Campus life in Wädenswil
Make your campus life creative, active, social, and above all, fun. Students and staff at ZHAW in Wädenswil benefit from a wide range courses and meeting places.
Sport
Zurich Academic Sports Association ASVZ
The Zurich Academic Sports Association (ASVZ) offers a wide ranging sports programme: volleyball, basketball and badminton training take place at three locations in Wädenswil, and strength and endurance training in our Strength and Cardio Centre. ZHAW students are automatically eligible to participate and benefit from the entire range of ASVZ activities, its free attractive courses and camps.
Club sports
The regional sports clubs offer a wide variety of options, ranging from recreational to elite sports. Be it individual or team sports, games or endurance sports, there is something for everyone. The following clubs would all be pleased to hear from you.
Forest bathing and forest mindfulness
Feeling stressed? The course is aimed at students and employees who want to relax in nature from everyday stress or who want to use the forest preventively to promote health. We learn various mindfulness exercises, train our senses in nature and apply various breathing and body awareness techniques.
- Dates: Tuesday, September 1, 2026
- Time: 12 a.m. - 1 p.m.
- Meeting point: Main entrance GC building, Grüental campus, ZHAW Wädenswil
- Location: Forest
- Requirements: none
- Participation: comfortable and weather-appropriate clothing
Yoga During Lunch Break
Take a little “time out” during your lunch break to reconnect with YOURSELF. Step away from the hustle and bustle of the outside world and turn your attention inward.
You can look forward to asanas (yoga postures) adapted to your breath, short meditations, and breathing exercises (pranayama).
All levels are very welcome.
- Monday: 12:00–12:30 p.m., Room GE 205
- Start: Monday, September 14, 2026
- Maximum number of participants: 15
- Requirements: None
- What to bring: Comfortable clothing, a yoga mat, and optionally a water bottle
- Tuesday: 12:00–12:30 p.m.
- Campus Reidbach: Room RS O1.16 (Multipurpose Room – Shedhalle)
- Start: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
- Maximum number of participants: 25
- Requirements: None
- What to bring: Comfortable clothing, a yoga mat, and optionally a water bottle
Body Awareness and Movement
Embodied Learning for Studies and Professional Life: Regulating Stress and Staying Capable of Taking Action
Pause, let go, transform…
We work with body awareness, movement, and non-verbal communication to become more present in the moment and strengthen our inner awareness.
Through simple, experiential exercises, we learn to recognize stress and tension at an early stage, regulate emotions, and deal more calmly with performance pressure, exam anxiety, and uncertainty.
Embodied Learning is based on the connection between body and mind. It promotes creativity, vitality, and self-confidence while strengthening the ability to communicate clearly and authentically. Along the way, we develop greater resilience, inner stability, and energy for both our studies and everyday working life.
Students and staff members – with or without previous experience – are warmly welcome!
- Tuesday: 6:00–7:30 p.m., Room RA O1.01
- Start: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Languages
Academic and Professional English
Should you wish to improve your English skills for work or study, you may be interested in the Academic and Professional English course, where the main emphasis is on polishing up essential communication skills in English. The course takes place in the spring semester and consists of the equivalent of one double-lesson per week. It is open to third year and Master's students as well as staff.
Prepare for Your Cambridge English Exam!
Join our free Cambridge examination preparation workshops during the autumn and spring semesters. Held over lunchtime, the workshops combine convenient online sessions with face-to-face practice.
Open to all LSFM students from the second semester onwards, as well as LSFM staff.
German for Foreign Speakers / German as a Foreign Language
Der Kurs richtet sich an Studierende und Mitarbeitende, deren Muttersprache nicht Deutsch ist und die ihre Deutschkenntnisse vertiefen wollen. Wir üben Leseverstehen, Hörverstehen, schriftlichen und mündlichen Ausdruck sowie Grammatik und Stilistik.
