Future Pathwaysby Madan Kumar PCSaved

UniversitiesAlso in Countries

University Spotlight: ETH Zurich

Einstein's university. Bachelor's in German or an English Master's later: two honest routes, low tuition, Zurich costs and Swiss visa rules.

For
Grades 9–10, Grades 11–12
Stream
Science
Country
Switzerland
Reading time
16 min
Published
Written by
Madan Kumar PC
Subject area
Studying abroadUniversity guidesEngineeringScholarships and financial aid
Skill
Learning a language
Study level
UndergraduatePostgraduate
Audience
Parents

At a glance

ETH Main Building, Zurich Zentrum Walk the same corridors where Albert Einstein studied and later taught, on the official ETH campus tour. Ranked #8 in the world (QS 2027)* *Joint with UCL. ETH says this is its 12th year in a row in the QS top 10, and the highest rank for any university in continental Europe.

  • University: ETH Zurich, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich) · 16 departments · A public university of the Swiss federal government
  • Location: Zurich, Switzerland. Two campuses: Zentrum in the city centre and Hönggerberg, the science campus · Reached from India by a connecting flight
  • Founded: Opened in 1855
  • Famous names: Albert Einstein studied at ETH and later taught there
  • Focus: Science, technology, engineering and mathematics
  • Languages: Bachelor’s taught mainly in GERMAN (C1 certificate needed) · Most Master’s taught in ENGLISH

On demand access to the official ETH campus tour is on YouTube. Watch the official ETH Zurich Campus Tour today.

Visit a university in person. I strongly recommend that families of Grade 9 and above students visit at least one university: this one, a local university in India, or any place you choose. Seeing the labs and classrooms and talking to students gives a child something a virtual tour cannot. If you need help planning a visit, write to me at pcmadankumar@gmail.com.

ETH Zurich Admission, Two Honest Routes for Indian Students

Please read this part with care. ETH is not like the other universities in this series. An Indian Class 12 certificate (CBSE, CISCE or a State Board) or a Cambridge A Level result does not, by itself, give a place on a Bachelor’s course. ETH’s own rules for India have two cases. If a student holds a Class 12 certificate and a place at a recognised Indian university in the same subject, ETH asks for a reduced entrance examination. Otherwise it asks for a comprehensive one. The examination is in German. So the table below is built by route, not by board. For most Indian families the Master’s route, after an Indian Bachelor’s degree, is the sensible plan. The Bachelor’s route is only realistic for a child who starts German early.

