FAQ

These Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) have been compiled by current and previous students of the Neural Systems and Computation (NSC) MSc program. They are meant to provide additional information and useful tips, not only about the NSC program, but also practical questions like moving to Switzerland, housing, and ideas what to do in Zurich. Please note that the information provided here is informal and unofficial, and refer to our other webpages for official guidelines.

What is a mentor?

During your application you have to choose two preferred mentors, and when you are accepted to the program you will be assigned to one of them. The role of a mentor is to help you draw up your individual curriculum, and to give you further advice during your studies. Your mentor does not have to be the supervisor of your Master's thesis. You can find the list of potential mentors here:Mentors

How do I find out which mentor I should choose?

The link above takes you to the webpages of the potential mentors. There you can find out about their research interests. Contacting current NSC students is also a good source of information to find the right match to your background and interests.

Is it possible to do my Master's thesis outside of INI, or even abroad?

INI explicitly encourages all NSC students to conduct their Master's Thesis at the institute.

Can I start in the Spring semester?

Yes, that is possible.

When is the application deadline?

If you'd like to start in the Fall semester: 31st of December of the previous year

If you'd like to start in the Spring semester: 31st of July of the previous year

To apply for the NSC MSc program, please ONLY use the NSC application portal. In case the NSC admission committee has decided to recommend you for admission to the University of Zurich, you will then have to submit your application again via the UZH portal. In this case, you will be automatically notified.

Do I have to have my Bachelor's degree finished before I can apply?

You can apply before you have completed your degree. However, you need to have finished your degree before you can register with the University of Zurich. If you don't hold a Bachelor's degree at the time of application, please provide the expected end-of-studies date in the application documents.

What Bachelor's degrees are eligible for the NSC program?

There is no single "best" undergraduate degree. The admission committee highly values diverse, complementary skill sets, and students typically enter the program with backgrounds across a wide variety of disciplines. In general, undergraduate degrees with focus on neuroscience, computer science, engineering or mathematics are well suited. Degrees with focus on adjacent life sciences or in technical fields may also be considered if additional qualifications (additional course work) were obtained.

I come from a Machine Learning/Computer Science background. What should I consider before applying?

While a strong technical or programming background, especially in Python, is very valuable, you should also show interest in a broader curriculum, both in your activities before entering the program and during the program itself. During the first two semesters, all students must take foundational courses in the theoretical principles and practical use of Electrical Engineering, Neuromorphic Engineering, Systems Neuroscience, and Computer Science.

How much mathematics background do I need?

The admission committee may not strictly audit your exact undergraduate math credits, but especially courses at ETH Zurich require a good foundation in mathematics. To get an idea, we suggest consulting the list of possible Elective Modules and the course catalogue of ETH Zurich. We recommend having completed Analysis 1 & 2 and Linear Algebra. German speakers have the opportunity to take those classes while being in the program; please note that these credits may not count towards your degree.

How much biology background do I need?

Catching up on neurobiology is historically easier for incoming students, and many Master's and PhD students do so successfully in their first year.

Do I need an English or German language certificate such as TOEFL, IELTS, CAE, DSH, TestDaF, Goethe, … or SAT / GRE tests for my application?

No, your proficiency in English will be assessed from your written documents and - if you have passed the first evaluation round - in a personal interview. It is not necessary to know German to apply to our program. We do not request scores from standardized tests like SAT or GRE.

Can I write my application in German?

No, the NSC program is in English, and it is necessary to evaluate your proficiency in English from your written documents.

Who should be my reference contacts? Should I list employers or family members?

We prefer academic referees who can tell us about your performance during your undergraduate studies and your suitability for this program.

Do I need to send letters of recommendation with my application? How are references contacted?

You do not have to send letters of recommendation with your application. If you are considered a good match after the first evaluation of your application, we will contact your reference contacts by email.

Do I have to pay an application fee for the first application round?

No, you don't. (Later, if you have passed the first evaluation round, University of Zurich requires an application fee.)

What information should I provide in the financial statement?

