreed with the module coordinator. Further information is available under Internships.

Excursions

Excursions give you the opportunity to visit language technology companies, research institutes, and other organizations that apply computational linguistics in practice. By interacting directly with researchers and practitioners, you gain insight into real-world problems, methods, and career paths while exploring your own professional interests.

The excursion module is worth 3 ECTS credits and cannot be booked by students directly. Excursions usually take place in October or November during the Fall Semester. When an excursion is planned, all students will receive an email with information about the excursion and how to apply for participation.

To receive credit, you are normally required to complete additional coursework, such as preparatory reading, interviews, a technical assignment, or a short report. Once you have participated in the excursion and completed all required coursework, the module will be booked for you and recorded as completed.

Bachelor’s and Master’s theses are the culmination of your studies. They give you the opportunity to carry out an independent research project under the supervision of a member of the department. We encourage you to contact potential supervisors early. The department also organizes thesis topic events each semester and maintains a list of Open Topics for Theses and Projects to help you find a suitable project.

Bachelor's Thesis

The Bachelor’s thesis is the final independent project of the Bachelor’s program. You investigate a scientific or technical problem in computational linguistics or language technology and document your work in a scientific thesis. Both research-oriented and programming-oriented theses are possible.

The Bachelor's thesis comprises 15 ECTS credits. Detailed information on eligibility, topic registration, submission, and assessment is available on the Bachelor's Thesis page.

Master's Thesis

The Master's thesis is the culminating research project of the Master's program. You investigate a scientific question in computational linguistics or language technology by reviewing the relevant literature, applying or extending existing methods, developing your own solutions where appropriate, and evaluating your results according to the standards of the discipline.

The Master's thesis comprises 30 ECTS credits. Detailed information on finding a supervisor, organization, submission, and assessment is available on the Master's Thesis page.