Requirement Bachelor’s Route (German) Master’s Route (English), Recommended
Who is this route for? Students who will learn German early and are ready for the ETH entrance examination. CBSE, CISCE, State Board and Cambridge A Level students are all in the same position: the Class 12 or A Level result alone does not give entry. ETH’s admission document for 2026 to 2027 lists the Indian certificates it accepts as a base. It lists British A Levels with strict grade and subject conditions for entry without an exam. We could not confirm that Cambridge International A Levels are treated the same way, so families must check ETH’s own country page. Students who finish a strong Bachelor’s degree first, then apply to an English taught ETH Master’s. ETH says the basis for Master’s admission is always the Bachelor’s degree. ETH’s pages do not state how many years the Indian degree must last, so check the page of your chosen programme. No entrance examination.
Language of Instruction GERMAN. ETH says the main teaching language in all Bachelor’s programmes is German. A German C1 certificate must reach ETH by 31 March. A C1 certificate is valid for 2 years, so time the test carefully. Applications with a missing or invalid certificate are rejected. ENGLISH for most programmes. ETH accepts TOEFL, IELTS and C1 Advanced (Cambridge English), not older than 2 years. A few programmes also need German, and a few are taught in German. Each programme sets its own minimum score, so read your programme page. Some programmes ask for the GRE (a US test), so check that too.
Entrance Examination Needed for students from India who do not meet the exam free conditions. There are two types. The reduced exam is CHF 550 and covers 4 subjects. The comprehensive exam is CHF 800 and covers 8 subjects. It is held in German, in Zurich, in January. ETH decides which one applies after it reads your application. Not needed. ETH looks at your Bachelor’s marks, the motivation letter, your CV and recommendations. Entry is competitive, and ETH does not publish one acceptance rate for all programmes.
Key Dates and Steps The 2027 start is already closed. The Bachelor’s deadline for the 2027 start was 31 March 2026. For a child now in Class 12, the earliest start is autumn 2028. Step 1. By 31 March 2027, hold a German C1 certificate. Step 2. Apply on ETH’s eApply portal between 1 December 2026 and 31 March 2027, 23:59 Swiss time. Step 3. ETH takes up to 8 weeks to reply. Step 4. If an exam is needed, register on eApply between 15 September and 15 October 2027. Step 5. Sit the exam in January 2028. Last cycle the exam ran from 18 to 28 January 2027. Step 6. Start in autumn 2028. ETH says entry rules for all Bachelor’s programmes from autumn 2028 are being changed, with details from spring 2027. Steps 3 to 6 follow last year’s pattern, so check again in spring 2027. Applications for the autumn 2027 start are open from 1 to 30 November 2026 for degrees from outside Switzerland. The deadline is 30 November 2026. Entry in spring is not possible. Step 1. Apply in November of your final Bachelor’s year. Step 2. ETH sends its decision in the months after. Check ETH’s dates page for the exact date. Step 3. Accept, then apply for the Swiss study visa straight away. Step 4. Move to Zurich before the autumn semester starts in September. The same November window is expected in later years, so confirm it every year.
What a CBSE Family Must Do Class 12 exams run in February and March 2027, and results come about May 2027. The 31 March 2027 deadline falls before results. I will ask ETH how it treats applicants whose results are not out yet. The exam would then be in January 2028, after results. German C1 must be in hand by 31 March 2027. Class 12 results about May 2027, then an Indian Bachelor’s from mid 2027. A 3 year degree ends in 2030 and a 4 year degree in 2031. The matching ETH windows are November 2029 or November 2030, if ETH keeps the same dates. The Master’s would start in September 2030 or 2031.
What a Cambridge A Level Family Must Do students in India sit A Level in the March series, and results come in May 2027. Final grades still arrive after the 31 March 2027 deadline. I will ask ETH how predicted grades are handled. Whether the exam is needed depends on the grades and subjects ETH asks for. The exam, if needed, would be in January 2028. A Level results in May 2027, then an Indian or other Bachelor’s from August or September 2027. The ETH windows are the same as for CBSE families: November 2029 or November 2030 for a 3 or 4 year degree, if ETH keeps the same dates.
Application Fee and Portal Apply on ETH’s eApply portal, for ONE Bachelor’s programme only. The application fee is non refundable and paid by card, PostFinance, TWINT or Google Pay. The amount is shown in eApply. An older version of this document said CHF 150, so confirm it. Same eApply portal. Documents include transcripts, a CV, a motivation letter, recommendations and the language certificate. The fee amount is shown in eApply.
Tuition Fees CHF 2,190 per semester for foreign students, which is CHF 4,380 a year (~INR 5.1 lakhs at ~CHF 116/INR, October 2026). Since autumn 2025, ETH charges foreign students three times the Swiss rate of CHF 730. The group is fixed before you begin and cannot be changed later. There are small extra semester charges. ETH does not list the amounts on the fee page, so check them. The same CHF 2,190 per semester. A full 2 year Master’s costs about CHF 8,760 in tuition (~INR 10 lakhs). The fee group is fixed before studies begin, even if a student moves from Bachelor’s to Master’s.
Living Costs (ETH’s Figure) ETH’s own cost of living sheet gives CHF 22,100 a year (~INR 26 lakhs). It counts rent of CHF 11,300, food CHF 7,200, health insurance CHF 1,320, local transport CHF 586 and personal costs CHF 1,680. The rent figure is a 2024 average. Same CHF 22,100 a year. With tuition of CHF 4,380, one year in Zurich is about CHF 26,480 (~INR 31 lakhs). Rent is the item that can move most, so plan a margin.
Scholarships Limited at Bachelor’s level. We could not find a Bachelor’s award on ETH’s pages. Check ETH’s scholarship page before you plan around any award. ETH’s Excellence Scholarship and Opportunity Programme (ESOP) is its main award for Master’s students. Earlier ETH pages said it covers tuition and gives a living grant of CHF 12,000 a semester (~INR 14 lakhs), for around 60 students a year. We could not re-open that page this time, so check the amount and the deadline on ETH’s page. Families also look at the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships, which have their own rules.
Visa and Proof of Funds A Swiss study visa (type D) is needed before travel. CRITICAL: the Zurich migration office asks for CHF 21,000 a year (~INR 24 lakhs). The proof is a bank account in the STUDENT’S OWN name at a Swiss bank, or a guarantee from a Swiss resident. A letter from parents is not accepted. Start as soon as you have an admission letter. Same visa and the same proof of funds. Open the Swiss account and plan the transfer well before the visa appointment.
Work Rights Swiss rules allow students limited part time work, with permission from the canton. The hours and the time allowed to look for work after the degree are set by Swiss authorities, so check both before you rely on them. Same.

My planning angle: If your child is in Grade 8 or 9 and dreams of Europe, start German now. Reaching C1 usually takes several years of steady study, so ask a recognised language institute for a realistic plan. That keeps both ETH routes open. If your child is already in Grade 11 or 12, the wise plan is a strong Bachelor’s degree first, with good marks and some research or project work. Then apply to an English taught ETH Master’s in November of the final year. Whichever route you choose, check ETH’s own country page for India before you pay for any test or exam.

Voices from ETH, Indian Students

Here is what an Indian student at ETH Zurich says, from ETH’s official student blog:

“A course like this wasn’t available in India, so I decided to study abroad.”