The course is aimed at non-native German speaking students and employees who want to improve their German skills. We practice reading, listening, writing and speaking, as well as grammar and stylistics.
- Beginners: Monday, 18.50 - 20.20, room RA O2.37
- Advanced: Monday, 16.50 - 18.35, room RA O2.37
- Courses start at the beginning of the semester.
Spanish
¡Hola! Learn the language that is becoming increasingly important in music, culture and business. Spanish is a language spoken by more than 500 million people on both sides of the Atlantic.
- Conversation course: Monday, 16.50 - 17.35, room RA O1.09
- Beginners: Monday, 17.50 - 19.35, room RA O1.09
- Intermediate: Tuesday, 16.50 - 18.30, room RA O1.09
- Workshop to improve your Spanish skills (from A2-B1 level): Tuesday, 18.30 - 20.00, room RA O1.09
- In this workshop, we practise individually and in small groups. In an enjoyable and engaging way, we work on different aspects of communication skills according to your needs.
- Courses start at the beginning of the semester.
French
French: precision, finesse, elegance, charm! 200 million speakers throughout the world. This course will help you express yourself better in this beautiful language by refreshing your previously acquired base knowledge.
These courses are available to students from all semesters. There are two courses available to consolidate and expand your potential:
- Refresher course (B1) (grammar and conversation) Thursday, 16.50 - 18.35, room RA O2.20
- Courses start at the beginning of the semester.
Italian
L′italiano è da sempre la lingua dell′arte e del buon cibo in tutto il mondo. Ora lo puoi imparare o migliorare in un′atmosfera di pura italianità.
Italian has always been the language of art and good food all over the world. The language is learnt through immersion in a purely Italian atmosphere.
- Beginners: Wednesday, 4:50 p.m. – 6:35 p.m., Room RA O2.24
- Advanced: Tuesday, 5:30 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., Room RA O2.24
- Start at the beginning of each semester
ESN - Student Exchange
At the ZHAW in Wädenswil there is also an ESN (Erasmus Student Network) branch: We look after domestic and foreign exchange students and support LSFM students who are interested in an exchange semester at another university.
Would you feel like to work in a dynamic team, cultivate relationships, take care of exchange students, hold parties...?
Tandem meeting point
In tandem learning, two people with different native languages work together. They can share their cultural experiences, improve their foreign language skills, practice correct pronunciation, and learn to communicate in a foreign language. The tandem partners have the opportunity to experience a language, even if they are currently unable to visit the country of their target language.
Contact and registration: www.zhaw.ch/tandem
Culture and culinary
ZHAW LSFM Choir
Do you like singing? Are you getting bored of only doing this in the shower? Then you are very welcome to join our choir, whether you are a student or an employee.
- Wednesday, 17.15 - 18.45, room RA O3.19
Forum
The forum focusses on current topics from culture, business, politics and science and regularly invites speakers. The presentations are announced individually and every one interested is welcomed.
Student Forum
We offer students the opportunity to organize events, discussions and lectures themselves. Do you have a concern or a topic that affects us all? We will provide you with organisational support.
Drawing and painting
Do you like being creative with pencil, ink and bright colors? Then we can experiment together with pleasure. Without formality, simple and spontaneous we express what we feel at the moment in "a stroke or a spot of color".
- Thursday, 17.00 - 19.00, room RA RA O2.07
- Courses start at the beginning of the semester. (17 September 2026)
Biographical Theatre
Do you enjoy writing and want to bring your texts to the stage and then perform in your own play? In that case this course is just right for you, as we combine biographical writing with performance art.
You’ll put moments from your own life into words, select your favourite passages from songs or texts, and perform and stage them together with the group.
- Wednesday: 6:15–7:45 p.m., Room RA O1.01
- Start: Wednesday, September 16, 2026
- Requirements: None
Klimatopf Cooking class
Sustainable, enjoyable and healthy cooking - made easy!
