If you want to know how to get into ETH Zurich, start with one fact: your school certificate decides your route. Some students get in with no exam. Others must sit an ETH entrance exam in German. This guide covers routes for India, the US, the UK, China and Switzerland, plus German, deadlines, fees and a Grade 9 plan.
Key takeaways
- ETH bachelor's programmes are taught mainly in German, and most non-Swiss applicants need a German C1 certificate by 31 March.
- Your certificate sets your route: no exam, the reduced exam (4 subjects) or the comprehensive exam (8 subjects).
- For autumn 2027 entry without an exam, apply between 1 December 2026 and 31 March 2027.
- ETH does not want motivation letters, awards or reference letters for bachelor's applications.
- Foreign students pay CHF 2,190 tuition per semester since autumn 2025.
How to get into ETH Zurich: what is the short answer?
Quick answer: Apply through ETH's online portal, eApply, with your school-leaving certificate and, if you are not a German speaker, a German C1 certificate by 31 March. Strong UK A-level or IB results can mean admission with no exam. Most students from India, the US and China must pass ETH's reduced entrance exam, held in German.
ETH publishes no admission rate, so ignore "acceptance rate" figures on agent websites. What matters is your certificate, your German and, if needed, the exam.
Why study at ETH Zurich, and what can you study?
ETH Zurich is a Swiss university focused on science, engineering and maths. We count 23 bachelor's programmes on the official programme list, in five areas: architecture and civil engineering, engineering sciences, natural sciences and mathematics, system-oriented natural sciences (including Human Medicine), and public policy. ETH itself states no total.
Each bachelor's lasts 6 semesters and gives 180 credits. The first year, the Basisjahr, is worth 60 credits. Studies start only in autumn, and you may apply to one bachelor's programme only.
The big point for international families: the main teaching language of every bachelor's programme is German. Some courses may be in English or French, more so in years 2 and 3. ETH offers no language courses. If you want an English-taught bachelor's, compare Imperial College London or MIT.
What are the ETH Zurich admission requirements by certificate?
Swiss and non-Swiss certificates follow different rules. ETH decides whether you need an exam only after it gets your complete application, and does not discuss chances in advance.
Swiss students
A Swiss Gymnasial Matura (federal or federally accredited) gives unconditional admission with no exam. So does a vocational or Specialised Matura with the Passerelle, or a Swiss university, FH or PH degree. The application fee is CHF 50, with a CHF 200 late fee. See the Swiss certificates page.
ETH's English page does not state the Swiss deadline. A Canton Lucerne careers guide (2025) gives 30 April, with late applications to 31 July, so check ETH's page. Human Medicine has its own process and aptitude test.
Students with non-Swiss certificates
ETH has three admission types:
- Admission without an entrance exam.
- The reduced entrance exam (4 subjects).
- The comprehensive entrance exam (8 subjects).
The country rules below come from ETH's country list for 2026/27. ETH says that list is not for students starting in autumn 2027, and points to swissuniversities for current rules. Always check the swissuniversities or ETH page for your exact certificate.
Your school certificate decides your ETH route.
UK students with three A-levels at grade A, plus four more subjects, can enter with no exam. IB students with 38 of 42 points and the right Higher and Standard Level subjects can also enter with no exam. US students with a High School Diploma and three AP tests at 3 or more sit the reduced exam. India and China need a certificate plus home university admission, then the reduced exam. If your certificate is not on the list, you sit the comprehensive exam.
| Your certificate | What ETH's 2026/27 list asks for | Route |
|---|---|---|
| UK A-levels | Grade A in maths, a science and a language, plus 4 more subjects (AS, GCSE or Pre-U Short Course) | No exam (else reduced) |
| IB Diploma | 38/42 without bonus; HL Maths AA or AI, a science, a Language A; 3 allowed SL subjects | No exam (else reduced) |
| US Diploma | 3 APs at 3+ (maths, a science, a language), plus 4 listed subjects in the last 3 years | Reduced (else comprehensive) |
| India (AISSC, ISC, HSC and others) | Certificate plus admission to the same subject at a recognised Indian university | Reduced (else comprehensive) |
| China (Gaozhong) | Gaozhong plus admission to the same subject at a recognised Chinese university | Reduced (else comprehensive) |
- UK: A-levels taken after or alongside another qualification (for example a German Gymnasium plus A-levels) lead to the comprehensive exam. Scotland uses three Advanced Highers at grade A, plus four more subjects.
