Switzerland, Basel – Fall 2009 iap program handbook
Emergency Contact InformationIn case of an emergency, call the main IAP number (608) 265 6329 between 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday; after-hours or on weekends call the IAP staff on call at (608) 516 9440. Embassy RegistrationAll program participants who are U.S. citizens must register at the U.S. Embassy before departure as this will help in case of a lost passport or other mishap. You can register on-line at https://travelregistration.state.gov. If you are not a U.S. citizen, register at your home country’s embassy or consulate. United States Embassy Jubilaeumstrasse 93 3005 Bern Switzerland Tel: (41) (31) 357-7011 Fax (41) (31) 357-7280 E-mail: bernacs@state.gov.
Fall Semester Intensive German language courses at a reasonable rate are offered by the Language Centre of the university. These usually start three weeks before the lecture period. Students can register for a course online at: http://www.sprachenzentrum.unibas.ch/. If you wish to participate in one of these classes you should arrive three weeks early. Preparation Before LeavingImmigration DocumentsPassport: A passport is needed to travel to Switzerland and to obtain your student visa. Apply immediately for a passport if you do not already have one. Passport information and application forms can be found on the U.S. State Department website http://travel.state.gov/passport/. If you already have your passport, make sure it will be valid for at least 6 months beyond the length of your stay abroad. Visa: U.S. citizens (and some other non-visa nationals) require visas to study in Switzerland for three months or more. You cannot apply for a visa until you have received your official acceptance letter from the University of Basel. Students must visit the visa desk in Chicago to apply for the visa. Please check the consulate website for visiting hours: http://www.eda.admin.ch/chicago. The following documents are necessary to apply for the visa: 3 visa application forms, fully completed and signed by the applicant 3 copies of confirmation/registration letter from the school, university, etc. in Switzerland 3 copies of confirmation of payment of school tuition fees Proof of financial resources, i.e. recent bank statements (3 copies each) 3 copies of previous diplomas and school certificates 3 copies of a resume (biographical data, schools attended, etc.) 3 copies of the applicant's passport 3 recent passport pictures The applicant's request will be forwarded for a decision to the immigration authority where you intend to study, and the Swiss Embassy or Consulates General are only allowed to issue a student visa upon receipt of the authorization. Please note that the procedure takes approximately 6-8 weeks. Upon arrival in Switzerland, students must register in person with the local authorities for a residence permit. The following documents must be submitted along with the application for the residence permit: passport, two passport photographs, student ID from the university (green or yellow) with a semester stamp, and a declaration to the effect that they have sufficient means to cover the cost of their stay in Basel. Handling Money AbroadThe official currency of Switzerland is the Swiss Franc (CHF or SFr) with 1 franc being made up of 100 centimes. As of 7/23/08, the exchange rate was $1 USD to 1.03 francs. You should bring some money with you in cash for incidental purchases as well as for bus and train fares. You will need enough money to cover your first few weeks in England. Banks: According to Swiss law, nonresidents of Switzerland who would like to open a Swiss bank account must be at least 18 years old. Other than that, there aren't a lot of restrictions. There is often no minimum balance required to open an account but once you've started making deposits there is a minimum balance you have to maintain that varies from bank to bank and by type of account. Once you have registered with the local authorities and received your residence permit, you can open a bank account at Basler Kantonalbank or a postal account at Gelbes Konto. Both offer online banking options. Keep in mind that it may take up to 2-3 weeks to begin using your bank account in Switzerland and you should ensure that you have money available to you during this period. Traveler’s checks: You may wish to take some U.S. traveler's checks with you. Traveler's checks will not only tide you over until you can establish a bank account in Basel, but can be used if you travel outside Switzerland. If you are using traveler’s checks, it is essential to keep a record of the check numbers (in a separate safe place away from the checks) in case they are lost or stolen. The checks will not be replaced unless you have a record of the numbers. Be careful where you cash your checks; most banks and bureau de change will charge a commission. American Express will cash American Express travelers checks free of charge and usually have a better exchange rate. You will need your passport with you when cashing traveler’s checks. ATM/Debit cards: Program participants have commented that the easiest and most convenient way for students to obtain money is to use their ATM card overseas. They are easily accessible everywhere and are usually your best bet for getting cash at the current exchange rate. Currency exchange can be found