ETH Zurich Admission Guide 2027: Requirements, Deadlines, Fees and Scholarships for International Students
ETH Zurich admission works differently from most top universities: the bachelor’s programmes are taught mainly in German, many international applicants must pass an entrance examination, and the master’s programmes are in English with a mid-December deadline. This ETH Zurich Admission Guide 2027 explains both routes, the 2025 fee increase for international students, scholarships such as ESOP, living costs and what to do after an offer, using ETH and other sources checked in October 2026. For ranking and a short profile, see our ETH Zurich profile page.
ETH Zurich QS Ranking 2027: Europe’s Top Technical University
ETH Zurich is joint 8th in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and the highest-ranked technical university in continental Europe. It enrols roughly 22,000 students, and independent sources put the international share at about 35% to 40%. See all ranked universities in our World’s Top 100 Universities directory.
Its sister institute is EPFL, and for a European alternative read our Imperial admission guide for the UK route.
What Is the ETH Zurich Acceptance Rate?
ETH does not publish a Bachelor’s acceptance rate in the way US or UK universities do. Admission at bachelor’s level depends on whether your school-leaving certificate is recognised, and applicants without a recognised certificate may need to pass ETH’s entrance examination, which is the real filter. Master’s admission is competitive and set by each department.
ETH Zurich Admission Requirements for International Students
- Bachelor’s: admission is based on recognition of your school-leaving certificate, and many non-Swiss applicants must sit the ETH entrance examination.
- German: most Bachelor’s programmes are taught in German, so a high level (around C1) is expected.
- Master’s: a relevant bachelor’s degree with strong grades, set by each department, with most programmes taught in English.
- English proof: master’s applicants usually need IELTS Academic or TOEFL iBT results from the last two years.
- Documents: transcripts, motivation letter, CV and recommendations for competitive master’s programmes.
German, English and the Entrance Examination
The practical hurdles are language and the entrance exam, not an SAT-style test. If you want a bachelor’s degree, build German early and check whether your certificate is accepted directly. If you want a master’s degree, plan your English test so results arrive before December.
Prepare with our IELTS preparation guides, the Word Bank and the 1500 advanced English words list.
How to Apply to ETH Zurich: Step by Step
- Decide your level: Bachelor’s (German) or Master’s (mostly English).
- Check your certificate or degree against ETH’s admission requirements.
- Take the language test and, if required, the entrance examination.
- Apply online and upload documents before the deadline.
- Apply for ESOP separately if you want a Master’s scholarship.
- Prepare documents with our PDF Toolkit and refine your motivation letter in the AI Language Studio.
Explore Related Guides & Rankings
ETH Zurich Application Deadlines 2027
Swipe sideways to see the full table
| What | Date |
|---|---|
| Master’s application (international applicants, autumn semester) | 15 December (the year before you start) |
| Bachelor’s application window (non-Swiss qualifications, reported) | 1 December to 31 March |
| ESOP scholarship application (reported) | 30 November, separate from the master’s form |
| Language test | Results must be available before your deadline |
ETH Zurich Tuition Fees for International Students
ETH tuition is low by international standards, but it rose for students who are not resident in Switzerland. Reported figures are CHF 804 per semester for the standard rate and CHF 2,190 per semester for the higher rate for new international students from autumn 2025, with fees indexed to inflation going forward.
At CHF 2,190, a year is CHF 4,380 and a four-semester master’s is CHF 8,760 in tuition (our calculation). Switzerland’s living costs are among the highest in Europe, so total cost is driven far more by living expenses than by tuition. Confirm the current rate on ETH’s tuition page.
ETH Zurich Scholarships for International Students
- ESOP (ETH Excellence Scholarship and Opportunity Programme): for incoming master’s students, with a full tuition waiver for the regular duration and a living stipend. It has its own application, and sources report a top-10% academic requirement and an early deadline.
- Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships: for postgraduate and research study, with national nomination rules.
- External funding: see our fully funded scholarships for 2027 guide.
Swiss Student Visa and Living in Zurich
Students from most countries need a Swiss national visa and a residence permit after arrival, and you must show enough funds for your stay. ETH publishes the procedure and the funds figure on its pages, so follow its checklist exactly and allow several weeks for the visa. Housing in Zurich is tight, so start searching as soon as you are admitted.
Careers After ETH Zurich
ETH graduates are recruited by Swiss technology, finance, pharmaceutical and engineering firms, and by research labs worldwide. Rules for staying in Switzerland after graduation depend on your permit and nationality, so check the current rules with the Swiss authorities. No job or permit outcome is guaranteed.
Mistakes That Cost ETH Applicants
- Assuming Bachelor’s programmes are taught in English.
- Ignoring the entrance examination for a non-recognised certificate.
- Missing the 15 December master’s deadline or an earlier ESOP date.
- Budgeting tuition only and forgetting Zurich living costs.
- Using the old CHF 730 per semester figure for new international students.
Frequently Asked Questions About ETH Zurich Admission
Bachelor’s applicants apply online with a recognised school-leaving certificate or pass the entrance examination, and master’s applicants apply online to a department with a relevant degree and an English test.
The deadline for most international master’s applicants for the autumn semester is 15 December of the year before you start.
No. Most Bachelor’s programmes are taught in German, while most Master’s programmes are taught in English.
Many applicants with non-Swiss certificates must pass the ETH entrance examination. Check whether your certificate is recognised directly.
Reported tuition is CHF 804 per semester for the standard rate and CHF 2,190 per semester for the higher rate for new international students from autumn 2025.
Yes. ESOP offers a full tuition waiver and a living stipend to excellent master’s students, with a separate application and an early deadline.
Master’s applicants usually need IELTS Academic or TOEFL iBT results taken within two years of the deadline. Check your department’s exact score.
ETH Zurich is joint 8th in the QS World University Rankings 2027.
ETH Zurich Admission for Pakistani Students
Pakistani applicants follow the same rules as other international applicants. The language and certificate checks are the main differences from the UK and US routes.
| Area | What Pakistani applicants should do |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s route | Check whether your HSSC, A-levels or IB certificate is recognised directly, or whether you must pass the ETH entrance examination. German is expected for most programmes |
| Master’s route | Check the department page for the degree length and grade expected, and send transcripts and recommendations |
| English | Take IELTS Academic or TOEFL iBT within two years of the deadline. See our IELTS preparation guides |
| Application | Apply online to ETH directly. No agent is needed |
| Funding | Apply for ESOP separately and check Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships, HEC and external awards |
| Visa | Apply for the Swiss national visa early and prepare proof of funds exactly as ETH instructs |
| Start time | Begin 12 months before intake: language, certificates, tests and visa slots take time |
More PHL EDU University Admission Guides
Comparing universities? Every guide in this series follows the same plan: ranking, requirements, deadlines, costs, funding, visa and a Pakistan checklist. Browse them all, or open the full World’s Top 100 Universities directory for rankings and profiles.
Free tools that help with your application: AI Language Studio, PDF Toolkit, Word Bank, One Word, One Page, IELTS preparation guides, fully funded scholarships for 2027 and the PHL EDU blog.
Disclaimer: This article uses ETH Zurich’s official pages, other public sources and the QS World University Rankings 2027, last checked in October 2026. Fees, deadlines, scholarships, test rules and visa rules change, and no admission, funding, visa or job outcome is guaranteed. Always confirm details with ETH Zurich and the relevant government before applying.
