ETH Zürich
Basic Facts
Established in 1855 as the Federal Polytechnic School, ETH Zurich has, from the outset, been a national centre for education with international appeal, attracting talent from all over the world.
The successful combination of a cosmopolitan outlook with national roots made the young educational institution one of the driving forces behind industrialisation in Switzerland: it brought the necessary expertise into the country, trained technical specialists and helped set up groundbreaking national infrastructures.
ETH Zurich was given its present name, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule), in 1911. Over the decades that followed, it entered into solid partnerships with the state and with industry and invested increasingly in both applied and fundamental research, which were gaining in importance in relation to education. The university grew steadily and in 1961 it embarked on the first stage of constructing its second site on the Hönggerberg, on the outskirts of Zurich.
In more recent times, global developments such as computer-assisted data processing and the far-reaching consequences of globalisation have placed ever-increasing demands on universities.
ETH Zurich reacts to these new challenges by creating flexible organisational structures: new research units and programmes have emerged and the research itself is becoming more and more integrated and interdisciplinary.
The long-standing tradition of ETH Zurich, combined with its ability constantly to adapt to new requirements, have brought great success to the university. Today, it ranks among the world’s leading universities of science and technology.
Undergraduate studies
The study programmes at ETH Zurich provide sound academic knowledge, practical experience and expertise in interdisciplinary cooperation as well as training in social skills and critical thinking. The programme structure offered by ETH Zurich is in line with the guidelines of the “Bologna Declaration”, which outlines the Bachelor’s/Master’s degree system.
Students get ECTS credits for their study achievements. One credit corresponds to approximately 30 working hours and includes all study-related activities, such as participation in course units, including preparatory and follow-up work, practical sessions, private study, examinations and semester papers.
Bachelor’s degree programme
The Bachelor’s degree programme comprises 180 credits and is usually completed in three years, or up to five years at most. The first year conveys the fundamentals of mathematics and those natural sciences related to the major (e.g. physics, chemistry and biology). It ends with the first-year examinations. Students studying Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Computational Science and Engineering or Human Medicine have the option to complete their first-year examinations in two parts. In the following four semesters, the theoretical and methodological knowledge of the major is expanded. Students may begin to focus on specific areas in the form of programme-specific subjects, electives or project work, or by concluding with a Bachelor’s thesis. The Bachelor’s degree programme is at first conducted in German. In the second and third years, some lectures may be in English.
The Bachelor’s degree is not regarded as a professional qualification. Each ETH Bachelor’s programme is followed by at least one consecutive Master’s degree programme, to which students may transfer without any additional requirements. Additionally, several specialised Master’s degree programmes, mostly interdisciplinary in nature, are also offered. These are open to graduates with outstanding performance records from various Bachelor’s degree programmes. They are subject to specific admission requirements and the number of places available is often limited.
More information about the Bachelor programmes can be found here.
Student life
In addition to an excellent environment for academic studies, Zurich offers a full range of sports and leisure activities, plus lively culture and nightlife. Many of our students live in self-organised shared accommodation in Zurich or the surrounding area. They take advantage of the large range of “ASVZ” sports activities, play in the Academic Orchestra or the Big Band, or take part in the activities of student clubs or associations. In their free time Zurich’s lively nightlife, the lake and the nearby mountains also beckon.
Outstanding students receive scholarships for Master’s degree studies.
Studying at ETH
https://www.topuniversities.com/student-info/student-stories/whats-it-really-study-sciences-po
http://www.sciencespo.fr/en/life-sciences-po/student-services-daily-life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNk1XpBfZoU
Why ETH?
http://www.sciencespo.fr/en/why-did-they-choose-sciences-po
All information and resources were obtained online from ETH Zurich.