- US: SAT and ACT are not mentioned. No US route on the list admits students without an exam.
- China: the Gaokao is not named. Our Gaokao guide covers that exam itself.
ETH Zurich for Indian students: does JEE count?
No. ETH's list does not mention JEE Main, JEE Advanced or any rank. Under that list, no Indian applicant is admitted without an ETH exam. You need your board certificate (such as the AISSC or ISC), proof of admission to the same subject at a recognised Indian university, and the reduced exam. For Indian options, see our IIT guide.
What changes from autumn 2028?
ETH plans new entry requirements for all bachelor's programmes from autumn 2028. The changes concern subject combinations and final-exam subjects. They are not final yet. ETH says details are due from spring 2027. Grade 9 and 10 students should check the admission requirements page again next year.
What is the ETH Zurich German requirement?
You need German at C1, with the certificate in by 31 March. ETH calls this deadline "fixed and non-negotiable", and rejects applications without a valid certificate.
A C1 certificate can be at most 2 years old at the start of the application period. A C2 certificate can be at most 5 years old. Accepted certificates and minimums, from the language requirements page:
| Certificate | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Goethe C1 | 80 points on average, all modules passed within 12 months |
| Goethe C2 | All sections passed |
| TestDaF | TDN 5 in three sections and TDN 4 in one, same session |
| ÖSD C1 | "gut bestanden" |
| ÖSD C2 | All sections passed |
| DSH | DSH-3 |
| DSD Level II | C1 in each part |
| telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule | "gut" |
Native speakers are exempt, as are some holders of a German Abitur or Austrian or Liechtenstein Matura, and a few other cases. School reports that show German classes do not replace a certificate.
How does the ETH Zurich entrance exam work?
The ETH Zurich entrance exam is held in January in Zurich, and it is in German, with German subject terms expected. The next session runs from 18 to 28 January 2027. Details are on the entrance exam page.
| Reduced exam | Comprehensive exam | |
|---|---|---|
| Subjects | Maths, biology, chemistry, physics | Maths, biology, chemistry, physics, German, a foreign language, history, geography |
| Fee | CHF 550 | CHF 800 |
| Format | Written and oral | Written and oral |
In the reduced exam, maths and physics are written and oral. Written maths has two parts: 60 minutes with no aids, then 3 hours. Orals last about 15 minutes. In the comprehensive exam, German is a 4-hour paper plus oral, and the foreign language a 2-hour paper plus oral.
Written exams run Monday to Wednesday of week 1. Orals run from Thursday of week 1 to Thursday of week 2, in the ETH Main Building. Only set formula sheets and calculators (TI-30 eco RS, Casio FX-82 Solar or Solar II) are allowed.
You register in eApply from 15 September to 15 October and pay by credit card. ETH offers no prep or German courses, but gives example papers and reading lists. It states no pass mark or pass rate.
Match the bases, then solve the simple equation.
This is the kind of quick, no-aids step to master. To solve 2^(x+1) = 32:
- Write 32 as a power of 2: 32 = 2^5.
- So 2^(x+1) = 2^5.
- The bases match, so x + 1 = 5.
- So x = 4.
In the oral exam you must explain steps like these out loud, in German.
What are the ETH Zurich deadlines for autumn 2027?
Dates for non-Swiss certificates come from ETH's dates page. Deadlines end at 23:59 CET.
Key ETH dates for students from outside Switzerland.
