Erasmus internship in Switzerland: CEERRF student Méryem shares her experience
A final-year student at CEERRF, Méryem completed an Erasmus internship in Switzerland. She came back more independent, with lasting friendships and a clearer picture of her professional future.
Ask Méryem what she took away from her internship abroad, and she answers without hesitation: “clarity”. About herself, about her choices, about the direction she wants to take. She returned more independent and more confident, but she won’t call it a revelation. “It wasn’t about discovering life. It was more about going deeper into who I already am.”
Living in Switzerland: a different pace of life
The first shock was visual. Mountains, lakes, nature everywhere: according to her, the Swiss landscape gives a sense of harmony and constant calm. “It’s an environment that sets a different pace and a different way of living day to day.”
That slower pace carried over into her work. During her internship in Switzerland, Méryem says she learned to slow down, manage her time better and focus on quality. She also built “simple, genuine” connections with people she still keeps in touch with.
How international mobility shapes what comes next
Beyond the professional experience, the stay gave her a foundation for the future. “It helped me understand things I already felt, but couldn’t quite put into words,” she explains. A few months from graduating, she now has a clearer sense of where she feels at ease and where she wants to go. “It’s not just an internship. It’s a moment that changes the way you see yourself and look at the future.”
Budgeting for an Erasmus in Switzerland: plan for the cost of living
Méryem does have a warning for anyone considering the same destination: the cost of living in Switzerland leaves no room for improvisation. She recommends working out a precise budget before leaving and forgetting the “I’ll figure it out when I get there” approach. “Everything is expensive, and you feel it very quickly,” she warns.
Her advice for doing an internship abroad
Her message to future applicants remains clear: don’t give up. “Even with limited means, you have to find the resources to make it happen. And if it doesn’t work out, at least you can be proud you tried.” In the face of doubts and other people’s opinions, she encourages everyone to hold on and remember why they started.
Thinking about an Erasmus internship or another international mobility? Explore internship opportunities abroad at CEERRFor contact international bureau.