With origins dating to 1853 and federal status since 1969, EPFL holds joint 22nd place in the QS World University Rankings 2027, alongside the University of Melbourne. Alongside ETH Zurich, it forms Switzerland’s twin engineering powerhouses, particularly strong in computer science, life sciences, and materials engineering.

International Bachelor’s applicants must pass EPFL’s own competitive entrance examination if their prior qualifications don’t guarantee automatic admission. Master’s applicants apply with a relevant Bachelor’s degree, with numerous programs taught entirely in English despite French being the primary campus language.

EPFL’s Bachelor’s entrance exam is notoriously demanding, testing mathematics and physics at an advanced level. Once admitted, the famously difficult first year acts as a further filter, with a significant proportion of students not progressing to year two.

EPFL offers the EPFL Excellence Fellowship for outstanding international Master’s applicants, covering a monthly living stipend, alongside Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships available to students from partner countries for PhD-level research.

EPFL’s lakeside campus sits on the shores of Lake Geneva, sharing infrastructure with the University of Lausanne, and features the striking Rolex Learning Center, a undulating glass-and-concrete library building that has become an architectural landmark.