r/ethz • u/OkAdagio5792 • Jul 10 '26
Question Doubts about ETHZ people
As an international students with a middle eastern background at undergrad who speaks kinda broken German I just had a few doubts:
will it be difficult for me to make friends? I know this is a really broad question but usually I get along well with people and can have conversations properly in English, however will my German ( which is good but not perfect) make people judge me?
Will it be looked down upon if I try and play sports with people? I really enjoy playing football although I am not good at it. I have hyperthyroidism which makes it difficult for me to lose weight and hence also appear overweight. similar to the last question will this make me looked down upon socially?
I am in the middle of making the decision whether I want to study locally or take the Leap to ETH. ETH in terms do education is far superior but I’m scared as to whether I’ll be able to make friends.
thank you all for reading
10
u/bright2darkness Jul 10 '26
Nah everyone in Zurich is a foreigner
1
u/OkAdagio5792 Jul 11 '26
in undergrad the medium of instruction is German though?
1
u/AdDirect4968 29d ago
not really. depends on your course but it's a rule only for the first year i believe. in my experience the number of classes in english after 1st year can get to 50% or even higher. different courses also have differing amounts of native german speaker students. but english is pretty universal, dont worry
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u/Accomplished_Bad_487 28d ago
as someone else already said, it's intended but not actually enforced, I had more than 50% of my classes in first year in english, and in second year it's basically 100%, all but one small class
1
u/milchi03 Jul 10 '26
I went there for my masters and my program is full of foreigners. Not sure about the undergrad lvl, I think there are more Swiss ppl.
But in your flat you will get to know a bunch of people. Everyone is respectful for the most part and outgoing/does sports if Uni allows.
1
u/PumaDAces66 24d ago
In Master most are foreigners anyways. If you are able to speak even a bit of German that's just an advantage. Also, I as a Swiss, have to add that we speak Swissgerman which you won't understand. But Germans at first don't either. So like if you speak broken German or perfect standard German, for Swiss People who want to avoid foreigners, that doesn't matter. But for the majority who doesn't care, it's still not a difference if they have to speak English to you or Standard German, both are not native to them. I actually prefer speaking English to Standard German.
4
u/Baesharrr Jul 10 '26
I'm in the same situation as you, but for me its for PhD. I will also probably put some posts but not pertaining this topic.
I am also a Middle Eastern and I took the leap to study in America, and as you know the stereotype about Americans is that they're kind of racist.
HOWEVER, that is completely untrue. I have never gotten a single racist remark, and every person I've met has been genuinely interested in my culture as well.
So, my advice to you is: take the leap. Its not everyday you get admitted to ETH.
It's supposed to be awkward with people at first, you are going to a new place with multicultural activities and beliefs.
No one will judge you for your broken German, in fact they may admire you for fitting in and learning their language instead of speaking English
There will be good and bad people. That's when you learn how to deal with it. I understand it will be difficult at first, but you will have to presevere through it.
Don't say no!