The financial statement is an informal statement that should clarify for us how you plan to cover the expenses during your time in Zurich. We request this because for foreigners the Swiss authorities will request proof that you can afford your studies later. So even if you are accepted to the program, you might be denied your residence permit for Switzerland if the authorities find your financial situation insufficient. The program has no influence over this decision, but we need to see that you are aware of this. You can find below more details about the expected costs of living in Zurich and tuition fees. Please make an estimate of how much money you expect to need (total sum) and explain how you can cover these expenses for at least 1,5 to 2 years required to complete the MSc. If you are relying on scholarships that have not yet been granted to you, please explain this in your statement, and specify what the alternative source of funding is if your grant application does not pass. Please be aware that if you should be admitted to the program, the Swiss authorities might require a more formal statement and more information, but this is handled independently of our program. Swiss students do not have to submit a financial statement.

Can you give an overview of the application and matriculation process?

1. Begin by submitting your application by the listed deadline on the website. If you submit for a Fall semester start, the deadline is on December 31st (previous year), for a Spring semester start it is July 31st (previous year).
2. The admission committee should reach a decision by mid-April (for the December application deadline) / mid-November (for the July application deadline), possibly after conducting an interview with you (using Skype/zoom or in-person if available).
3. If you are accepted by the admission committee, the committee will let you know and forward its recommendation to the Office of Student Affairs of the University of Zurich.
4. The Office of Student Affairs will then get in touch with you and request to fill out the online "Application for Matriculation" form. You must complete this form and pay the application fee; you then need to present your original documents (you will receive a list of required documents) in person.
5. You will matriculate in person when you arrive in Zurich, the University of Zurich will provide some additional documentation. You will receive a computer account after the welcome event for new Neural Systems and Computation (NSC) students.

Can I apply for the ETH Zurich excellence scholarship?

As a candidate for NSC, unfortunately you cannot, because the leading house for this program is the University of Zurich, and NSC students are not eligible for the ETH scholarship. The University of Zurich does not have an equivalent scholarship.

Can I rely on scholarships in my home country to fund studies in Switzerland?

Yes. Neither the NSC program nor the University of Zurich can provide funding for MSc students, so we recommend looking for funding opportunities in your home country.

What courses should I take?

The program offers you a lot of flexibility. The NSC program website lists the credit requirements you must fulfill.

For the elective core modules, you must select two categories and obtain at least 9 credit points (ECTS) in each of them. Each category gives you the choice to select at least 2 of the courses to reach the required credit minimum.

You should first discuss your curriculum with your assigned mentor. Additionally, discussing course recommendations with other Master students is advised. Most students do not sign up for courses before the welcome meeting for new NSC students, and course registration will remain open for several weeks after courses start. A course load totaling 30 ECTS per semester is considered a full schedule. Of course, some courses require a lot of work while others have rather light workloads, and the number of credits a course is worth is not always a good indicator of that.

Where is the building that houses the Institute of Neuroinformatics?

Bau (Building) 55 can be difficult to find, and it can be easy to feel lost around the Irchel campus. From the main station take Tram Number 10 in direction of “Flughafen Zürich” Exit at "Universität Irchel" (about 10 min). Alternately, Trams Number 7 or 14 to “Seebach” stop at "Milchbuck" (Tram line map). Follow the sign posts to "Universität", and you will end up on the broad walkway. There is an information desk inside building 23 on the right-hand side when you enter. Our building is Bau 55, left of the broad walkway and the entrance to the institute is on the left on the ground floor within the building, just as you enter.

An overhead map and an animated GIF showing the path can be found on Prof. Tobi Delbruck’s web page: http://www.ini.uzh.ch/~tobi/contact.php

How can I find out about available project or thesis topics, or find a supervisor?

In general, the best way is to just approach professors, postdocs, or their PhD students and talk to them. Finding a project supervisor at INI is remarkably straightforward thanks to our shared office space and social environment, and PhDs, postdocs, and professors are accessible and regularly offer project work in exchange for credits. You will also hear a lot about the ongoing research in lab meetings or group meetings, and group leaders present potential projects every semester. You can find some information about general topic areas on the INI website.

What is the day-to-day culture like at the Institute of Neuroinformatics (INI)?

The Institute of Neuroinformatics offers you a quite special social environment, allowing you to meet, study, and discuss ideas with other INI members in cozy meeting rooms and your very own Master's room. Another very important part of the program is that students are expected to take initiative: you will attend three research meetings on campus every week, and you are given a great deal of freedom in your course selection and the direction you want to take your research projects.

How long does it take to find a specific research focus?

