frequently asked questions 

What is FOUR?

FOUR is a healthcare technology startup building AI-enabled technical infrastructure supporting the healthcare systems across the globe.

What is Bumblekite?

Bumblekite is FOUR’s experimental collaboration space at the intersection of health, care, and technology.

Why has FOUR created Bumblekite?

At FOUR, we aim to craft and nurture a space within the global healthcare-technology ecosystem where everyone, regardless of their background, feels their ideas and contributions are valued. Bumblekite is our contribution to creating and cultivating this inclusive culture.

How can I become a part of your experimental, collaboration space?

You can join us by applying to our Bumblekite machine learning programme, held in Zürich, Switzerland.

machine learning summer school

applications↓

If I attended a previous iteration of the summer school, can I apply for a second year?

Yes, we would be thrilled to welcome you back! While we aim to evolve the content each year, please note that some sessions, topics, or lecturers may overlap due to various reasons (for example, our lecturers may have enjoyed their experience so much the previous year, they are eager to return).

Is it possible to participate in the MLSS if I am outside of the age, academic, and/or other brackets given on your website under the description of your target audience, such as a person with more than 5 years of data science and AI experience?

Absolutely! We are excited to receive your application and welcome you to join us. Please do not hesitate to apply. If you would like a bit more encouragement, feel free to reach out and we will cheer you on during your application process! :)

What language are your programmes held in?

The working language of all Bumblekite programmes is English.

Can I complete parts of my application in languages other than English?

No, the application should be fully in English. We want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to fully participate in the school. We expect participants to have the English level necessary to conduct all school-related communication only in English. That being written, at a point where your English level is sufficient to participate at the school, we would like to encourage you to be gentle and kind to yourself while writing up your application. Your current English level is your feature, not a bug. We do not have an expectation that an application written by a native English speaker will read the same as an application written by someone to whom English is the 2nd or the 3rd language. Expressing yourself creatively and verbalising your thoughts in a non-native language is by its nature a more challenging endeavour.

Will it be possible to obtain ECTS credits for the MLSS upon successful completion?

Participants who are accepted to the summer school and wish to be credited ECTS, are kindly asked to request them during our registration process.

We will provide you with a transcript stating the sessions attended and the number of hours completed. The requirements to be awarded this transcript are based on our community guidelines.

It will be the responsibility of each participant to contact the Academic Secretary or relevant department of their home institutions before coming to the summer school to begin this process and be aware of any further information required from us to validate the transcript. We suggest you request 2 ECTS credits, which is equal to 50 - 60 working hours, to be awarded for the attendance of the summer school.

Starting this process early will help you prepare beforehand how the hours and courses completed can be transferred into official credits at your institution and it will also help us in managing all the requests within this topic coming our way.

Are there any specific English proficiency requirements?

No, completing the application fully in English is sufficient for determining your proficiency.

What is your view on using large language models (LLMs) as assistive technology tools to the application writing process?

We would appreciate it if LLMs were not used as assistive tools in the process of generating your application. Your application is one of the key pieces of information we receive at the very beginning of your learning journey that aims to empower and propel you, a human, and not the LLM forward. There is no optimal or ideal application; there is only you, what you want to learn and what you stand for. Writing an application has to start with you believing there is something unique only you can contribute to our community and a goal so ambitious only this summer school can help you reach it. We look forward to getting to know more about you through your writing.

Is there an application fee?

No, the application process is free of charge for everyone applying.

registration fees↓

What is the cost of registration?

There is no application fee for potential participants. There is a registration fee that only accepted applicants are expected to cover in order to secure their spot. For more information, check the summer school section of the website, and stay tuned for updates by subscribing to our newsletter.

What will my registration include?

The registration fee covers access to all programme-based activities meticulously crafted by the school’s team (i.e., lectures, leadership conversations, tutorials, social programme). Additionally, lunch as well as a hot drink and a snack is included for each day of the school.

Can you support me in seeking external funding?

We are happy to provide a letter of support for you. If you think it might aid in your external funding application, please contact us at bumblekite-team@four-corp.com.

Can you recommend any sources for additional funding?

If you are a student, we recommend asking your university for funding opportunities. Alternatively, local foundations providing travel grants can be a source of funding as well.

What is your registration fee refund policy?

You may cancel your registration at any time up until 19th May 2024 23:59 CET by contacting us at info@four-corp.com, in accordance with FOUR’s terms of service. No refunds or reimbursements will be allowed after this date.

How do you define your “students” category?

