What do I need to meet the admission requirements for ETH Zurich Bachelor's and Master's programmes?
ETH Zurich Bachelor's applicants need German C1, a Swiss Matura or equivalent, and some may have to sit an entrance exam depending on their certificate. Master's applicants need a strong bachelor's degree meeting the programme's minimum grade average, plus documents such as a CV, recommendation letters and a motivation letter.
ETH Zurich sets program-specific criteria with no fixed quotas. For a Bachelor's you need German C1 and, depending on your certificate, a pass in the ETH entrance exam. For a Master's you need a strong bachelor's degree, with English or German depending on the programme.
Requirements by level
| Requirement | Bachelor's | Master's |
|---|---|---|
| Language | German C1 required for all courses | English or German depending on programme, TOEFL or IELTS optional |
| Academic | Swiss Matura or equivalent, and, depending on your certificate, a pass in the ETH entrance exam (reduced, 4 subjects, or comprehensive, 8 subjects) | Bachelor's degree from an accredited university with a grade average that meets the minimum of your chosen programme |
| Documents | High school diploma, language certificate and entrance exam results | Academic transcripts, CV, motivation letter and recommendation letters where the programme requires them |
| Application windows | 1 December to 31 March | 1 to 30 November for non-Swiss Bachelor's, 1 to 30 April for Swiss Bachelor's or equivalent |
| Fees | CHF 150 (approx INR 17,325) application fee plus CHF 2,190 (approx INR 2.53 L) per semester tuition | CHF 150 (approx INR 17,325) application fee plus CHF 2,190 (approx INR 2.53 L) per semester tuition |
Other points to note
The CHF 150 (approx INR 17,325) fee is for submitting the online application, while CHF 2,190 (approx INR 2.53 L) per semester is the tuition for students who were not resident in Switzerland when they earned their entry qualification. Doctoral admission works differently: you secure a professor's sponsorship first and then formalise it through a faculty recommendation, not an open competition.
The application windows above are for the autumn 2026 entry cycle, so check ETH's site for the next cycle's dates.
My Advice
Start with the language requirement, because German C1 for a Bachelor's takes time to reach. For a Master's, begin lining up your referees and motivation letter early. Confirm the dates for your intake on the official ETH page before planning.
This information is available on: ethz.ch
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