Find a language exchange partner at University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW)
FHNW is not a single-campus university. Its ten schools are spread across several cantons, with four main sites in Brugg-Windisch, Basel, Muttenz and Olten. In 2025, FHNW counted 11’572 bachelor’s and 2’955 master’s students, 14’527 in total. A university filter is useful in this distributed community: it helps you find people who understand FHNW’s campus days, commuting and project work.
The setting is linguistically varied too. In 2025, 9.5 per cent of FHNW students came from abroad. As in July 2026, the degree programme directory can be filtered by German, English and French as teaching languages. A tandem can support everyday German, specialist discussions in English or regular French conversation.
On Sprachtandem.ch, you can add FHNW to your profile and search for profiles that list the same university. The information is supplied by users and is not verified by FHNW. Sprachtandem.ch is independent and is not an official FHNW service.
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Why look for a language exchange partner within FHNW?
A shared university gives you an immediate point of reference without limiting you to your own programme, school or team. People at FHNW know the situations in which language matters: explaining a project, asking a follow-up question, presenting clearly or joining an informal conversation with confidence. A tandem lets you practise for those moments.
- Establish which FHNW site each person usually attends and whether the journey works for both of you.
- Link German, English or French to a concrete goal such as group work, presentations or international collaboration.
- Use the perspectives of FHNW’s ten schools for substantial conversation without studying the same subject.
- Combine campus meetings with online sessions when your on-site days do not overlap.
What is a language tandem? explains the two-way exchange. The guide to finding the ideal language exchange partner helps you compare goals, pace and expectations.
New: Add your university to your profile
Select FHNW in the university or higher education institution field. You can then search for people who have also listed FHNW. At a university spread across several sites, this saves time: you can move straight to the language, learning goal, usual FHNW location and availability.
The entry is self-reported. It does not confirm enrolment or employment, and FHNW does not check it. Say what you want to practise, which language you offer, whether you prefer online or in-person meetings, and which site you attend most often. Existing users can consult Your Sprachtandem.ch Account for profile guidance.
Create a profile and select FHNW
How to search within your university
- Create a profile or open your account, then select FHNW as your university.
- Choose the language you offer and the one you want to strengthen. Add a specific goal, such as presenting more fluently or speaking German more spontaneously.
- Open the search and filter by FHNW to focus on profiles with the same self-declared university connection.
- Compare learning goals, preferred format and availability. A workable rhythm matters as much as the language pair.
- Make contact through the platform and arrange an online call or public meeting place. FHNW’s site information lists the campus park or public library at Muttenz and the library, restaurant, bar or café at Brugg-Windisch. Check access and opening hours first.
When your schedules do not align, Learning Languages Online offers ideas for keeping a remote tandem consistent. Before meeting, review how to keep Sprachtandem.ch safe.
One FHNW, four main sites: make location part of the match
At FHNW, the same university name does not necessarily mean the same place. Brugg-Windisch, Basel, Muttenz and Olten are the four main sites, and Basel includes several FHNW addresses. Ask where the other person is usually based and on which days they are there. That detail can decide whether a match becomes a practical routine.
A realistic pattern might be one meeting on a shared campus day, followed by an online session the next week. In Muttenz, the campus park and library provide neutral options; in Brugg-Windisch, the library, restaurant, bar and café offer several settings. This flexibility matters when two people share FHNW but not the same weekly route.
For international students and staff, Learning German can complement tandem practice between meetings. German may support everyday interaction, while English or French sessions can focus on study, research or professional communication.
Who is an FHNW language tandem for?
A tandem suits people who want to use a language in their actual university life.
- International and exchange students can strengthen German for campus conversations, daily life and group work.
- German-speaking students can practise English for presentations and contacts, or French for multilingual settings.
- Doctoral researchers, researchers and staff can explain specialist content, ask precise questions and practise informal conversation.
- Commuters can combine occasional meetings at an FHNW site with shorter online sessions.
- New members of the FHNW community can meet people beyond their own school or team through a shared language goal.
Make the Most of Your Practice Session shows how to organise topics, corrections and equal time for both languages.
Start your FHNW language exchange
With 14’527 bachelor’s and master’s students in 2025 and four main sites, FHNW offers many possible language combinations, but its distributed structure makes a thoughtful match important. Add FHNW to your profile, describe your goal and clarify the location or online format before the first session.
Start with one manageable conversation, divide the time between both languages and agree on a rhythm afterwards. You do not need to belong to the same school: learning goals, travel routes, availability and compatible feedback matter more.
Frequently asked questions about language exchange at FHNW
How do I add FHNW to my profile?
Select FHNW in the field for your university or higher education institution and save the change. New users can add it while setting up their profile, while existing users can update their profile information. The entry is a self-declaration on Sprachtandem.ch. It is not checked by FHNW and does not serve as official proof of enrolment or employment.
Can I search specifically for someone at the same FHNW site?
The university filter narrows the search to profiles that also list FHNW, but it does not replace a location check. FHNW has four main sites in Brugg-Windisch, Basel, Muttenz and Olten, and Basel includes several addresses. Mention your usual site and on-site days in your profile or ask about them in the first message before arranging a meeting.
Which languages are especially relevant for an FHNW tandem?
As in July 2026, FHNW’s degree programme directory offers German, English and French as teaching-language filters. German is often useful for daily life and interaction on site, English for international study and work contexts, and French for multilingual or cross-border situations. The right pair still depends on your particular programme, role and personal learning goal.
Is the offer only for students?
No. It can also suit exchange students, doctoral researchers, researchers, staff and people who have recently joined the FHNW community. What matters is an honest university connection and a clear language goal. Sprachtandem.ch is independent of FHNW, and selecting the university in a profile is not official confirmation of enrolment, employment or any other status.
Where could a first tandem meeting take place at FHNW?
Choose a public, easy-to-reach setting and check current access and opening hours. FHNW lists a campus park and a library open to the public at Muttenz; Brugg-Windisch has a library, restaurant, bar and café. If your usual sites are far apart, an initial online conversation may be simpler. Share personal information gradually and only once sufficient trust has developed.