🏅 QS World Rank #22
EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) — Full Profile & Ranking 2026
Switzerland’s second technical powerhouse, joint 22nd worldwide — QS World Rankings 2027
EPFL is a Swiss federal technical university on Lake Geneva in Lausanne. In the QS World University Rankings 2027 (published June 2026) it is joint 22nd in the world. This guide covers programmes, admission, the new fee rules for foreign students, scholarships, advice for applicants from Pakistan and the questions applicants ask most. Every figure is labeled with its year or ranking edition.
EPFL Overview
EPFL traces its origins to 1853 and became a Swiss federal institution in 1969. With ETH Zurich it forms the ETH Domain’s two federal technical universities. Its campus sits beside Lake Geneva and shares the Lausanne site with the University of Lausanne.
The language of teaching is mainly French in the bachelor’s programmes, while many master’s and doctoral programmes are taught in English.
EPFL Rankings — QS World University Rankings 2027
EPFL is joint 22nd in the QS World University Rankings 2027, sharing the position with the University of Melbourne. Among the other universities in this guide series, TUM is 25th and ETH Zurich is joint 8th.
This is a QS-specific result, not one universal ranking. Times Higher Education, U.S. News and ARWU use different methods and can order universities differently.
Source: QS TopUniversities (QS World University Rankings 2027, 18 June 2026).
Key Strengths & Programs
EPFL teaches through schools including:
- Computer and Communication Sciences
- Engineering — electrical, mechanical, materials, robotics and microengineering
- Life Sciences and bioengineering
- Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Basic Sciences — mathematics, physics and chemistry
- Management of Technology and a College of Humanities
See EPFL’s official website for the full programme list.
Explore Related Guides & Rankings
Admission Requirements
Entry rules depend on your level and qualification. Confirm all details on EPFL’s admissions pages.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Applicants whose school qualification does not give direct access must pass EPFL’s entrance examination. Check whether your qualification is accepted directly. |
| Language | Bachelor’s teaching is mainly in French, so French proficiency is needed. Many master’s programmes are in English and ask for an accepted English test. |
| Master’s | A relevant bachelor’s degree and an application to the chosen programme |
| Deadlines | Set by EPFL for each level and intake. One third-party guide reports a mid-January bachelor’s deadline, so confirm the current date on the official page. |
| Documents | Transcripts, identification, language evidence and programme-specific documents |
Official source: EPFL — Admission.
EPFL Acceptance Rate
EPFL does not publish a single acceptance rate that applies to every international applicant. Bachelor’s entry depends on your qualification and, where required, the entrance exam, and the first year is known to be demanding, with a significant share of students not continuing to year two.
Practical Application Checklist
- Choose your programme and read its entry and language requirements
- Check the application deadline for your intake
- Book an English (or other required) language test
- Prepare transcripts, identification and any required documents
- Apply and accept your offer
- Meet the visa or residence-permit conditions for your destination
- Plan funding for tuition and living costs
- Verify every date, fee and requirement on EPFL’s official website before submitting
Tuition & Costs
EPFL raised tuition for foreign students starting with the autumn 2025 semester:
- Foreign students (from autumn 2025): CHF 2,190 tuition per semester, about CHF 2,240 including student association and other fees
- Swiss students and eligible residents: CHF 730 tuition per semester, about CHF 780 in total
- Exemptions: Swiss nationals and foreign residents who can prove prior residence in Switzerland for work, family or refugee reasons may keep the lower rate, and exchange students are exempt from tuition
- Earlier master’s students: those who began before autumn 2025 keep the old rate until they finish
Switzerland is expensive, so also budget for rent, food and health insurance. The old “about CHF 1,500 a year for all students” figure no longer applies to foreign students.
Source: EPFL — Tuition fee and other fees (autumn 2025 semester figures).
Scholarships & Financial Aid
Funding is limited and competitive:
- EPFL Excellence Fellowships: EPFL offers fellowships for outstanding master’s students. Amounts and eligibility change, so check the current call.
- Swiss government scholarships: Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships support research stays and PhD study for students from selected countries. Check whether Pakistan is eligible in the current round.
- Other aid: compare options in our fully funded scholarships for 2027 guide
- No guarantee: awards are not guaranteed
Confirm current schemes on EPFL’s official website.
EPFL for Pakistani Students
Pakistani applicants follow the standard international process:
- Entry: check whether your qualification (such as FSc or A-levels) gives direct access or whether the entrance exam applies
- Language: prepare French for bachelor’s study, or an English test for English-taught master’s programmes. Our IELTS preparation guides can help.
- Visa: a Swiss student visa is required and rules change, so check the official Swiss migration pages
- Budget: plan for the higher foreign-student tuition plus Swiss living costs
Campus & Student Life
- The campus sits on the shore of Lake Geneva in Lausanne and shares the site with the University of Lausanne
- The Rolex Learning Center, a curved library and study building, is a well-known landmark
- Lausanne is a French-speaking city with lake, mountain and Alpine access
- Student associations cover culture, sport and academic interests
Research & Career Opportunities
- EPFL is research-intensive, with notable work in robotics, computer science, materials and life sciences
- It has a strong start-up and industry culture around its campus
- Switzerland’s technology, finance, pharma and engineering employers recruit from EPFL
- EPFL does not guarantee employment, salary or visa outcomes
Notable Alumni
- EPFL graduates have founded many Swiss and European technology companies
- EPFL researchers are prominent in robotics and materials science
Contact & Location
EPFL
Lausanne, Switzerland
Official website: epfl.ch
Check the website for current admissions contact details.
Frequently Asked Questions
EPFL is joint 22nd in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, sharing the position with the University of Melbourne.
EPFL is in French-speaking Lausanne and ETH Zurich is in German-speaking Zurich. Both are Swiss federal technical universities, and each has its own strengths and programmes.
From the autumn 2025 semester, foreign students pay CHF 2,190 tuition per semester (about CHF 2,240 with other fees). Swiss students and eligible residents pay CHF 730. Exemptions apply.
EPFL is best known for engineering, computer science, robotics and life sciences.
Bachelor’s teaching is mainly in French, so you need French. Many master’s and doctoral programmes are taught in English.
Applicants whose school qualification does not give direct access must pass the entrance examination. Check the official page for your qualification.
EPFL offers excellence fellowships for master’s students and there are Swiss government scholarships for some countries. They are competitive and not guaranteed.
Yes. Pakistani applicants follow the international route and should check whether their qualification gives direct access, plus language and visa requirements.
EPFL does not publish one overall acceptance rate for international applicants. Entry depends on qualification, programme and, where required, the entrance exam.
Check EPFL’s official admission and tuition pages. Fees, deadlines and rules are set by EPFL and can change.
Compare EPFL With Other Top Universities
Disclaimer: This page is based on the QS World University Rankings 2027, EPFL’s official pages, and other publicly available sources, last checked in October 2026. Fees, rankings, deadlines, and admission rules change, and no admission, funding, visa, or employment outcome is guaranteed. Always verify current details directly with the university before applying.