Finding your exact niche is a process and takes time and exposure. During your first year, you will focus on completing core INI coursework to build a baseline understanding across disciplines. In your second year, you may choose to do short research projects in exchange for credits. The graduation time ranges from one and a half to three years; most students do graduate after 2 or 2.5 years.

How do I connect with current students on-site?

During the lecture period, the INI community hosts a public event with drinks and appetizers every Friday at 4:00 PM. This is an excellent opportunity to chat casually with peers, PhDs, and professors alike.

How much German or Swiss German should we know before arriving?

Zurich is a very international city with many English speakers. French and Italian (and Romansh) are also official languages of Switzerland, so you will find most official documents offered also in these languages. The dominant language spoken in the participating institutes is English, even in casual conversations, and you will not have to learn German to complete your studies. Additionally, most of the relevant lectures in elective modules are offered in English. Notice, however, that some lectures at the University of Zurich or ETH Zurich may only be offered in German.

Despite this, knowing German and Swiss German will enrich your experience here and make it easier to integrate into the culture. Free German courses are available for students: http://www.sprachenzentrum.uzh.ch/

When should I arrive?

Many students arrive in early August; this will give you 6 weeks or so to look for housing and to settle in before the start of the semester. You can come earlier if you are extra worried about housing, as August is one of the most competitive months to secure housing (due to the influx of international students). If you already have a Woko room (http://www.woko.ch/en/)

or a flat in Zurich, arriving in early September is fine too.

What should I know about living in Switzerland?

When you first arrive, you may be shocked by the cost of living in Switzerland. It is a very expensive place to live, and many activities you may be used to (including restaurants, clubs, and movies) may get too expensive without additional income.

However, since most other NSC students feel the impact on their wallets as well, many social activities take this into account. Lower-cost events like at-home movies and TV nights, barbecues, hikes, bike rides, swims, football, some types of travel (see the "Gleis 7" pass below), and house parties are popular ways to relax without spending too much money.

How high are the tuition fees and the living expenses?

Switzerland is a very expensive country, but the tuition fees are relatively low compared to e.g. the USA or UK. You must pay the tuition fees and contributions at the University of Zurich (UZH). The most recent information about tuition fees can be found here: https://www.uzh.ch/cmsssl/en/studies/application/fees.html

Regarding the costs of living in Switzerland, UZH maintains a website with guidelines: https://www.uzh.ch/en/studies/planning/finances.html

The expected minimum costs of living are around 2000-2250 CHF per month (including tuition fees) but depend very much on the individual student. Especially the costs of housing can be very variable.

When you fill out your financial statement for the application, make sure to explain how you can cover these costs for approx. 1.5-2 years.

Do you have advice on the visa process?

Begin, as soon as your application has been accepted by the University. Not all the requirements may be fulfilled at this time – for example, having your money in a Swiss bank account, or being fully matriculated at the University (which requires being there personally). It is, however, much better to start early and do a couple of rounds of back-and-forth than to wait too long.

Do I need a Swiss bank account before I arrive?

It is very difficult to acquire a Swiss bank account before you live in Switzerland. If you need to prove sufficient funds for your visa, students in the past have used Chase, HSBC, Citibank, and other major international banks. Any bank on this list should work: https://www.finma.ch/en/~/media/finma/dokumente/bewilligungstraeger/pdf/beh.pdf?la=en
 

Is part-time work available? Can I secure a paid position such as a TA or research assistant at the University?

Yes, part-time work is available, though it should not be relied upon and most students do not work. As an NSC student you are allowed to work for a maximum of 15 hours per week. A good place to look for general job offers is the UZH Marktplatz (http://www.marktplatz.uzh.ch/jobs/). Students in the past have moved furniture, babysat children, cooked in cafes, bartended, and helped out in labs at INI for extra money. Typically, these jobs all pay between 20 – 30 CHF per hour.

Within the program itself, Teaching Assistantships (TA) require you to have taken that exact course at UZH or ETH Zurich the previous year, meaning these roles generally go to students who also completed their Bachelor's degree in Zurich. Research Assistantships are mostly unpaid as they are typically done to obtain academic credit. One or two research groups at INI occasionally offer paid RA positions, but they often require you to work with them for credits for a few months first.

What is the process for applying to flats in Zurich? What can I expect?