The spirit in which we are looking to define our “students” category is to acknowledge that the individuals at the start of their professional journeys have not yet had the opportunity to substantially participate in the economic sphere. We expect this definition to evolve through time and welcome feedback on it.

Our "students" category refers to individuals with less than 5 years of professional experience (PhD does not count towards professional experience) and people matriculated in their initial set of degrees, with an active student status at the time the summer school takes place. The initial set of degrees are defined as the first BSc, MSc, PhD/MBA, vocational training or similar that the person is attending, irrespective of their final graduation status. If a person has enrolled into their PhD or an equivalent advanced degree in their discipline, additional education after those advanced degrees (e.g. an MBA, a new MSc, further vocational training) does not fall under our definition of the initial set of degrees.

If you are unsure which category your current status belongs to, please send us a note to bumblekite-team@four-corp.com.

on-site logistics↓

Is the Bumblekite summer school hosted by ETH Zürich?

Yes, our machine learning programme is one of many wonderful events that are held each year at ETH Zürich premises, organised in partnership between ETH Zürich and external organisations, in our case, FOUR. You can find us on ETH's official website by searching through ETH's Events calendar search engine.

Is it possible to attend the summer school remotely?

No, our summer school is an in-person gathering only.

How do I navigate in the main building of ETH Zürich?

You can download a map of the main building here. There will be signs to the lecture room. If you have any questions you can find the reception marked with iE on the map. It is open Monday to Friday 08:00-17:00. You can also download the “ETH Zürich” app and search for a specific lecture hall in the “Campus” menu, which will show you the floorplan.

What food and drink facilities are available at ETH Zürich?

ETH Zürich hosts a large number of restaurants, cafés and coffee spaces. A comprehensive list of food and drink facilities is available on the ETH website. During the summer school, you will receive vouchers for meals, coffee and snacks at the Mensa Polyterrasse and Klara's Kitchen.

How much should I budget for food during the week?

Between 25 and 40 CHF per day, so around 175 to 280 CHF for the week. There are various options for finding affordable food in Zürich. At supermarkets such as Migros (located e.g. 10 min by foot from the main building of the ETH) you can get a bread roll and a drink for around 6 CHF. Regarding dinner, you can find meals for around 20 CHF at the ETH Polyterasse or at the cheaper restaurants around the campus.

You can also try apps such as “Too Good To Go” which allow you to buy food that would otherwise be thrown away for ⅓ of the original price. You can find meals for less than 10 CHF in the app. Unfortunately, the application is only available in German, French and Italian and requires a free registration, but with some translating apps it is usually manageable to use it.

Is there a vegan option available for lunch?

Yes, there will be a vegan option available for lunch. We will collect any specific dietary requirements you may have during your registration process and ensure they are available to you during the MLSS week.

Is ETH Zürich wheelchair friendly?

Most of the rooms in ETH are wheelchair accessible and can be reached by lifts and ramps. The university also offers wheelchair friendly car parking and toilets. More information can be found on the ETH website.

What happens on the first and the last day of the summer school, arrival and departure day? Why are they designated as such and there is no formal programme on those days?

These days are intended to encourage participants not to arrive and depart on the days of the formal curriculum. Instead, the arrival day will include technical preparation and introductions, and both the arrival and departure day will include time dedicated to our social programme.

What are the main channels of communication shortly before and during the summer school? Will they be available after the summer school ends?

We will launch a Slack workspace two weeks before the start of the summer school. All the important information related to the summer school will be communicated through it.

Do you have childcare services available?

If you have a child you would like to bring for the duration of or part of the school, we will have childcare available. Please reach out to us if you will require or would like to learn more about childcare services. We want to make sure that our plans for childcare work for you, so your child will be safe, happy, and nearby while you get the most out of the school.

technical setup↓

What are the air and temperature conditions and their respective technical setups in the lecture hall where the summer school is taking place?

The lecture hall is equipped with a ventilation system with cooling. With the ventilation system, the entire air volume is completely changed within one hour.

A temperature of approx. 24°C is aimed for on hot days.

What should I bring with me to the summer school?

You are expected to bring a laptop to the school each day, to complete your practical tutorial sessions. Additionally, we recommend bringing a writing pad and pens. Aside from this, you may want to bring a water bottle - to stay refreshed during the hot summer days - and any chargers needed for your devices. If you are travelling from outside of Switzerland, please note that you might need a travel adapter.

Will I be able to charge my laptop during the summer school sessions?

