EPFL is a public research university in Lausanne, Switzerland, specializing in natural sciences and engineering. Established in its current form in 1969, it is one of the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology and is renowned for its innovative research, international outlook, and dynamic campus.
The École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL, is a federal university of science and technology on the shore of Lake Geneva. Its roots go back to a private school of 1853, which became part of the University of Lausanne and was made a federal institution in 1969. It has about 12,000 students and 6,000 staff, and around half of the students come from abroad, a higher share than at almost any other European university. The campus lies in Ecublens, west of the city, next to the University of Lausanne, with the Alps in view across the lake.
The Rolex Learning Center, designed by the Japanese architects SANAA and opened in 2010, is the best-known building. It is a single wave-shaped floor that houses the library, study spaces, a restaurant and a bookshop. The campus also contains an innovation park with hundreds of companies and start-ups, and the EPFL has produced firms such as Logitech, whose co-founder Daniel Borel is an alumnus. Many students are involved in the development of drones, solar cars and robots.
The school teaches architecture, civil and environmental engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical and microengineering, computer and communication sciences, materials science, chemistry, physics, mathematics and life sciences. Research is strong in robotics, neuroscience, bioengineering, energy, quantum science and fusion, with the Swiss Plasma Center as a major facility. The Blue Brain Project, which built digital models of brain tissue, was led from EPFL and was linked to the Human Brain Project.
Tuition fees are low by international standards, around one and a half thousand francs per year at present, though the amounts are under review. Check the current tariff. Bachelor’s programmes are taught in French, with some in English, and most master’s programmes are in English. Admission needs a Swiss Matura or an equivalent, and a number of foreign applicants must pass an entrance examination.
Lausanne is a hilly city with a lively cultural scene, and the metro and trains connect the campus to the centre in minutes. Student housing is scarce, so applying early is advised.
Domains taught:
Aerospace, AI and Machine Learning, Automation, Bioengineering, Bioinformatics, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Computer Vision, Data Analytics, Ecology and Sustainability, Electrical and Electronics, Engineering, Fluid Dynamics, Manufacturing, Materials, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Metrology, Nanotechnologies, Physics, Process Control, Project Management, Robotics, Signal Processing, Software Engineering, Statistics, Structural Engineering, Telecommunications, Thermodynamics
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Numerous international partnerships with universities worldwide, strong collaborations with industry through its Innovation Park, active in European research projects. Member of EuroTech Universities Alliance.
Research:
Pioneering research in areas such as neuroscience (Human Brain Project), materials science, renewable energy, data science, artificial intelligence, robotics, microengineering, and life sciences.
Famous Alumnis:
Bertrand Piccard, Emmanuelle Charpentier, Martin Odersky, Philippe Mazouer, Pierre Deléglise, Quentin Corthésy
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
6000
Current students***:
12000
Foreign students***:
50%
Cumulative former students***:
80000
Pros
World-leading research university, highly international campus, state-of-the-art facilities, strong focus on innovation and entrepreneurship, located in a vibrant region.
Cons
Highly competitive programs, demanding academic environment, cost of living in Lausanne can be high.
Best For
Students and researchers aiming for cutting-edge education and research in engineering, computer science, and life sciences in a highly international and innovative setting.
Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich is the closest domestic counterpart for metrology, aerospace and bioinformatics; it is larger, enrolling about 24,500 students against roughly 12,000 here, and is also a public institution.
Université de Genève takes a similar route through bioinformatics, nanotechnologies and signal processing, and it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and covers astroscience and marine science as well.
Among national alternatives, Università della Svizzera italiana stands out for its focus on bioinformatics, nanotechnologies and signal processing, and it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
The comparison with Universität Basel is straightforward on subjects, since both focus on bioinformatics, nanotechnologies and signal processing, and it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and covers astroscience and microbiology and genetics as well.
For students who like the aerospace, bioinformatics and nanotechnologies focus of this school but want another option nearby, Universität Bern fits well: it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and covers astroscience and geotechnics as well.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
For bioinformatics, nanotechnologies and fluid dynamics outside the home country, Technische Universiteit Eindhoven in the Netherlands is a natural reference; it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and covers optics and industrial design as well.
Abroad, Institut Polytechnique de Paris (France) covers aerospace, bioinformatics and nanotechnologies in a comparable way, and it is smaller, enrolling about 8,000 students against roughly 12,000 here, and is also a public institution.
A foreign alternative with a similar emphasis on aerospace, bioinformatics and nanotechnologies is Tokyo Tech in Japan, and it covers astroscience and microbiology and genetics as well, and is slightly smaller, at about 10,000 students against roughly 12,000 here.
Students considering a move abroad can look at Université PSL in France, where bioinformatics, nanotechnologies and fluid dynamics also form the core, and it is slightly larger, at about 17,000 students against roughly 12,000 here, and is also a public institution.
On content, Warsaw University of Technology in Poland and this school are close, as both teach metrology, aerospace and bioinformatics; it is larger, enrolling about 32,000 students against roughly 12,000 here, and is also a public institution.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is EPFL?
On Route Cantonale in Lausanne, Switzerland, on the shore of Lake Geneva, next to the University of Lausanne.
When did it become a federal institution?
In 1969. Its roots go back to a private school of 1853.
How large is it?
About 12,000 students and 6,000 staff, with around half of the students from abroad.
What is the Rolex Learning Center?
A wave-shaped building designed by SANAA and opened in 2010 that houses the library and study spaces.
What does EPFL teach?
Engineering, architecture, computer science, materials science, physics, chemistry, mathematics and life sciences.
What is the Swiss Plasma Center?
A major EPFL research facility for fusion and plasma physics.
What was the Blue Brain Project?
A project that built digital models of brain tissue, led from EPFL.
What does it cost?
Tuition fees are low by international standards, around one and a half thousand francs per year at present. Check the current tariff.
In which language are courses taught?
Bachelor's programmes in French, with some in English, and most master's programmes in English.
How do you get in?
You need a Swiss Matura or an equivalent, and a number of foreign applicants must pass an entrance examination.
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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