In our test kitchen at the ZHAW in Wädenswil, you will cook vegan, vegetarian recipes from the “Klimatopf” that are good for the planet and for you. Bring an apron and a container for any leftovers.
- Duration: from 4 - 6.30 pm
- Location: Fokusgruppenraum RD O3.31
- Limited number of participants: 12 people per evening
- Material costs: CHF 10 per evening
- Themed evenings: to be booked individually
15.09. «Fermentieren leicht gemacht»
29.09. « Nüsse, Samen, Kerne» Süsses und Herzhaftes
06.10. « Getreide & Vollkorn in neuen Varianten»
13.10. «Feines aus Kürbissen»
20.10. «Überraschendes aus Hülsenfrüchten»
26.10. «Suppenglück für jede Stimmung und jeden Anlass»
03.11. «Spannende Entdeckungen aus Rüben und Kohl»
11.11. «Zwiebeln und leckere Gerichte damit»
19.11. «Herzhafte Wintersalate»
24.11. «Honig & traditionelle Gebäcke neu entdecken»
Technology
Physical Computing HandsOn
It's that time again! Our popular Physical Computing course will be offered again in the autumn semester of 2026. The programme is diverse and provides you with exciting insights into topics, methods and techniques that you can put to good use in your studies.
Programme: A varied programme awaits you, ranging from 3D printing and soldering to programming. You can find details about the programme in the Moodle course.
Venue: The course will take place at ICLS in Schloss GS every Tuesday during lunchtime, from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Registration: To register for the course, you must enrol yourself in the Moodle course. Please sign up only for the modules you actually intend to attend. Please note that the number of participants per module is limited. You will find a survey for this under the registration section.
Hardware: Please bring your laptop. For the 3D printing session, you may also want to bring a mouse. If you have your own soldering iron kit or something you’ve been meaning to solder for a while, feel free to bring it along. Otherwise, everything you need will be provided.
Clubs / Associations
Titania Student Association
Our student association has existed since 1885 and offers you the opportunity to make contact with students from various institutes and thus build an active network for your future professional career. We meet regularly in Titania House and go on various excursions together. Above all, friendship, friendly gatherings and exciting activities are our priority.
Alias students of the ZHAW
Alias represents all ZHAW students and at the same time promotes the study culture. Via two information channels, Alias offers entertainment and the opportunity to actively participate. The student magazine ZAKK provides weekly online and free information on current and exciting topics such as student life at the ZHAW, culture, culinary delights and travel. Studiradio Campus.FM offers broadcasts on culture, sports, reports, talk shows and much more every Tuesday and Thursday from 6 pm to 8 pm - and they are available as podcasts.
NaKt - The Alias Sustainability Commission
NaKt is committed to addressing student sustainability concerns at the School of Life Sciences (N), as well as at the ZHAW as a whole. Anyone who is interested can take part in NaKt events, participate in regular meetings to share their thoughts, or send any questions or comments that they have by email. By working together, the ZHAW can become more sustainable. Information about NaKt events and news is shared on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Learn and enjoy
Rooms
Some of the rooms at the ZHAW are also available outside of normal opening hours.
Student Meet
The student meet is a meeting point for all study programmes. Every Thursday from 18.00 to 24.00 in Jugendhaus Sust (1st floor) at Wädenswil station.
Information is available via the "Studitreff ZHAW Wädenswil" Facebook group
Wädiaware
Tips and information about sustainable studying and living in Wädenswil.
Collective gardening
The collective garden offers the students the opportunity to gain experience in vegetable and herb cultivation and to share knowledge. Growing some of your food yourself is one of many steps to putting the theoretical principles of sustainability into practice. The garden is organically farmed and maintained by everyone throughout the year.
Against food waste!
The solar-powered refrigerator in front of the main entrance to the GC building is open day and night. Students can support sustainability by providing all those who are hungry with a choice of foods that can no longer be sold but are still edible.