Visiting Students

The Institute for Swiss Reformation Studies welcomes doctoral students from abroad wishing to further their studies in the Swiss Reformation via a research stay at Zurich.

In addition to the formal requirements by University of Zurich regulations, prospective visiting students have to fulfil the following requirements in order for the Institute to be able to act as a hosting institution:

• Your PhD-project is situated within the area of 16th century Reformation studies and has a focus on the history or theology of Swiss or Upper German Reformation or Reformers.
• You can relate your research to the area of expertise of one of the Institute’s members.
• Your supervisor at your home institution agrees to your visit at our institution.
• You are able to demonstrate how exactly your project would benefit from a stay at Zurich.
• You have acquired the necessary funding. Please be aware that the Institute is not able to offer you any monetary support.

Please note: The Institute will rigorously assess your application based on its research design as well as on tutorial resources available at the time of your desired stay. It is your sole responsibility to demonstrate how your project would fit into our research profile, and we cannot guarantee to be able to accommodate your request.

Visiting students will meet with their tutor every two months in order to discuss the progress of their studies. At the first meeting, your tutor will determine in which way the institute can support your research, e.g. introduction to relevant research libraries or archives. Unless agreed otherwise with your tutor, you will be required to attend the research seminar as well as one other module taught by your tutor or another member of the institute.

1. Make sure you meet the formal requirements (https://www.int.uzh.ch/en/in/visiting.html) y the University of Zurich.
2. Make sure your supervisor agrees to your stay.
3. Secure your funding.
4. Identify the member of our Institute which you wish to act as your tutor during your stay.
5. Contact your prospective tutor and ascertain whether they are able to accommodate your request.
6. Prepare your paperwork. In addition to the documents required by the University of Zurich, the Institute requires
   a.    … a 1 page description of your research project which details how exactly you expect to benefit from staying at our Institute,
   b.    … a letter of recommendation by your supervisor,
   c.    … a preliminary research plan for the duration of your stay.
7. Send your paperwork to your prospective tutor. They will present your case to the head of the Institute who will decide upon your request.
8. After acquiring assent by our Institute, proceed with your application via the usual process as detailed by the University of Zurich.

The pre-admission process can be quite lengthy depending on e.g. the visa-process, or the time it will take for you to secure funding. Please also take into account that we will need some time to appropriately consider your proposal, and that you yourself might need additional time in order to improve your proposal. Additionally, the University administration does need time to process your application.