in most SBB/CFF train stations as well as in any bank though there is usually a fee charged for each exchange. You should check with your bank/credit union if your ATM card will function properly in Switzerland, identify the maximum amount you can withdraw in a day or one week, and learn about any withdrawal fees you may incur. Also, consider taking an extra ATM card in case your card gets demagnetized, lost, or taken by the bank machine. There is a fairly wide network of ATM machines throughout Europe—ask for a “cash point” or a “bank machine.” The great advantage of ATM cards is that they allow you to get funds in the local currency right away. In addition, the exchange rate you get is better than the exchange rate you would get if you went to a financial institution to exchange your U.S. dollars. Credit cards: All though credit cards are used more and more the Swiss "pay-culture" is more cash or debit - cards oriented. Most major U.S. credit cards can be used worldwide and are extremely valuable in a financial emergency. It is highly advisable to obtain a major credit card in your name (not a parent) before studying abroad. Master Card and Visa are the most widely accepted cards worldwide. Be sure to record your credit card number and emergency card numbers in a separate place in case your card is stolen or lost. Not all merchants accept credit cards, regardless of the name brand. Visa and Master Card are the most commonly accepted cards. Past participants have found it difficult using a Discover Card or American Express as they are not as widely accepted. Be aware that credit card companies do charge a fee for “cash advances” if you choose to take money out of an ATM using a credit card. Be sure you know what these fees are before you leave the U.S. as well as the maximum daily withdrawal. Before you leave, make sure to get confidential four-digit international identification numbers to use with your credit card while you are overseas. Typically, the amount charged to your credit card bill is based on the exchange rate on the day that your bank or credit card company processed the transaction. Travel and ArrivalParticipants on this program make their own flight arrangements to Switzerland. Participants can fly into Zuerich Airport in Zurich or EuroAirport Basel–Mulhouse–Freiburg in Basel (this is the closest major airport to the University). From the Zuerich airport there is a direct train to Basel leaving from the underground platform every hour. The cost of a ticket is CHF 35 and the journey takes an hour and half. From the Basel Airport there is a shuttle bus to the Basel Railway station leaving every 8 minutes for the 15 minute journey. The onsite staff can meet you at the train station or you can take a taxi. The taxi from the airport to center city is about CHF 40 (depending on traffic and time). Exchange students are advised to arrive a few days to a week early, if not taking the pre-semester German course, in order to acquaint themselves with the university and the city. Upon arrival, students must register at the International Office. They will be informed about the most important aspects of their stay in Basel and referred to the other institutions they will have to contact.
With the foundation of the Centre for African Studies Basel in 2001, the University has created a prominent centre for Africa-related teaching and research in Switzerland. The establishment of the Centre formalized many years of cooperation between university and non-university institutions in Basel and it is the only Centre in Switzerland to offer a Masters degree in African Studies. Graduate students will have the opportunity to take a combination of lecture courses, seminars and colloquiums taught in English at the Centre for African Studies Basel (CASB). These courses are taught by faculty from CASB as well as faculty from the disciplines of social anthropology, theology, philosophy and history, epidemiology, and environmental sciences. Students may choose three modules of study which may include courses from interdisciplinary African studies, social anthropology, history, environment and human well being, culture and society, and applied African studies. While at the University of Basel, students will also have the opportunity to participate in practicals, independent fieldwork and research projects. OrientationExchange students are welcomed to the Centre for African Studies on an individual basis. The International Office will show you around and help you with all administrative matters. It is recommended that you arrive one week before lectures start in order to sort out administrative details as well as to familiarize yourself with the town as the various departments are spread all over the inner city. On the first Monday of the term there will be a small lunch-time reception where guest students are introduced to staff and students and are given additional relevant information. CoursesWhile at Basel, you will be based at the Center for African Studies where you will take the majority of your courses. Visiting students can select courses in English from those listed on the following website, available a month or so before the start of the term: http://www.unibaszasb.ch/english/courses/index.php. The contact person at Basel, Veit Arlt is able to help you select suitable classes. Feel free to also approach the following contact persons if you have questions about core subjects at CASB: • History: Prof. Dr. Patrick Harries: patrick.harries@unibas.ch