Yash Dubey, Indian Master’s student, MSc Science, Technology and Policy, ETH Zurich | ETH Ambassadors blog (ethambassadors.ethz.ch), 17 August 2023

“My closest friends here are from Switzerland and Germany.”

Yash Dubey, same blog post

Why Should Your Child Consider ETH Zurich?

Einstein’s University, Top 10 in the World

ETH Zurich is joint number 8 in the QS World University Rankings 2027, level with UCL. ETH says this is its 12th year in a row in the QS top 10, and that it is the highest ranked university in continental Europe. Its QS score is 96.3. Albert Einstein studied at ETH and later taught there. For students of science and engineering, ETH is one of the strongest places to study in Europe.

The Cost Picture

Tuition is low for a university of this standing. Foreign students pay CHF 2,190 per semester, or CHF 4,380 a year (~INR 5.1 lakhs at ~CHF 116/INR, October 2026). Switzerland tripled this fee for foreign students from autumn 2025, and it is still modest. A full 2 year Master’s is about CHF 8,760 in tuition (~INR 10 lakhs). Zurich itself is expensive. ETH’s own sheet puts living costs at CHF 22,100 a year (~INR 26 lakhs). Together that is about CHF 26,480 a year (~INR 31 lakhs). The Swiss visa also needs proof of CHF 21,000 a year, kept in the student’s own Swiss bank account. For top Master’s students, ETH’s ESOP award may cover tuition and give a living grant, but check the current amount on ETH’s page.

The Language Reality, Why We Present ETH Honestly

Every other university in this series teaches undergraduates in English. ETH does not. Bachelor’s programmes are taught mainly in German. A C1 certificate is needed by 31 March, and the entrance examination for Indian certificate holders is also in German. We say this plainly because families deserve honest advice. The same fact opens two real options. First, a child who starts German in Grade 8 or 9 can reach the Bachelor’s route, and German also opens other German speaking universities. Second, the English taught Master’s route needs no German for most programmes and no entrance exam. The application window is only one month, in November. ETH is not the easiest door in this series, but it is a rewarding one for a family that plans early.

Switzerland and the Indian Student Community

ETH runs an Ambassadors blog where current students, including Indian students, write about daily life in Zurich. Reading a few posts is a good way for a child to picture the move. We have not re-checked Indian student groups in Zurich this time, so please ask me before you rely on one. Parents should also know that Swiss visa and bank rules are strict, and that the family must plan the funds early. I can help you build that plan.

What parents should know

  • CRITICAL. The 2027 Bachelor’s start is closed for anyone who must sit ETH’s entrance exam (the application deadline was 31 March 2026, and ETH says a student who passes the exam can only enter in the following autumn). For a child now in Class 12, the earliest Bachelor’s start is autumn 2028. The Bachelor’s route needs a German C1 certificate by 31 March, and the entrance exam is in German in January. ETH is also changing its Bachelor’s entry rules from autumn 2028, with details from spring 2027.
  • CRITICAL. The Swiss visa needs proof of CHF 21,000 a year (~INR 24 lakhs). It must sit in the STUDENT’S OWN Swiss bank account, or come as a guarantee from a Swiss resident. A parents’ support letter is not accepted. Plan the transfer early.
  • CRITICAL. Class 12 or A Level results do not give direct Bachelor’s entry. ETH lists exam free entry only for certain grades and subjects, and for Indian certificates it asks for a reduced or comprehensive entrance exam. Check ETH’s own country page.
  • Recommended. Master’s route: English taught, one application window from 1 to 30 November (30 November 2026 for autumn 2027 entry), no entrance exam. Programmes set their own English score and some ask for the GRE.
  • Tuition. CHF 2,190 per semester for foreign students (CHF 4,380 a year, ~INR 5.1 lakhs at ~CHF 116/INR, October 2026). A 2 year Master’s costs about CHF 8,760 (~INR 10 lakhs) in tuition.
  • Living costs. ETH’s own figure is CHF 22,100 a year (~INR 26 lakhs). With tuition, about CHF 26,480 a year (~INR 31 lakhs).
  • ESOP. An award for Master’s students that earlier ETH pages said covers tuition and gives a living grant of CHF 12,000 a semester (~INR 14 lakhs). Check the amount, the deadline and whether a thesis outline is needed on ETH’s page.
  • Entrance exam fee. CHF 550 for the reduced exam and CHF 800 for the comprehensive exam. The exam is in German.
  • Fee and one choice. The Bachelor’s application is for one programme only. Confirm the application fee in eApply.

Talk to me

To book a counselling session for your family on ETH Zurich, write to me at pcmadankumar@gmail.com or use my contact page. I can cover the German plan from Grade 9, the route from an Indian Bachelor’s to an ETH Master’s, ESOP and how ETH compares with German public universities. I will set up a one to one session at a time that suits you.

Sources

Checked by Madan Kumar PC on 11 Oct 2026. Fees, dates and rules change. Always check the official link before applying.

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Talk to a career counsellor. A good counsellor can help you work out what this means for you. You can also write to me at pcmadankumar@gmail.com or use mycontact page.