Housing in Zurich is notoriously difficult to find for students; expect to go to at least one apartment viewing where 30 people are applying for a single spot. Ask students who have been through this process for advice.

The first suggestion is to find housing via the Woko office (http://www.woko.ch/en/default.asp), at least for your first semester. They reserve a set of rooms for international students, so you can secure a room at one of the Woko locations if you apply early enough.

If you want to move directly into a flat, the following websites may be useful:

● http://www.marktplatz.uzh.ch/wohnungen/ – an internal housing marketplace for UZH/ETH Zurich students

● http://www.students.ch/wohnen/ – a Switzerland-wide student network

● http://www.flatrooms.com/en/wgzimmer.html?wc_language=en – an aggregate of Woko and advertised flats

● www.wgzimmer.ch – a large site for all housemate searches

● www.roominho.ch – a new website for flat shares, available in English, German, French, and Italian

What neighborhood should I live in?

The most important point is that you live in Zone 110 of Zurich public transport ZVV (http://www.zvv.ch/en/), the transit zone corresponding to Zurich main city. Outside of this zone, public transport is available much less frequent, especially at late hours. Additionally, you will pay much more money on transit costs just to go to univeristy or see friends. Students tend to live in the Oerlikon / Schwamendingen area of the city (to the north), which is conveniently close the Irchel campus (where INI is located) as well.

While I am looking for housing, where should I stay?

It may be difficult to find temporary accommodation at a low cost. Reach out to all your contacts and see if there are spare couches to crash on, post in social media groups for current students, and see if you can use Couchsurfing. Students in the past have also obtained temporary sublets through the UZH Marktplatz while they look for housing. Lastly, hostels and hotels do exist, but their costs can add up significantly over the multi-week process it may take to find housing in Zurich.

How much time should I budget for housing search?

If you are a foreign student, and you do not receive a Woko apartment, six weeks is around the upper limit of time it takes a student to find their first apartment or room. Generally, the process will take between 2 and 6 weeks.

While I am looking for housing, where should I stay?

This may be difficult to do for low cost. Reach out to all of your contacts and see if there are spare couches to crash on, post to the Facebook group for current students, and see if you can use Couchsurfing. Students in the past have also obtained temporary sublets through the UZH Marktplatz while they look for housing. Lastly, hostels and hotels do exist but their costs can add up significantly over the multi-week process it may take to find housing in Zurich.

How much time should I budget for the housing search?

If you are a foreign student, and you do not receive a Woko apartment, six weeks is around the upper limit of time it takes a student to find their first apartment or room. Generally, the process will take between 2 and 6 weeks of searching.

What should I do after arriving in Zurich?

If you arrive in Zurich via the airport, you will likely proceed on trains of Swiss Federal Railways SBB (http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html). Buy a ticket from Flughafen (airport) to Zürich HB (Hauptbahnhof, main station), which should cost about 7-8 Francs for a one-way ticket. You typically will not be eligible for the discounts yet, though you should consider buying a Halbtax half-fare card (http://www.sbb.ch/en/travelcards-and-tickets/railpasses/half-fare-travelcard.html)

as early as possible. This will save a lot of money on public transport in Zurich and trains around Switzerland.

You can buy prepaid phones without an address or a residence permit. This will greatly facilitate your social life and the housing search.

With your phone, a temporary place to stay, and new friends in Zurich, you should be doing well!

What are some useful things to know about in Zurich?

• There are five major grocery stores that you will encounter in Zurich. Roughly sorted by price, from most expensive to least, they are: Coop (pronounced "cope"), Migros ("MEE-groh"), Denner, Lidl, and Aldi. The last two sell groceries at discount prices but can be found less frequently (primarily in Oerlikon and the outskirts of Zurich). There are international food stores specializing in Mexican, Indian, and Asian cooking ingredients as well.
• Water from taps and fountains is “drinking water” – in many restaurant or pubs, you can get a glass by asking for “Hahnewasser” / Tap Water.
• Drinking alcohol in public and on public transport is not prohibited in Switzerland.
• Many Zurich-related questions are addressed in English at http://www.englishforum.ch/
• Check on websites of public transport in Switzerland (sbb.ch) and Zurich area (zvv.ch) for special deals for students.
• Free bikes can be borrowed near the Hauptbahnhof.
• Phones – different carriers have different deals, but it may make sense to ask around. For those getting an Abo (contract) instead of a prepaid phone, check with roommates and friends, many offer free calls to other users on the same network.