The lecture theatre is equipped with many plug points, and we will be providing extension leads in order to maximise the number of available charging points. However, the number of these plug points will be limited, so we would encourage you to charge your devices in advance of the day, where possible.

Is Wi-Fi available at the ETH Zürich?

Yes, it is available. If you are studying at a university at which eduroam is available, you are able to use the local eduroam network. Alternatively there is a public network available, however, the communication is not encrypted therefore we recommend using a VPN connection. You can find more information here.

Are the summer school sessions recorded?

No. In our quest to foster an intimate atmosphere that is conducive of the type of candid conversations we would like to catalyse, we do not record the summer school sessions.

Will the lecture slides be available after the summer school?

Yes, we will ask our lecturers to share their slides and resources with you at the end of the week.

Do you provide a certificate of completion following the summer school?

Yes. Following completion of the summer school, you will receive a certificate of attendance, which includes details of the summer school content and hours, assuming the adherence to our community guidelines.

travelling to and staying in Zürich ↓

Do you assist with travel arrangements?

Each participant is responsible for their own travel arrangements and associated costs. That being said, we aim to assist in finding comfortable and enjoyable travel options. Our accommodation partners offer exclusive reduced rates during the Bumblekite programme. Instructions on how to take advantage of these offers, including booking codes, will be sent to participants via email.

How can I avoid high mobile charges?

We recommend getting an eSIM card for your trip. Ideally, you will activate it before arriving in Switzerland. E.g. airalo offers a 7 days package including 1 GB of mobile data starting from 4.50 $.

How do I get from Zürich airport to the city centre with public transportation?

The most common ways to get to the Zürich main train station from the airport are by:

1. tram number 10 that takes around 40min

2. S-Bahn (train) that takes around 15min.

In both cases, the journey costs CHF 7.00. If you decide to purchase the Zürich card which costs CHF 29 (24 hours) or CHF 56 (72 hours), the trip from the airport is included in the price. More information about prices and transport descriptions can be found on zuerich.com.

If you arrive early in the morning (12.40am - 5am) the transport options to Zürich are limited. There are night buses from Zürich airport to the main train station. The schedule and prices can be found on the official website of Zürich public transportation.

How do I get to the city centre if I arrive by train or bus?

If you arrive by bus or train, the guideline is similar for both options. The central train and bus stations are less than 1 km apart, located a short walk from the city centre, the major hotels, and the summer school venue (ETH Zürich).

Where can I find the public transportation timetable?

You can find the timetable of Zürich public transport here (official website of Zürich public transportation).

What is the price of public transportation in Zürich?

Zürich is divided into different zones which you can see via this link.

The final price of your journey will vary depending on the zones through which you will travel.

Web: The ZVV service (official website of Zurich public transportation) allows you to find out the price of your ride.

Mobile: You can also download the ZVV app. You can find your route and the corresponding price in the app, without needing to register.

Where can I purchase tickets for public transportation?

Offline: Tickets and day passes can be purchased from the ticket machines at every stop, at the airport, or at the Zürich main train station.

Online, web: You can buy tickets online via the official website of Zürich public transportation.

Online, mobile: Download the ZVV app.

What is there to do in Zürich?

Zürich is the largest city in Switzerland, so unsurprisingly, it has a lot to offer. The summer school is hosted at ETH Zürich, which is situated right in the city centre, meaning that you will be close to all the local attractions during your visit.

For example, there is Lake Zürich, the Uetliberg mountain, the old town, or the Lindenhof park.

What currency is used in Zürich?

Switzerland has its own currency, the Swiss francs (CHF).

Can I drink tap water in Zürich?

Tap water in Zürich is safe to drink. More information on this topic can be found on the wfw website (international non-profit organisation WATER FOR WATER). This is why we encourage you to take with yourself reusable water bottles.

It’s important to note that you can refill your water bottles in public fountains unless there’s a sign that says the water is not potable. There are numerous fountains around Zürich, you can find more about them here.

Do I need a special power plug for Switzerland?

Swiss power plugs and sockets are of type J, a plug which has three round pins.

travel health and medical service access ↓

Where can I purchase a covid-19 test?

If you need the COVID-19 test, you can purchase one in a pharmacy store.

How can I get medical help in Zürich?

If you wish to seek medical care, you can go to the nearest hospital or emergency practice (the list of Zürich hospitals can be found on the official website for tourists in Zürich), or in urgent cases, call the ambulance (144).

Please make sure that you are adequately insured.