FAQ – Study Program Basics
This FAQ part is intended for prospective students and students at the beginning of their studies. It answers questions about our study programs, curriculum, language of instruction, minor choices, and basic study planning.
If you are already enrolled and have questions about changing programs, additional requirements, transfer of credits, or study administration, please see the FAQ Managing Your Study Path.
Before you start your studies
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 module 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 courses on the BA and MA level offered by the CL Department are taught in English. For other modules, consult the corresponding module description in the UZH course catalogue.
Which minor can I combine with my CL major?
The BA major in Computational Linguistics and Language Technology (120 ECTS) must be combined with a 60 ECTS minor. The MA major in Computational Linguistics and Language Technology (90 ECTS) must be combined with a 30 ECTS minor.
In general, you may combine your CL 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. For example, a CL major cannot be combined with another CL 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?
The main topics of the study include machine learning, which is the dominant approach in the field. To effectively understand and apply machine learning, students need mathematical skills, including statistics, as well as programming skills in Python. The main challenge of the study lies in acquiring these mathematical and programming competencies. However, we teach all necessary concepts from the ground up, assuming only a high school level.
Planning your studies
Which modules should I take in my first year?
Go to the corresponding BA or MA 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 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.
Modules and assessments
Can I cancel a module booking?
Modules with or without place restrictions can be canceled within the deadlines set by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. More information is available in the course catalogue for the corresponding module. After the deadline, you can only cancel a module if you have a verifiable reason, such as illness, as outlined in § 24/25 RVO PhF. More information
For a valid deregistration after the deadline, you must complete two steps:
- You must immediately inform the responsible persons, such as the lecturer or module supervisor, of your deregistration.
- You must submit a deregistration request in the Student Portal via the app "My applications". This justified deregistration request must include the relevant confirmations, such as a doctor’s certificate, and must be submitted no later than five working days after the date of the assessment.
Otherwise, even in the case of a module booking made only in error, failure to provide assessment will be permanently noted in your credit journal as "not fulfilled".
General regulations
Is there a time limit for completing my studies?
For subjects of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, there is currently neither a time limit for study nor a limited validity of credits. After 12 semesters, however, the study fee will increase.
What are additional requirements for MA study programs?
If you are admitted to the Master’s program but are still missing required academic background, you will be admitted with additional requirements. These are Bachelor-level courses or credits that you must complete during your Master’s studies. We strongly recommend completing additional requirements at the beginning of your Master’s program.