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ETH Zürich

ETH Zürich

Datos rápidos

Ciudad
Zurich
País
Switzerland
Tipo
Pública
Fundada en
1855
Estudiantes
26.942
Estudiantes internacionales
44 %
Ranking nacional
#1
Ranking internacional
#8
Matrícula (estudiantes locales)
1460 CHF
Matrícula (internacionales)
4380 CHF
Nota media de la guía
8,5/10

Web oficial: ethz.ch

Resumen

ETH Zürich (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich) is Switzerland's premier technical university and one of the world's top institutions for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Founded in 1855, ETH counts 22 Nobel Prizes awarded to researchers connected with the university, including Albert Einstein. In the QS World University Rankings 2027 it is joint 8th in the world, the highest-ranked university in continental Europe and the top Swiss university — its twelfth consecutive year in the QS global top ten. In 2025 it had 26,942 students, 44.5% of them from abroad.

Tuition remains low by international standards: CHF 730 per semester for Swiss students, and CHF 2,190 per semester for foreign students who come to Switzerland to study (since autumn 2025). Situated in the heart of Zurich, ETH's main campus (Zentrum) occupies a commanding hilltop position overlooking the city, while the Hönggerberg campus houses state-of-the-art science and engineering facilities. Zurich itself is one of the world's most liveable cities, though its high cost of living is a significant consideration for students.

Oferta académica

ETH offers around two dozen Bachelor's and more than 40 Master's programmes, focused on engineering, architecture, natural sciences, mathematics, computer science, health sciences and a smaller range of management and social sciences. The main teaching language of all Bachelor's programmes is German, while Master's programmes are taught in English, except the Architecture and Pharmacy Master's, which require German. The university is particularly renowned for Computer Science, Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, and Environmental Sciences. The academic culture is demanding — the first-year Basisprüfung exams are known for filtering out a large share of students early on.

Vida en el campus

Despite its academic intensity, ETH has a vibrant student life. The student association VSETH and its many specialist associations organise events, parties, and festivals, and student organisations cover everything from robotics to mountaineering. Zurich offers world-class cultural amenities, lakeside recreation, and easy access to the Alps for skiing and hiking. The city's nightlife scene along Langstrasse and in Zürich West is lively, with clubs, bars, and concert venues.

Intercambios

Only students from universities with an exchange agreement with ETH who are nominated by their home institution can come on exchange — there is no free-mover route. Within Europe, exchanges run through the Swiss-European Mobility Programme (SEMP), Switzerland's replacement for Erasmus+, with more than 100 partner institutions; Switzerland plans to rejoin Erasmus+ from 2027, pending parliamentary approval of the funding. There are also IDEA League student grants and bilateral agreements with universities outside Europe. Exchange students spend one or two semesters at ETH, do not pay ETH tuition, and can choose from a wide range of English-taught Master's-level courses.

Admisión

Bachelor's admission for Swiss students is based on the Matura. International applicants with a recognised school-leaving certificate may be admitted directly, otherwise they must pass the ETH entrance examination; the Bachelor's application window for non-Swiss certificates runs from 1 December to 31 March, German requirements must be met by the deadline, and study can only start in the autumn semester. Master's admission is competitive, based on academic records and programme-specific requirements, and requires C1-level proof of the teaching language (English or German) by the application deadline. Applicants with an international Bachelor's degree must apply between 1 and 30 November 2026 for autumn 2027; the April window is reserved for Swiss Bachelor's holders, and there is no spring-semester entry.

Tuition for 2026–27 is CHF 730 per semester (CHF 1,460 per year) for Swiss students and those who already lived or worked in Switzerland before studying, and CHF 2,190 per semester (CHF 4,380 per year) for other foreign students, plus small compulsory semester fees.

Alojamiento

Finding affordable housing in Zurich is notoriously difficult. Student housing is mainly provided by the cooperative WOKO and other non-profit providers, where rooms typically cost around CHF 400–930 per month, but demand far exceeds supply. ETH estimates average rent in the canton of Zurich at about CHF 11,300 per year, and private market rooms in shared flats (WG) often cost CHF 700–1,200 per month. Students are advised to apply for housing immediately upon admission and explore areas like Oerlikon, Altstetten, Dietikon or Winterthur for more affordable options.

Empleabilidad

ETH's Career Center connects students with employers through career fairs (Polymesse, organised by students, is one of Switzerland's largest), company presentations, and individual coaching. ETH graduates are among the most sought-after in Europe, particularly in tech, engineering, pharma, and finance, and more than two-thirds of foreign graduates stay in Switzerland to start their careers. Zurich's position as a global financial centre and growing tech hub, with large offices of companies such as Google, provides exceptional opportunities. Starting salaries for ETH graduates in Switzerland are among the highest worldwide.

Oferta académica

Plazos de solicitud

Intercambio

Incoming exchange only for nominated students from partner universities (no free movers), via the Swiss-European Mobility Programme (SEMP, planned to become Erasmus+ from 2027) with over 100 European partners, IDEA League grants and worldwide bilateral agreements. Stays last one or two semesters.

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