Once you arrive in Basel and have registered with student services, you will be able to register for your classes online. Credit points are awarded for written or oral examinations in lecture courses, seminar papers, presenting papers in class, external practical training courses, practical research training and field/study trips, tutorials and student self-administration activities, Masters examination and Masters thesis. A description of each type of course follows: Vorlesung (Lecture): 2 hours per week in the classroom with preparatory reading (Vorlesung mit Kolloquium” means that there were slots for intensive discussion in every session). Overall workload: 60hrs. Kolloquium (Research Seminar): 2 hours per week in the classroom with preparatory reading and intensive discussion in every session. Overall workload: 90hrs. Seminar: 2 hours per week in the classroom with preparatory reading, each student conducts research and does a presentation of the results of 30-60 minutes duration. Overall workload: 90hrs. Ubung (Exercise Course): 2 hours per week in the classroom with preparatory reading, each student conducts research and does a presentation of the results of 30-60 minutes duration. Overall workload: 90hrs. Seminararbeit (Long Paper): Research paper of 25-35 pages length, graded on the basis of a scale of 1-6. Overall workload: 150hrs. Equivalents and Course Equivalent Request Form (CERF): Each course you take abroad must be assigned a UW-Madison “equivalent” course in order for your grades and credits to be recorded on your UW-Madison transcript. In order to establish UW-Madison course equivalents for your study abroad courses, you will submit a Course Equivalent Request Form (CERF). Detailed information on the UW course equivalent process is available in the IAP Study Abroad Handbook. INSTITUTIONAL ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES There are numerous libraries, document centers, archives and picture archives which offer an impressive resource for research on African themes and regions. Here is a list for further reference. mission 21 / Basler Mission: library and archives Missionsstrasse 21 First floor 4051 Basel Tel: +41 61 260 21 21
The library features 50,000 books and 300 journals. Its regional focus is on Africa, Asia and Latin America and covers the fields of Contextual and Intercultural Theology, Mission History, Colonial History and Development Studies. In the case of Ghana and Cameroon the library comprises most of the literature accessible in Switzerland. Books can be borrowed for one month, journals for two weeks. Basler Afrika Bibliographien Namibia Resource Centre – Southern Africa Library Klosterberg 23 4051 Basel Tel:+41 61 228 93 33 http://www.baslerafrika.ch The library features research literature on southern Africa, in particular Namibia, daily and weekly newspapers and journals from Namibia and South Africa, scholarly journals from and about Africa, bibliographies and reference works on Africa, a rare-book collection from the 16th to early 20th century, and the Hans W. Debrunner Collection (which includes material on West Africa and mission history). The archive includes material on the anti-apartheid and solidarity movements in Switzerland and Europe, SWAPO of Namibia archive, collection of private estates from Namibia, archive for newspaper articles on Africa, photograph collection with a focus on Namibia, and a poster collection with a focus on southern Africa
The BAB antiquarian bookshop is located at Klosterberg 21. Schweizerisches Tropeninstitut Socinstrasse 57 4051 Basel Tel: +41 (0)61 284 81 11 Fax: +41 (0)61 271 86 54 The Swiss Tropical Institute (STI) was founded in 1943, and has achieved both national and international recognition for its work. The mission of the STI is to contribute to the improvement of the health of populations internationally and nationally through excellence in research, services and teaching and training. Museum der Kulturen Basel/ Ethnological Seminar of the University of Basel Schüsselberg 17 / Münsterplatz 19 4051 Basel Tel:+41 61 266 56 30 e-mail: mkb.biblio@bs.ch
The joint library of the Museum der Kulturen Basel and of the Ethnological Seminar of Basel University is the largest and oldest (1901) specialized anthropological library in Switzerland. It offers you a comprehensive selection of information with over 80,000 publications and around 200 current journals. The spectrum of specialized literature on anthropology is broad. A regional focus is Africa, especially the societies and cultures of West Africa. CreditConversions: Each course at the University of Basel is awarded a certain number of “credit points”, labeled “CP” in the course catalog. As a norm, one CP is given for 30 hours of work input of an average student. A lecture is worth 2 CP. A seminar or exercise course (Uebung), where a student is expected to prepare a presentation in addition to the readings and classroom hours, is worth 3 CP. A Kolloquium is also worth 3 CP. A long paper (Seminararbeit) of 25 pages is usually written on the basis of the presentation and is worth 5 CP. As a semester exchange student at the University of Basel, it is recommended that you take 3-4 courses and 1-2 long papers, resulting in 15 CP.