For a bachelor's without an exam, apply from 1 December 2026 to 31 March 2027. Your German C1 certificate is also due by 31 March 2027, and studies start on 20 September 2027. If you need the exam and apply now, your exam is 17 to 27 January 2028, and you start on 18 September 2028. The first master's window is 1 to 30 November 2026.
| Step | No exam (start 2027) | Exam route (apply now) |
|---|---|---|
| Apply | 1 Dec 2026 to 31 Mar 2027 | 1 Dec 2026 to 31 Mar 2027 |
| German certificate | by 31 Mar 2027 | by 31 Mar 2027 |
| Register for exam | not needed | 15 Sep to 15 Oct 2027 |
| Exam | not needed | 17 to 27 Jan 2028 |
| Start | 20 Sep 2027 | 18 Sep 2028 |
Send your school-leaving certificate as soon as you get it, by 31 August 2027 at the latest. The exam route for an autumn 2027 start closed on 31 March 2026, and late applications are not possible.
What are the ETH Zurich tuition fees?
Since autumn 2025, ETH has two fee groups. See the tuition fees page.
| Group | Who | Tuition per semester |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | Swiss and Liechtenstein citizens; anyone living in CH/LI when they got their entry qualification; some others (e.g. certain EU/EFTA permit holders) | CHF 730 |
| Group 2 | Everyone else, e.g. students coming from India, the US, the UK or China | CHF 2,190 |
Request Group 1 status before you start; it cannot be changed later. Each semester you also pay compulsory fees: ASVZ CHF 35, scholarship fund CHF 7 and VSETH CHF 32. The application fee is CHF 150 with a non-Swiss certificate, or CHF 50 with a Swiss one.
Six semesters of tuition for a foreign bachelor student.
Here is the worked example for a Group 2 student:
- 180 credits = 6 semesters.
- Tuition is CHF 2,190 per semester.
- 6 x 2,190 = CHF 13,140.
- Compulsory fees are about CHF 74 per semester: 6 x 74 = CHF 444.
- Total is about CHF 13,584. This does not include living costs, the application fee or any exam fee.
How do you apply? The ETH Zurich bachelor application step by step
The ETH Zurich bachelor application is fully online. From the application page:
- Log in to eApply.
- Fill in the form fully and upload your documents.
- Pay the non-refundable fee (credit card, PostFinance, TWINT or Google Pay).
- Get an email confirmation.
- Track your status under "Zusammenfassung".
Review takes up to 8 weeks. If admitted without an exam, you post your original documents.
Documents to upload:
- Colour passport photo and a copy of your passport or ID
- CV (ETH template)
- Upper secondary school-leaving certificate
- School reports from the last 3 years
- Certificate of university admission (if required)
- University transcripts or diplomas (if any)
- German certificate (if required)
- Signed declaration of consent
Files can be up to 5 MB (20 MB for school reports). Documents not in German, English, French or Italian need an official translation into German or English.
Do not upload motivation letters, competition awards, portfolios, reference letters or internship certificates. This is very different from Oxford or US colleges.
Book a free demo class to plan your maths and science preparation, or see our plans and fees.
What is the first-year exam (Basisprüfung)?
The Basisprüfung is the first-year exam. The first attempt is at the end of year 1, or at the latest in the following winter session. It must be passed within two years of starting. Some programmes split it into two blocks. See ETH's examination levels page.
Retake rules and pass marks can differ by programme. For example, Materials allows one retake and needs a weighted average of at least 4.00. Check your own department's page.
Can you go to ETH for a master's instead?
Yes. For autumn 2027 there are two windows, from the master's dates page:
- 1 to 30 November 2026: required for anyone with a non-Swiss bachelor's. The deadline is Monday 30 November 2026 at 11:59 CET, which is noon, not midnight.
- 1 to 30 April 2027: Swiss bachelor's holders only, closing Friday 30 April 2027 at 11:59 noon CEST.
There is no spring entry, and late or incomplete files are not processed. Check each programme page for its language and requirements.
The Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP) covers CHF 12,000 per semester (CHF 13,500 from autumn 2027) plus a tuition waiver. It targets the top 10% of bachelor's students. Apply in the November window with a thesis pre-proposal and two professors as referees. About 60 awards are planned for 2027/28.
What is a step-by-step plan from Grade 9 or 10?
- Grade 9: pick the right subjects. Check your certificate on swissuniversities. UK students need maths, a science and a language at A-level; IB students need Maths AA or AI at HL. See our IB guide.
- Grade 9: start German now. Aim for C1 by March of your final school year.
