Features and structure of ETH Zurich Bachelor's degree programmes

Studies at ETH Zurich are full-time. In specific, narrowly defined special study situations extra time can be given:

Studying as a parent
Studies and top-level sports
Studying with a disability

If you are in one of these categories, contact the responsible office as early on as possible.

Respite from your studies is important, and there should be room for leisure activities. You should note, though, that ETH studies are full-time and the workload is heavy. We recommend that you focus on your studies and at the same time consider what is really important to you next to them.

To get a picture of how your ETH week will look like, see ¡°What will my timetable look like?¡±.

Studies at ETH Zurich correspond to a full-time job, with a heavy weekly workload of approx. 50 hours. However, this differs according to the degree programme and year of studies. We recommend concentrating fully on your studies during the first two semesters. After two or three semesters you can better estimate whether you have time for a part-time job.

If you are having trouble financing your studies, contact the ETH Zurich Financial Aid Office at an early stage.

Timetables differ greatly from degree programme to degree programme. You will find out what your first year of studies will look like at the Prestudy Events / Onboarding Events. Alternatively, you can put together your timetable with the help of the Course Catalogue. Some departments also publish their current course timetables online.

Please not that the lecture times may vary slightly depending on the location. 

The academic calendar shows when semesters begin and end. Depending on the degree programme there may also be obligatory components between semesters, such as laboratory courses and excursions. The periods between semesters at ETH Zurich are termed ¡°lecture-free¡± periods. 

The examinations also take place towards the end of this lecture-free period. This means that you will prepare for the exams between semesters. Usually, you will have a few days off before the start of the spring semester and two weeks off before the start of the autumn semester. In the spring semester, there is a lecture-free week after Easter.

From the autumn semester 2027, ETH Zurich will change its academic calendar. The academic year will then consist of two semesters of practically the same length with the same exam preparation period and exam period. In general, you will have one week off before the start of the spring semester and eight weeks off before the start of the autumn semester. During these holiday weeks, you may have to take a compulsory subject, such as a laboratory course or an excursion, at most twice during the Bachelor's degree programme. There is one lecture-free week in both the autumn and spring semesters. The academic calendar shows the semester dates in detail.

Examinations are taken during the semester and/or in the examination period during the lecture-free period. The academic calendar shows the exact dates of the examination periods.

Studying at ETH involves both fixed and individual variable costs. The Financial Aid Office has compiled a list of costs. 

Download Costs of living (PDF, 154 KB)

If you will have trouble financing your studies, contact the Financial Aid Office for advice.

¡­ not necessarily. Commuting to ETH for your studies is possible. Generally, one hour each way is manageable. However, if commuting becomes a burden on your time, you should consider moving. The Housing Office of the University of Zurich / ETH Zurich provides useful information and many links on their websites.

ETH Zurich expects that your knowledge of German is very good by the time studies begin. For this reason, there are only a small number of preparatory courses in German available. They are two-week intensive courses in German offered by the Language Center of the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich. They take place outside of the semester, i.e. in the summer before the academic year begins. After studies begin German courses can continue at the Language Center.

Find out about language course options directly from the external page Language Center of the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich.

ETH Zurich is a university which attracts students from all over Switzerland and around the world. Other students find themselves in the same situation. Below, there are some ideas how to meet people:

• Attend our prestudy events / onboarding events to meet people before your studies begin.
  
• Join the study association of your degree programme (brings students together) and attend its events for first-semester students.
  
• Find out about other ETH Zurich associations and international student organisations. Maybe you might want to join them.

A semester abroad during Bachelor¡¯s degree studies is usually possible in the third year of studies. Various universities may be selected depending on the degree programme. Exchange stays abroad are also possible during Master¡¯s degree studies: for a semester, for a research project, and for the Master¡¯s thesis. The Student Exchange Office will help you organise your exchange.