Pass/Fail/Drop/AuditPlease refer to the IAP Study Abroad Handbook for academic policies. Grades and Grade ConversionsLecture, seminar, and exercise courses at the University of Basel are given a pass/fail grade. Some courses and all long papers are graded with marks from 1-6. The grades given have the following connotations:
When converting coursework into UW-Madison grades, students will receive a grade of S/U for courses that are graded pass/fail. It is recommended that students speak with their academic advisor to determine whether or not pass/fail courses will count towards degree requirements and plan their course load accordingly. Living AbroadSWITZERLANDThe Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 and it secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. Switzerland's sovereignty and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers, and the country was not involved in either of the two World Wars. The political and economic integration of Europe over the past half century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UN member until 2002. It is a landlocked alpine country of roughly 7.6 million people in with an area of 41,285 km². Switzerland is a federal republic consisting of 26 states called cantons. Bordered by Germany, France, Italy, Austria, and Lichtenstein, Switzerland lies at the crossroads of several major European cultures that have heavily influenced the country's languages and culture. The country is multilingual and has four national languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh. The Swiss climate is generally temperate, but can vary greatly between the localities, from glacial conditions on the mountaintops to the often pleasant Mediterranean climate at Switzerland's southern tip. Summers tend to be warm and humid at times with periodic rainfall so they are ideal for pastures and grazing. The winters in the mountains alternate with sun and snow, while the lower lands tend to be more cloudy and foggy in winter. Switzerland is best known for its financial institutions, fine cheeses, chocolate, watch-making industry, for its scenery and an excellent public transport network. The capital city is Berne; other major cities include Basel, Geneva, Lucerne, Lugano and Zurich.
BASELLocated in north-west Switzerland on the river Rhine, Basel is Switzerland's third most populous city with165,529 inhabitants (2006). Basel is German-speaking. The local variant of the Swiss German dialects is called Basel German. Basel projects, well beyond central Europe, the image of a progressive, environmentally conscious, international, and integrative cultural, educational, and economic metropolis. It successfully combines such small-town features as clarity and intimacy with the advantages of a city: expansiveness, wide choice, and diversity. Despite its social dynamism and innovative economic strength, Basel is a lively border town, with a strong traditional base rooted in history which can be experienced not only at its carnival, the Basler Fasnacht. Both its historic townscape and modern architecture are part of Basel's living present. The Basel museums cover a broad and diverse spectrum of collections with a marked concentration in the fine arts. They house numerous holdings of international significance. The over three dozen institutions yield an extraordinarily high density of museums compared to other cities of similar size and draw over one million visitors annually. Its position in the Rhine valley gives Basel an exceptionally mild climate, influenced as it is by Mediterranean air currents that flow up from the Rhone valley through the Belfort Gap. As a result, compared with the Swiss midlands, Basel enjoys an above-average amount of sunshine and only rarely disappears in autumn fog. HousingThe University of Basel offers student accommodation at reasonable prices in residences that are in the proximity of the most institutes and faculties. All students irrespective of sex, religion or nationality may rent the rooms. All residences are equipped with the usual facilities (washing machine etc.). Genossenschaft Studentenheim Basel (Cooperative Student Residence) The residence has 104 furnished rooms including one accessible by wheelchair, which has its own bath and kitchen facilities Rent: CHF 350 - 420 Address: Mittlere Strasse 33, CH 4056 Basel Tel: +41 61 261 71 45 E-Mail: studentenheim-mittlerestrasse@unibas.ch Katholisches Studentenhaus (Catholic Student Residence) The Catholic Student Residence has 70 rooms, which are rented to students of the University of Basel. All rooms are furnished and each has at its disposal a telephone and an internet connection. Students also have access to the library and TV, music, and recreation rooms. Rent: CHF 360– 395 Address: Herbergsgasse 7, CH 4051 Basel Tel: +41 61 264 63 63 E-Mail: studentenheim-herbersgasse@unibas.ch, Internet: http://www.studentenhaus.ch/ Borromäum Studentenwohnheim (Borromäum Student Residence) The Borromäum, which has 43 rooms, is open to young people who are studying. All rooms are furnished and have a basin. This residence, which puts a special emphasis on promoting a communal lifestyle, is not in the immediate vicinity of the University but is still