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Except for the years after 2016, the information provided in this outline is taken from the book Es begann mit Scott und Shakespeare: Eine Geschichte der Anglistik an der Universität Zürich by former UZH President, Prof. em. Dr. Andreas Fischer (Zürich: Chronos, 2016).
Copies of the book can be purchased via the UZH English Department library.
| 1833 | First course in English Literature: Prof. Dr. Eduard Bobrik, "Erklärung von Walter Scott's The Lady of the Lake, nebst praktischen Uebungen im Englischen" |
| 1839 | First course in English Linguistics: PD Dr. Ludwig Etmüller, "Angelsächsische Grammatik, verbunden mit der Erklärung von Leo's Angelsächsischen Sprachproben" |
| 1878 | Helene von Druskowitz becomes the first woman at UZH to attain a doctoral degree in the field of English Studies (and only the second woman to do so in any field). |
| 1882 | The American educator, suffragist, and linguist Martha Carey Thomas becomes the second woman to complete a PhD in English Studies (and the third in any field). |
| 1887 | Establishment of the "Romanisch-englische Seminar" (Department of Romance and English Studies) |
| 1891 | First chair in English studies established (main focus on English Literature): Prof. Dr. Theodor Vetter |
| 1894 | The "Romanisch-englische Seminar" is turned into two independent departments: the Institute of Romance Studies and the English Department. |
| During her studies at UZH (1894/95), the Polish Marxist, philosopher, economist, anti-war activist and revolutionary socialist Rosa Luxemburg stays at the Villa Wehrli at Plattenstrasse 47 – the building that would come to house the UZH English Department from 1971. | |
| 1895 | Prof. Dr. Theodor Vetter also becomes Professor for English Studies at ETH. He later serves as President of both ETH (1911-1913) and UZH (1918-1920) |
| 1914 | The UZH English Department moves out of a side wing of the ETH main building into the recently completed UZH main building. |
| 1922 | Prof. Dr. Bernhard Fehr succeeds Prof. Dr. Theodor Vetter |
| 1924 | Frank Henry Gschwind becomes the English Department's first Lektor (i.e. instructor responsible for improving students language skills). |
| 1927 | Second chair in English studies established (focus on English Linguistics): Prof. Dr. Eugen Dieth |
| 1938 | Prof. Dr. Heinrich Straumann succeeds Prof. Dr. Bernhard Fehr |
| 1950s | first English drama group established by Ladislaus Löb: Zurich University English Dramatic Society |
| 1955 | Lizenziat degree established (optional, as an alternative to a PhD or teaching diploma) |
| 1956 | Prof. Dr. Ernst Leisi succeeds Prof. Dr. Eugen Dieth |
| 1966 | Third professorship added: Prof. Dr. Henri Petter (English Literature) |
| 1969 | The Lizenziat degree becomes a mandatory first degree for PhD candidates as well as candidates for the teaching diploma |
| 1971 | The English Department moves from the UZH Main Building to the 'Villa Wehrli' at Plattenstrasse 47. |
| 1975 | New drama group established by David Roscoe |
| 1976 | A larger Lektor*innen team – consisting of David Roscoe, Andrew Torr, and Richard J. Watts – is established, in an effort to further strengthen students language skills |
| 1977 | Fourth and a fifth professorships added: Prof. Dr. Max Nänny (English Literature) and Prof. Dr. Udo Fries (English Linguistics) |
| 1983 | Sixth professorship added: Prof. Dr. Brian Gibbons (English Literature) |
| 1985 | Zurich James Joyce Foundation established by Dr. h.c. Fritz Senn |
| 1991 | Seventh professorship added; first female Professor in English Studies : Prof. Dr. Gunnel Tottie (English Linguistics) |
| 1993 | First female professor in English Literature (and second in English Studies): Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Bronfen |
| 2006 | Eighth professorship added: Prof. Dr. Daniel Schreier (English Linguistics) |
| Lizenziat degree replaced with the so-called Bologna system: Bachelor and Master degree | |
| 2014 | Ninth, temporary professorship: Prof. Dr. Ana Sobral (Global Literatures; tenure ends in 2021) |
| 2016 | 125-Year Anniversary celebrations |
| 2019 | Swiss Centre of Irish Studies @ the Zurich James Joyce Foundation established on May 1, 2019 |
| 2019 | Major reform of all study programs at UZH ('Bologna 2020') is implemented in the fall semester 2019 |
In 2016, the English Department celebrated its 125-year anniversary.
