Basel is an incredible Swiss city, and fall is one of the best times to be there. The Rhine river runs through the city, and is a perfect place for a swim or a ferry trip. Basel has a vibrant cultural scene with more than 40 museums, 25 theaters, operas, and ballets, and multiple large festivals. The “Herbstmesse”, or Autumn Fair, is one of the biggest fairs in Switzerland in October and November with food, stalls, and rides. The “Weihnachtsmarkt”, or Christmas Market is also a longtime tradition during the holiday season. Basel is also an important city for foreign trade and pharmaceutical industries.
Other fun facts:
-
Roger Federer was born here! And every time he wins a championship, he is presented with a cow in the Marktplatz…
-
You can drink out of the water fountains you see around town!
-
Läckerli, a sort of hard gingerbread, was invented in Basel.
-
Basel’s namesake and its heraldic animal, is the basilisk.
Culture
UC–FHNW Exchange Program
Applications
After you’ve chosen to pursue this program, take a moment to congratulate yourself! It was a big, semi-scary decision, but it will yield amazing results. The first step is to complete the UC application on the UC International Programs website. It’s not too lengthy, but requires some writing in regards to why you want to participate and what past travel experience you possess. The FHNW (Swiss school) application is very similar – forms and some short answers.
It is always smart to submit these applications sooner than later. You will need a recommendation, as well as your study abroad advisor's signature, so a little buffer time is helpful. The next step is to wait. Fun, right? I received my acceptance letter near the end of April. Once you hear back, you can start in on the nitty gritty items!