ETH Zurich, Switzerland

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ABOUT ETH ZURICH UNIVERSITY

ETH Zurich was founded in 1855 as the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School. It is a global leader in science and technology, renowned for its pioneering research and innovation. Over its illustrious history, the university has produced 22 Nobel laureates, 2 Fields Medalists, 3 Pritzker Prize winners, and 1 Turing Award recipient, including the eminent Albert Einstein.

Officially named the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich in English. The university comprises 16 departments offering academic education and conducting cutting-edge research across diverse fields, from engineering and architecture to chemistry and physics.

Education at ETH Zurich seamlessly integrates robust theoretical foundations with practical applications. While German serves as the primary teaching language for undergraduates. Most master’s programs and doctoral studies are conducted in English.

Situated in Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city. ETH Zurich boasts two main campuses: one in downtown Zurich and a modern hillside campus on the town’s outskirts. Despite the demanding academic workload, students find time for cultural and leisure activities, attending regular symposia and participating in conferences where leading minds in science converge.

ETH students balance mental and physical pursuits, engaging in various sports offered on campus. The annual SOLA relay race, spanning 140 kilometers and divided into 14 sections, draws over 900 teams.

Additionally, since the 1880s, students have showcased their talents at the Polyball, a classic ball event featuring live music, attracting 10,000 participants for an unforgettable night every November at ETH’s intricately adorned main building.

ETH Zurich University Snapshot

Metric	Details
Control Type	Public
Entity Type	Non-profit
Size by Total Enrollment	Large-sized
Selectivity by Acceptance Rate	Not reported

University Identity

Name: Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich

Name (Non-Latin): École Polytechnique Fédérale de Zurich

ETH Name (English): Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich

Acronym: ETH Zürich

Founded: 1855

Formerly named: Eidgenössische Polytechnische Schule until 2011

Key Statistics

Zurich University Statistics
Number of FTE Students	22,619
Proportion of ISR Publication	43%
Student Ratio of Males to Females	67:33
Percentage of International Students	43%
No. of Students per Staff	15.4

Popular Major at ETH Zurich

Subjects Taught at ETH ZURICH
Engineering & Technology
Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Electrical & Electronic Engineering
Civil Engineering
General Engineering
Education
Education
Life Sciences
Agriculture & Forestry
Sport Science
Biological Sciences
Physical Sciences
Mathematics & Statistics
Chemistry
Geology, Environmental, Earth & Marine Sciences
Physics & Astronomy
Business & Economics
Accounting & Finance
Business & Management
Economics & Econometrics
Clinical, Pre-clinical & Health
Medicine & Dentistry
Other Health
Arts & Humanities
Architecture
Computer Science
Computer Science
Social Sciences
Politics & International Studies (incl Development Studies)

University Students & Staff

Total Students	UG Students	PG Students
21,761	46%	54%

International Students	UG Students	PG Students
9,089	27%	73%

Total Faculty Staff	Domestic Staff	International Staff
2,950	22%	78%

ETH Zurich Tuition Fee & Scholarships

Clearly outlines costs for local/international undergrad and postgrad students.

Tuition Fees

Postgraduate:

Local Students: 1,000-2,499 US$ (910-2,280 Euro)

International Students: 1,000-2,499 US$ (over 910-2,280 Euro)

Postgraduate (Another category):

Local Students: 1,000-2,499 US$ (910-2,280 Euro)

International Students: 1,000-2,499 US$ (910-2,280 Euro)

Scholarships

ETH Excellence Scholarship:

International Master’s funding is based on merit, covering tuition and living costs.

ETH Zurich Master Scholarship:

For national and international Master’s students, offering tuition coverage and living allowance.

ETH-D Scholarship:

Doctoral funding for international students pursuing a Ph.D., covering the entire program duration.

Zurich Research Grants:

Support for doctoral students’ research projects, awarded based on proposal quality.

ETH Zurich Foundation Scholarships:

Various field-specific scholarships for outstanding students.

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships:

Federal scholarships for international students studying at ETH Zurich.

External Scholarships:

Encouragement to explore additional funding opportunities from external sources.

University Rankings & Ratings

ETH Zurich is a premier public university in Zürich, Switzerland. Zurich ranked #7 in the QS World University Rankings 2024.

QS World University Rankings	#7
QS WUR Ranking By Subject	#7
QS Sustainability Ranking	#18
Europe University Ranking	#1

QS World University Rankings Overview

Year	Ranking
2012	#13
2014	#12
2015	#12
2016	#9
2017	#8
2018	#10
2019	#7
2020	#6
2021	#6
2022	#8
2023	#9
2024	#7

QS World University Ranking Criteria

Criteria	Score
Overall	93.3
Academic Reputation	98.8
Employer Reputation	83.6
Faculty Student Ratio	72.1
Citations per Faculty	98.9
International Faculty Ratio	100
International Students Ratio	98.5
International Research Network	96
Employment Outcomes	79.1
Sustainability	88.4

Admissions

Embarking on the journey towards academic and career aspirations begins with the crucial step of university admission.

Admission Information

EduLearnX shares essential Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich admission details.

Gender Admission Policy

ETH Zurich welcomes both men and women (coed).

Admission Selection

The university follows a selective admission policy, considering students’ past academic records and grades.

General:

Admission Criteria	Minimum Requirement
GRE	0+
TOEFL	100+
IELTS	7+
Cambridge CAE Advanced	193+
Bachelor GPA	0+

Bachelor:

Admission Criteria	Minimum Requirement
International Baccalaureate	38+
Own Admission Test	4+

Acceptance Rate

Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich’s acceptance rate range is currently unreported.

Facilities and Services at ETH Zurich

Facilities

Library: Zurich has a physical library for students.

Housing: On-campus residences and dormitories are available.

Sports Facilities/Activities: The institution provides sporting facilities and organizes sports activities.

Services

Financial Aid: Offers scholarships, grants, loans, tuition waivers, and emergency financial aid.

Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP) for outstanding Master’s students.
Swiss Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS) for postgraduate studies.
Encourages exploration of grants from various foundations.

Study Abroad: Provides opportunities for study abroad and exchange programs.

Distance Learning: Not reported.

Academic Counseling: Offers academic guidance and support.

Career Services: Provides career counseling, assessments, job/internship postings, events, and alumni networking.

FAQs

How complex is the admission process at ETH Zurich?

Admission to ETH Zurich is highly competitive, assessing applicants based on vital academic records and grades.

What are the tuition fees for international students at ETH Zurich?

The average ETH Zurich tuition fee for international students is approximately 1460 EUR (110,000 INR) per year, varying by the chosen program.

How does ETH Zurich compare to Oxford University in terms of academic reputation?

Comparing ETH Zurich and Oxford: QS ranks ETH second in Europe after Oxford. Seven Swiss universities, including ETH, are in the top 100 out of 688 institutes.

Is English the primary language of instruction at ETH Zurich?

Yes, ETH uses German and English as languages of instruction and research. English serves as the lingua franca in the scientific community, reflecting the international nature of academia and facilitating global perspectives in study and work.