Are there sports teams and clubs?

The university offers various opportunities to do a variety of sports like rowing, mountain climbing, and yoga (see http://portal.asvz.ethz.ch for more information). In general, doing social activities like group sports or singing is something you will need to seek out yourself since these activities often are community-based, not school-based as you might be used to. However, this can be a great way to integrate into Swiss society as well!

I am about to finish my MSc studies, where can I find information about PhD opportunities?

Check job advertisements on the wall near the INI entrance, or receive emails through the INI mailing list. Another good source of information are mailing lists, which are fantastic for finding out about PhDs opportunities, hearing calls for open jobs, special journal issues, and finding out about interesting papers in the community.

Of particular relevance for NSC students are the comp-neuro and Connectionists mailing lists:

• Comp-neuro – generalized computational neuroscience: http://www.neuroinf.org/mailman/listinfo/comp-neuro

• Connectionists – generalized neuroinformatics talk: https://mailman.srv.cs.cmu.edu/mailman/listinfo/connectionists

The following are more specialized mailing lists and communities:

• Reinforcement Learning: https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!forum/rl-list

• Deep Learning: https://plus.google.com/communities/112866381580457264725

• Neuromorphic Engineering: https://plus.google.com/communities/106429639703340584547

• Computer Vision: http://visionscience.com/mailman/listinfo/visionlist

• European Robotics: https://lists.iais.fraunhofer.de/sympa/info/euron-dist

• Machine Learning:

  • http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/machine-learning/

  • https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/ml-news

• Artificial Life: http://lists.idyll.org/listinfo/alife-announce

• Robotics:

  • http://duerer.usc.edu/mailman/listinfo/robotics-worldwide

  • https://www.listes.upmc.fr/wws/info/evoderob

• Genetic Programming: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/genetic_programming/

The European Society for Neuroscience (FENS) also maintains a searchable job database at http://www.fens.org/jobs/search.html

Are there any useful online courses that I should watch?

The following is a list of online courses for different disciplines that were recommended by our students. You might find them useful to watch either before you start or to catch up with some material during your studies. Please understand that these courses are in no relation to the NSC program, and should not replace attending lectures offered at UZH or ETH. In particular, no credit can be given for successfully completing any of the courses.

Neuroscience:

• Fundamentals of Neuroscience by Prof. David Cox (Harvard)

• Understanding the Brain: The Neurobiology of everyday life by Prof. Peggy Mason (Univ. of Chicago)

• Medical Neuroscience by Prof. Leonard E. White (Duke University)

• Synapses, Neurons, and the Brain by Prof. Idan Segev (Hebrew Univ. Jerusalem)

• Visual Perception and the Brain by Prof. Dale Purves (Duke University)

• Neuronal Dynamics – Computational Neuroscience of Single Neurons by Prof. Wulfram Gerstner (EPFL Lausanne)

• Computational Neuroscience by Prof. Rajesh Rao and Prof. Adrienne Fairhall (Univ. of Washington)

• Exploring Neural Data by Prof. Monica Linden (Brown University)

Machine Learning:

• Machine Learning by Prof. Andrew Ng (Stanford)

• Neural Networks for Machine Learning by Prof. Geoffrey Hinton (Univ. of Toronto)

• Probabilistic Graphical Models by Prof. Daphne Koller (Stanford)

• Bioinformatics Algorithms (I) by Prof. Pavel Pevzner (UCSD)

Mathematics:

• Lecture Series on Chaos, Fractals and Dynamical Systems by Prof. S. Banerjee (IIT Kharagpur)

• Lectures on Linear Algebra by Prof. G. Strang (MIT)

• Lectures on Differential Equations by Prof. A. Mattuck (MIT)

• Linear Algebra: Foundations to Frontiers by Dr. Maggie Myers and Prof. Robert van de Geijn (Univ. of Texas)

• Calculus One by Prof. Jim Fowler (Ohio State Univ.)

• Mathematicalmonk Youtube Channel

Electrical Engineering:

• MOS Transistors by Prof. Yannis Tsividis (Columbia Univ.)

Neuroeconomics:

• Introduction to Neuroeconomics: how the brain makes decisions by Prof. Vasily Klucharev (Higher School of Economics, Moscow)