ETH Zurich

Established in 1854, ETH Zurich is among the best public research university and it is located in Zurich, Switzerland. The university known to be one of the leading technical and scientific universities in the world as it fosters the transfer of knowledge and technology between academics and practice. Based on various web sources, ETH Zurich has an overall acceptance rate of around 25% - 27% making it very selective for admissions. Swiss Accreditation Council accredits ETH Zurich. The university is home to over 24,000 students, out of which 42.6% are international students from over 120 nation.

ETH Zurich Information

Some of the important things to know about ETH Zurich are given as follows:

ETH Zurich History

Founded by the Swiss Confederation on Feb 7, 1854, ETH Zurich is a public research university and it had began classes by October 1855 as a polytechnic institute. It first had six faculties on its campus which includes Architecture, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry, Forestry, as well as an integrated department of Mathematics.

• QS World University rankings for 2027 are out and ETH Zurich has been ranked at #8. Comparing the latest rankings of ETH Zurich with 2026 rankings,a decline can be observed. Watch out this ETH Zurich ranking page for more detailed comparison.  

Established in 1854, ETH Zurich is among the best public research university and it is located in Zurich, Switzerland. The university known to be one of the leading technical and scientific universities in the world as it fosters the transfer of knowledge and technology between academics and practice. Based on various web sources, ETH Zurich has an overall acceptance rate of around 25% - 27% making it very selective for admissions. Swiss Accreditation Council accredits ETH Zurich. The university is home to over 24,000 students, out of which 42.6% are international students from over 120 nation.

ETH Zurich Information

Some of the important things to know about ETH Zurich are given as follows:

ETH Zurich History

Founded by the Swiss Confederation on Feb 7, 1854, ETH Zurich is a public research university and it had began classes by October 1855 as a polytechnic institute. It first had six faculties on its campus which includes Architecture, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry, Forestry, as well as an integrated department of Mathematics.

ETH Zurich offers many scholarships for International students based on financial need and merit. Students are required to submit an electronic application to be eligible for financial aid at the university. Mentioned below are some popular ETH Zurich Scholarships for International Students.

1 CHF = INR 115.93

How to get financial aid at ETH Zurich?

Given below are the basic conditions students need to meet to be eligible for an ETH Zurich Scholarship.

• Should be an International student
• Should not be receiving financial aid from any other source
• Prove financial need (for some financial aid)
• Maintain great scores in academics
• Prove English or Swiss Proficiency
• Agree with the general terms and conditions of financial aid at ETH Zurich

ETH Zurich offers a large variety of programs at UG and PG levels for its international students. Majority of UG programs offered by ETH Zurich are German taught. ETH Zurich offers range of specializations across Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).

ETH Zurich Popular Programs

Some popular programs among international students are Civil Engineering, Engineering, Data Science, Mechanical Engineering, etc. The top program opted by Indian students at ETH Zurich are listed below:

• MS
• M.A.
• M.Arch

ETH Zurich is one of the best universities in Europe. It is also the place where Albert Einstein pursued his studies from. As did many popular innovators. Swiss Physicist Paul Scherrer also pursued his studies here. Mentioned below is some more about the popular names who pursued their studies at ETH Zurich Switzerland.

Name	Profession and Achievements	Alumnus
Albert Einstein	Theoretical Physicist Gave the Theory of Relativity Graduated with a Teaching Diploma in Mathematics and Physics
Paul Scherrer	Swiss Physicist Former Head of Physics Department at ETH Zurich Pursued a program in Physics and Mathematics
Felix Bloch	Swiss-American Theoretical Physicist Co-winner of the 1952 Nobel Prize in Physics for developing new methods of Nuclear Magnetic Precision Measurements Pursued a course in Mathematics and Physics
Richard R. Ensnt	Swiss Physical Chemist Won the 1991 Nobel Prize in Chemistry Pursued a Diploma in Chemistry

ETH Zurich offer high placement rate all over the world. ETH Zurich graduates are in high demand worldwide. The university graduates work for top sectors such as Engineering, Research, Education, Operations, Information Technology, Arts and Design, and more.

