🏔️ETH Zurich

Zurich, Switzerland

QS World 2026 · #7

Switzerland's top-ranked university, a genuine world top-10 in STEM.

About ETH Zurich

ETH Zurich is consistently ranked among the world's top 10 universities for engineering and technology, with alumni including Albert Einstein. Bachelor's teaching is mostly in German, with English becoming standard at Master's level.

Why students choose it

  • World top-10 university for engineering and technology
  • Alumni include Albert Einstein
  • Switzerland's low public-university tuition applies even to international students

🎓 Free application support for ETH Zurich

Submit a free enquiry and Tutopiya's admissions team will guide you through your application to ETH Zurich — personal statement, interview prep and deadlines — at no cost, no obligation. Application fees are typically waived through our university partnerships.

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Typical entry grades

A*A*A (A Level)  ·  IB 40

Top tier · indicative for the flagship courses below — always verify per-course requirements directly with the university.

Tuition (international, per year)

Most public universities (minimal fees)

low tier for Switzerland — figures are typical ranges, not this specific university's published fee.

Language of instruction

German (Bachelor's) — most Bachelor's programmes are taught in German; English becomes standard at Master's level. A few Bachelor's courses have English-taught tracks — check the specific programme.

Campus

city campus, Zurich

🏆 Scholarships to look into

Informational only — scholarship amounts, deadlines and even which schemes are running change often (sometimes per intake), so treat this as a starting point, not a guarantee. Always confirm current details directly with the scholarship provider or ETH Zurich's financial aid office.

Swiss public university tuition is already low for everyone, so scholarship schemes are smaller in number and mainly aimed at exceptional students or postgraduate/research applicants.

  • Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships: Federally funded, but mainly for postgraduate/research study and exchange, not undergraduate admission.
  • University excellence scholarships: ETH Zurich, EPFL and other universities offer a small number of merit-based awards for outstanding incoming students — competitive with limited places.

Want help figuring out which of these you'd actually qualify for? Talk to a free Tutopiya counsellor.

Popular courses

Mechanical Engineering

⏱️ Typical duration: Often 4 years rather than the country's standard Bachelor's length, especially where the programme includes an integrated Master's (e.g. UK MEng) or an industry placement year

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Typical entry: Requires Mathematics + Physics

Computer Science

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years

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Typical entry: Requires Mathematics

Mathematics

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years

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Typical entry: Requires Mathematics

Physics

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years

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Typical entry: Requires two of Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Maths

Architecture

⏱️ Typical duration: Often longer than a standard Bachelor's — commonly a 3-year Bachelor's plus a further 2-year Master's for full professional accreditation

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Typical entry: Portfolio

Durations are typical for Switzerland — always confirm the exact length (including any placement or integrated Master's year) on the course's own page before applying.

Not sure which course fits your grades and interests? Run the full shortlist builder →

How to apply

Main intake(s)
September
Typical deadline
Varies widely by institution — ETH Zurich and EPFL close around 30 April

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5–7.0 overall (English-taught tracks)

Most Bachelor's programmes are German- or French-medium — proficiency in the language of instruction is usually required alongside or instead of English.

See where ETH Zurich ranks on your personal shortlist

Enter your grades and budget in the free Switzerland University Shortlist Builder to see whether ETH Zurich is a reach, target or safety for you — alongside every other Switzerland university that matches.

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ETH Zurich FAQ

Quick answers about grades, tuition, deadlines and applying to ETH Zurich as an international IGCSE / A Level / IB student.

What grades do I need to get into ETH Zurich?

As a typical benchmark for international entry, ETH Zurich expects around A*A*A at A Level or 40 points on the IB Diploma. This is indicative for ETH Zurich's flagship courses — competitive subjects like Medicine and Law usually sit above this baseline, and the exact requirement varies by course, so always confirm the specific figure on ETH Zurich's own admissions page before applying.

How much does ETH Zurich cost for international students?

International tuition at ETH Zurich typically falls in the Most public universities (minimal fees) range (low tier for Switzerland). This is a typical range for the university's tuition tier, not ETH Zurich's specific published fee for every course — confirm the exact figure for your intended programme directly with the university.

When is the application deadline for ETH Zurich?

ETH Zurich follows Switzerland's typical intake calendar: September, with applications generally due varies widely by institution — eth zurich and epfl close around 30 april. Always verify the exact date on ETH Zurich's own admissions page, since deadlines can shift year to year.

What IELTS score do I need for ETH Zurich?

Switzerland universities, including ETH Zurich, typically ask international applicants for 6.5–7.0 overall (English-taught tracks). Most Bachelor's programmes are German- or French-medium — proficiency in the language of instruction is usually required alongside or instead of English.

What is ETH Zurich known for?

Switzerland's top-ranked university, a genuine world top-10 in STEM. ETH Zurich is consistently ranked among the world's top 10 universities for engineering and technology, with alumni including Albert Einstein. Bachelor's teaching is mostly in German, with English becoming standard at Master's level.

Can I apply to ETH Zurich with IGCSE, A Level or IB qualifications?

Yes — ETH Zurich accepts applicants from IGCSE-to-A-Level, IGCSE-to-IB-Diploma, and directly from the IB Diploma. Tutopiya's free Switzerland University Shortlist Builder matches your predicted or actual grades against ETH Zurich and every other Switzerland university we track, tagging each as reach, target or safety.

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