within 5 minutes’ cycling distance of the so-called Kollegiengebäude. Rent: CHF 350– 450 Address: Byfangweg 6, 4051 CH Basel Tel: +41 61 205 94 30 E-Mail: borromaeum@gmx.ch Alumneum The Alumneum has 25 furnished rooms und offers a familiar atmosphere. Half of the students are from Switzerland and the other half from abroad. There is a large communal kitchen, a library, a recreation room with TV and an idyllic garden enclosed within the premises. Address: Hebelstrasse 17, 4056 Basel Tel: + 41 61 261 37 18 Students also have the opportunity to share a flat on their own, which is sometimes a more popular option with graduate students. There is a lively market for this on the university website and often one can find fully furnished rooms for the full stay. The WoVe agency www.wove.ch helps students with finding a furnished room (Room Exchange). This is mostly in a shared flat (Housing Communities). In order to register the student has to fill a form and pay a fee of CHF 70. The form is available under the following URL: http://www.wove.ch/zibo/anmeldungz/files/anm_zibo_e.pdf. The rooms cost between CHF 300 - 600 monthly, depending on furnishings and opportunities for sharing of other pertinent facilities. To search on your own, there is the online-platform at: http://markt.unibas.ch. You should look for a "möbliertes Zimmer" (furnished room). Basel is a "smallish" town and the best way is to commute by bicycle or tramway (both perfectly safe and easy) – and you should look for a place within 15min from the University, i.e. 3-4km distant. It is easy to check the location of the place by referring to the online map: http://www.mybasel.ch/verkehr_stadtplan.cfm entering street and house number. In most cases a deposit of one or two month's rent is expected. Student LifeThere are a variety of ways in which students can become more deeply involved in intellectual and political life at the University of Basel. For example, special study groups have formed that allow students to pursue their interests in a variety of university-related subjects and, in addition, to organized social events. Café Africa is a new series of events run by the Centre for African Studies of the University of Basel in cooperation with partner organizations. In the relaxed setting of a coffee shop, interested persons gather to discuss research findings or to engage in current debates. A short talk by a guest speaker or a conversation with several guests introduces the topic and opens the floor for a general discussion. As the event is taking place in a public space we recommend that you come early in order to secure a good seat and enjoy some drink. Student Association of Basel University (Skuba) The Student Association of Basel University Skuba (Studentische Körperschaft der Universität Basel) performs a wide range of services for students and also functions as a central point of contact. It will help you access information about current events and activities taking place at the university. Website: http://www.skuba.ch/ IG African Studies (IGA) Since 1994 students with an interest in African issues from various faculties, particularly History and Social Anthropology, have been meeting in this open forum to pursue their special interests. You can find information about current IGA projects and events on their homepage where the IGA offers all students the chance to make electronic publications, thereby making their university work accessible to a wider audience. Website: http://pages.unibas.ch/afrika/index.html HealthImportant Telephone Numbers: Police Emergency:117 Fire Emergency:118 Ambulance/Emergency Transport: 144 Doctors, Dentists:++41 (0)61/261 15 15 Poison Hotline:++41 (0)1/251 51 51 Emergency Hotline for Women:++41 (0)61/692 91 11 The brochure “Help in Emergencies” is available at the Stadtladen.
CommunicationTelephone: When making calls, keep in mind time zone differences www.timeanddate.com/worldclock. To make an international call to the United States, dial the access code for the country from which you are calling plus the United States country code (always “1”) followed by the appropriate U.S. area code and local number. To call internationally from the United States, dial “011”, the country code, city access code (if necessary) and the phone number. Country and city codes can be found online www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/dialing.html. Some of above steps can vary if you are using a calling card. Pre-paid sim cards available for a cell phone cost around CHF 20. You have to show your residence permit upon purchase. If you don’t know about Skype yet, check it out (http://www.skype.com/)! It is a great resource for making free computer to computer calls, and cheap computer to phone calls. WEBSITES OF INTEREST International Academic Programs (IAP) at UW-Madison: www.studyabroad.wisc.edu University of Basel International Office http://www.unibas.ch/index.cfm?B1FCBF08C09F28B634E2B522870323C3 Center for African Studies at Basel (CASB) http://www.unibas-zasb.ch/english/index.php General Orientation Information: www.worldwide.edu/travel_planner/index.html (includes topics such as culture shock, international travel, etc.)
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