Zurich… Swimming in lakes and much more!

This winter break I was lucky enough to travel to Zurich, Switzerland to complete the subject ‘International Sports Law: Legal Challenges in the Fight Against Doping’ at the University of Zurich (UZH).

After arriving in Zurich, we were assigned a student leader from the University (shoutout to Yaroslav!) who picked us up from the airport and helped us get to our accommodation via public transport. Our housing complex was located in Meierwiesenstrasse 62, around a 15-minute tram ride from the centre of Zurich. This is where most of the students who were completing the program stayed. After arriving and becoming familiar with a few other students, we went straight into the program the next day with an introductory BBQ and meeting.

The subject was taught at the UZH main campus and I was very impressed to hear that individuals such as Albert Einstein were amongst its alumni. During our classes, we heard from guest lecturers consisting of FIFA executives, World Anti-Doping arbitrators and many more significant figures. Being in Switzerland, particularly Zurich, meant that we were surrounded by, and involved with, many of the world’s leading sporting institutions, hence, I really do believe that Zurich may be the best place to study sports law!

Our final assessment was a Moot Court consisting of a mock doping scenario. We were separated into 8 groups of 4-5 people and had to battle it out through knockout rounds. I was fortunate enough to make it to the grand final where we competed at the FIFA headquarters. Having the opportunity to speak at such a prominent location (particularly as a football fan) was a very exciting and truly memorable experience.

It wasn’t all classes and learning though! The city is incredibly vibrant and fun during summer with lakes and streams only ever a short walk away. The best part about this is that they are almost all swimmable. When days were warm it was almost a certainty that we headed down to the Lake (particularly Lake Zurich) and had a swim. But Lake Zurich was definitely not the only spot to cool off. There are also a number of flowing streams and rivers that provide a perfect place to swim and socialise.

Ultimately, I would strongly recommend this program to anybody who is thinking of completing it! I took part in a number of unforgettable experiences and met amazing friends from both Australia and all over the world. I may also be welcoming a few to Australia within the coming months.

If you have any hesitations or questions please feel free to reach out to me, I’d be more than happy to help!

P.S. Switzerland is more expensive than you might think so definitely do some research before you head over, particularly surrounding public transport and getting a Swiss Travel Pass.

P.P.S. Have a look at Holafly e-sims for your phone (their European packages are great and include a number of countries including Switzerland). Also, Revolut is a great app for sorting out your payment method.

Jacob Hanna
Faculty of Law
International Sports Law Program at the University of Zurich, Switzerland
Global Short Programs Travel Scholarship recipient