Safety

Immunizations

At the time I made this site, you do not need any sort of immunizations outside of those recommended for travel by your home country. You should double-check CDC Swiss Travel before you go, just in case requirements have changed.

Language Prep

I did not know Swiss German beforehand, and I still don’t! The good thing is, you don’t need to learn it because it’s a dialect, therefore a solely spoken/informal language. Classmates speak it to each other, but anything official is in normal German. I did have background with German language skills before going and I would recommend learning the basics. It’s not crucial for survival, but it will help you feel more comfortable in a new culture.

Insurance

In Switzerland, everyone must have health and accident insurance. You should make sure that your insurance covers you in a foreign country. If you don’t have any insurance, you can sign up for Swisscare. UC requires CISI, which covers the accident/emergency insurance you need to meet Swiss requirements. Make sure you print off the contract, the card, and other information in case you need it for emergencies. Below is a list of important phone numbers/emails/contact information that can be used in emergencies. Although Switzerland is very low risk, it’s still smart to be aware and prepared for unforeseen events.

Police: 117

Firefighter: 118

Emergency Services (like 911): 144

U.S. Consular Agency (similar to an embassy)

Phone: +41 31 357 70 11

Address: Dufourstrasse 101, 8008 Zurich

U.S. Embassy in Switzerland

Phone: +41 31 357 70 11

Emergency: +41 31 357 77 77

Address: Sulgeneckstrasse 19, 3007 Bern

U.S. Embassy in DC

Main Phone: +1 (888) 407-4747