- Grade 10: build maths depth. Algebra, functions, exponents, logs and trigonometry, often without a calculator.
- Grade 10 to 11: keep three sciences. The reduced exam tests biology, chemistry and physics.
- Grade 11: aim for top grades. UK students need grade A in each key A-level. Our A-level maths guide helps.
- Grade 11: learn subject words in German. Read ETH's example papers and explain maths aloud.
- Final year: apply in eApply between December and 31 March.
What are the most common mistakes?
- Missing the German deadline. 31 March is fixed. No certificate means rejection.
- Assuming JEE, SAT or Gaokao counts. None is on ETH's list.
- Forgetting the exam timeline. On the exam route, you start about 18 months after applying.
- Uploading motivation letters. ETH asks you not to.
- Missing the noon master's deadline. It is 11:59 in the morning.
How 1-on-1 tutoring helps with getting into ETH Zurich
At Asymptode, a mentor helps with the maths and science behind ETH entry: top A-level, IB or AP grades, and the maths and science content of the entrance exam. Asymptode does not teach German. For German and the application, the mentor helps with planning and method.
- One dedicated mentor, live online 1-on-1. Lessons follow your child's own syllabus (A-level, IB, AP, CBSE or ISC) and their exam dates.
- Method first. The mentor watches each step of the working, so gaps show up before a timed paper.
- Personalised homework with feedback. Practice is set for your child's weak spots, then marked and explained.
- Parent updates and recordings. Short updates, every class recorded, and a free demo class to start.
Facts checked against official sources on 30 October 2026.
FAQ
Is ETH Zurich taught in English?
Bachelor's programmes are taught mainly in German. Some courses may be in English or French, more so in years 2 and 3. For master's programmes, check each programme page.
Does ETH Zurich have an entrance exam?
Yes, for many non-Swiss applicants. There is a reduced exam (maths, biology, chemistry, physics) and a comprehensive exam (8 subjects). Both are written and oral, and in German.
Can Indian students get into ETH Zurich with JEE?
ETH's 2026/27 list does not mention JEE. Indian students need their board certificate, admission to the same subject at a recognised Indian university, and the reduced exam. Check the swissuniversities page for your exact certificate.
What is the ETH Zurich acceptance rate?
ETH does not publish an admission rate. Figures on third-party sites are not from ETH.
How much are ETH Zurich tuition fees for international students?
Most international students pay CHF 2,190 per semester since autumn 2025. Swiss residents and some others pay CHF 730. Compulsory semester fees of about CHF 74 are extra.
Do I need a motivation letter for ETH Zurich?
Not for a bachelor's. ETH asks applicants not to upload motivation letters, awards, portfolios or reference letters.
Ready to start? Book a free demo class and advisor call, or see our plans and fees.
Sources
- ETH Zurich: Bachelor application with non-Swiss certificates
- ETH Zurich: Dates for non-Swiss certificates
- ETH Zurich: Admission requirements (non-Swiss certificates)
- ETH Zurich: Entrance examination
- ETH Zurich: Language requirements
- ETH Zurich: Country list 2026/27 (PDF)
- swissuniversities: Admission requirements by country
- ETH Zurich: Swiss matriculation certificates
- ETH Zurich: Tuition fees
- ETH Zurich: Bachelor's degree programmes
- ETH Zurich: Examination levels (Basisprüfung)
- ETH Zurich: Master's application dates
- ETH Zurich: Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme
- ETH Zurich: eApply
Sources
- ETH Zurich: Bachelor application with non-Swiss certificates
- ETH Zurich: Dates for non-Swiss certificates
- ETH Zurich: Admission requirements (non-Swiss certificates)
- ETH Zurich: Entrance examination
- ETH Zurich: Language requirements
- ETH Zurich: Country list 2026/27 (PDF)
- swissuniversities: Admission requirements by country
- ETH Zurich: Swiss matriculation certificates
- ETH Zurich: Tuition fees
- ETH Zurich: Bachelor's degree programmes
- ETH Zurich: Examination levels (Basisprüfung)
- ETH Zurich: Master's application dates
- ETH Zurich: Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme
- ETH Zurich: eApply