FAQ – Study Program Basics

This FAQ is intended for prospective students and students at the beginning of their studies. It answers questions about our study programs, choosing and planning your studies, the language of instruction, modules, and basic study regulations.

If you are considering one of our Master’s programs and have questions about admission or additional requirements, please see the FAQ – Master’s Admission and Additional Requirements. If you are already enrolled and have questions about changing study programs, transfer of credits, or study administration, please see the FAQ – Managing Your Study Path.

For a comprehensive overview of studying at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, including study regulations, modules, assessments, study planning, mobility, and graduation, see the Faculty’s General Study Guide.

What is the difference between a degree, study program, subject, and module?

A degree is the qualification you obtain, such as a Bachelor of Science or Master of Science. A study program is the curriculum you complete within that degree, usually as a Major or Minor. A subject refers to the academic field of the study program. A module is an individual course or course unit for which you earn ECTS credits.

Browse the UZH course catalogue, which includes information about all study programs and modules. For module booking, read this guide on module booking.

What is the language of instruction?

All modules offered by the Department of Computational Linguistics at Bachelor’s and Master’s level are taught in English. For modules offered by other departments, consult the corresponding module description in the UZH course catalogue.

Which Minor can I combine with my CL & LT Major?

The BSc Major in Computational Linguistics and Language Technology (CL & LT) comprises 120 ECTS and must be combined with a 60-ECTS Minor. The MSc Major in CL & LT comprises 90 ECTS and must be combined with a 30-ECTS Minor.

In general, you may combine your CL & LT Major with any compatible Minor offered by UZH or another Swiss university, provided the combination is permitted by the applicable study regulations. Certain combinations are excluded because of overlapping content. In particular, the CL & LT Major cannot be combined with the CL & LT Minor.

The UZH course catalogue lists the available UZH study programs and Minors. It is also possible to complete a Minor at another Swiss university; see the UZH information on mobility within Switzerland.

What is the main challenge of studying Computational Linguistics and Language Technology?

Machine learning is a central approach in CL & LT. To understand and apply its methods effectively, students need mathematical skills, including statistics, as well as programming skills in Python. Developing these mathematical and programming competencies is therefore an important part of the study program. We teach the necessary concepts from the ground up and do not assume prior university-level knowledge in these areas.

Which modules should I take in my first year?

Go to the corresponding Bachelor’s or Master’s study program pages, which show the standard curriculum.

Can I start the Bachelor’s program in the Spring semester?

Yes. According to the study regulations, starting in the Spring semester is possible. However, we strongly recommend starting in the Fall semester.

The modules of the first-year curriculum are designed to build on one another and are intended to be taken in a specific sequence. A Spring start is therefore only advisable if you already have solid Python programming skills, roughly equivalent to one semester of introductory programming. Otherwise, you will likely have to postpone core modules, making study planning more difficult and typically extending the duration of your studies.

How closely do I have to follow the standard curriculum?

The standard curriculum is a recommendation for completing your studies within the regular duration. You may choose a different order of modules, provided all prerequisites are fulfilled. However, deviating from the recommended sequence, especially during the first year, typically makes study planning more difficult and may extend the duration of your studies.

Can I take any CL & LT module at any time?

No. Some modules have prerequisites that must be completed first. In addition, the study regulations require a minimum number of ECTS credits per module group. You cannot compensate for missing ECTS credits in one module group with extra credits from another group.

Can I cancel a module booking?

Yes, but only within the applicable cancellation deadline. The deadlines depend on the type of module and are shown in the UZH course catalogue and module booking system. When you book a module, you are also automatically registered for its assessment.

After the cancellation deadline, a module can only be cancelled in justified cases, such as illness or accident. For information about this procedure, see the FAQ – Managing Your Study Path.

For general information about module booking and cancellation, see the Faculty information on modules.

Is there a time limit for completing my studies?

For students with a Major at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, there is no general maximum study duration, and ECTS credits do not expire after a fixed period.

The regular tuition fee applies for the first 12 semesters at each study level. From the 13th semester, the tuition fee is normally doubled. The Bachelor’s and Master’s levels are counted separately: when you complete your Bachelor’s degree and begin your Master’s studies, the semester count starts again from zero.

Please note that other faculties may have different rules concerning study duration and deadlines. If you combine your CL & LT Major with a Minor offered by another faculty, consult the regulations of that faculty for requirements that apply to the Minor.