ETH Zurich Placement Rate

ETH Zurich graduates work for leading companies such as UBS, Google, Swiss Armed Forces, EPFL, ABB, IBM, etc. The average salary of ETH Zurich MBA graduate is listed below:

ROI after Education at ETH Zurich

ETH Zurich offers impressive ROI such as:

Indian students have to pay three times the average tuition fee rate at the university. The ETH Zurich tuition fees for Indian students are CHF 2,190 or INR 2.53 Lakhs per semester. This change came into effect from the Autumn semester 2025. The cost of living is another aspect of academic life, student needs to plan for.

ETH Zurich Cost of Living for International Students

The cost of living in Switzerland depends on several factors. This includes the type and location of housing, a student's finances, and the overall standard of living a student opts for. Given below is a sample budget for International students.

1 CHF = INR 115.93

• QS World University rankings for 2027 are out and ETH Zurich has been ranked at #8. Comparing the latest rankings of ETH Zurich with 2026 rankings,a decline can be observed. Watch out this ETH Zurich ranking page for more detailed comparison.  

For ETH Zurich admissions, Indian students must meet all the admission requirements at the university. Indian students can apply via eApply for both UG and PG program. ETH Zurich application fee for international students is CHF 150 (INR 17,053).

ETH Zurich Application Deadline

ETH Zurich application deadline for Indian students is listed below:

ETH Zurich Eligibility of Indian students

• For UG and PG programs, students can apply through ETH eApply Portal
• Complete the application form with all relevant documents
• Official transcripts of records
• Prepare your documents
• Submit test scores
• Pay the application fee

Undergraduate Admission Requirements

• An online application
• University admission certificate and entrance exam
• Strong grades (around 90% in Math/Science)
• Specific high school subjects
• Proof of English/German proficiency (program specific)
• Transcripts, CV, Passport copy

Postgraduate Admission Requirements

• Indian students must hold a bachelor’s degree
• Strong academics (high grades in Math/Science)
• Recognized certificates (IB, A-Levels, etc.)
• Proof of language (English/German for Master's)
• CV
• Motivation letter
• Recommendations
• Entrance exam or specific portfolio/GRE for certain programs

ETH Zurich is considered to be one of the top universities nationally. According to the Shiksha, the ETH Zurich ranking in Switzerland stands at #1 in 2026. Also, the university is ranked #10 in the world by Shiksha Popularity Ranking 2026. Moreover, a few of the ETH Zurich courses are also ranked by Shiksha as mentioned below-

By Other Ranking Bodies

ETH Zurich also ranks highly as part of the global university rankings given by some other popular university ranking platforms:

• The ETH Zurich World Ranking 2026 is #11 according to Times Higher Education
• US News ranks it #35 among Global Universities in 2025

Student Life for Indian students at ETH Zurich is more than just about studies and lecture halls. There are several recreational opportunities for Indian students both in and around the ETH Zurich campus in Switzerland. This includes bars, restaurants, student events, sports, and music activities. On-campus housing is also available for select students enrolled in PG and exchange courses.

ETH Zurich Campus Locations

The university operates 2 campuses. Both campuses are based in Zurich. The main ETH Zurich campus (Zentrum) is based in the center of Zurich at Ramistrasse 101. The Hönggerberg Campus is the other campus operated by the university.

ETH Zurich Campus Life for Indian Students

Listed below are some key features of the Indian student life at ETH Zurich:

• Indian students will see a big cultural shift from their lifestyle in India with regard to food, studies, and community, as per reviews posted by the students of ETH Zurich on Shiksha Study Abroad. The semester fee at ETH Zurich also covers the fees related to the Academic Sports Association (sports).
• Indian food is limited on campus and is usually very expensive. There are several restaurants nearby that serve Indian food. However, it is not said to be "authentic" as per student reviews on Shiksha. Most students tend to cook their own food to save money.
• The Indian Students Association of Zurich (InSAZ) is a common place for all Indian students in Zurich. The association supports and guides Indian students. It also organizes meetups, industrial/academic talks, hikes, and cricket match screenings. Students can contact them via social media.