EPFL (École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne) is Switzerland’s other federal institute of technology, with a campus on the shore of Lake Geneva in Lausanne. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it was 22nd in the world and the second-highest-ranked university in Switzerland. It’s known for engineering, computer and communication sciences, life sciences, architecture and its large startup scene.
EPFL’s bachelor’s degrees are taught in French, and since 2025 the number of first-year places has been limited, so international students need to check the rules carefully. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on EPFL’s own guidance and official Swiss government information.
1. Get your French to B2 level
EPFL’s bachelor’s programmes are taught in French, and EPFL considers level B2 the minimum needed to follow them, with C1 highly recommended. If you didn’t study French at upper secondary school, you’ll need to prove your level when you apply. Most of EPFL’s master’s programmes are taught in English.
2. Check whether your certificate gives direct admission
Holders of school-leaving certificates from the EU, EFTA or the UK, and of the International Baccalaureate, can be admitted to the first year of a bachelor’s programme if they meet EPFL’s conditions, within the places available. If your certificate is from another country, you can at best be admitted to the Cours de mathématiques spéciales (CMS), a one-year preparatory course in mathematics and science, if you meet the same grade conditions and places are available. EPFL bachelor admission criteria.
3. Aim for top grades in maths and physics
EPFL sets high minimum grades. With an EU or EFTA certificate, or a non-European certificate for the CMS, you need at least 80% of the maximum grade in mathematics, in physics and overall, and you must have studied maths and physics at the highest level. With A-levels or Scottish Advanced Highers, you need at least an A (or 1) in mathematics, physics and one of chemistry, biology or computer science. With the IB, you need at least 38 out of 42 points (excluding bonus points) and at least 6 in mathematics and physics.
4. Understand the limit on places
From 2025, and for at least four years, EPFL has limited its first-year bachelor’s intake to 3,000 students. Swiss maturité holders and students who pass the CMS or entrance exam are guaranteed a place, but applicants with foreign certificates are ranked by their overall average and offered the remaining places at the beginning of August. Meeting the minimum grades isn’t enough on its own, so the higher your average, the better your chance.
5. Apply by 30 April
You apply online from mid-November to 30 April 2027 to start in September 2027. The application fee is CHF 150 for holders of a foreign certificate, and you must upload your grade sheets from the last two years of school and your French certificate by 30 April. If you’re subject to the limit on places, you can’t apply late. Your final school-leaving certificate must reach EPFL by 30 September. How to apply to EPFL.
6. Prepare your documents carefully
All your documents must be in English, French, German or Italian, and anything in another language needs a legalised translation, or your application will be rejected. EPFL starts processing applications in mid-January and it can take several weeks, especially if you submit in April, so applying early gives you more time to fix any problems.
7. Understand the fees
From the autumn semester of 2025, EPFL’s tuition fee for most international students tripled from CHF 730 to CHF 2,190 per semester, so their total semester bill is CHF 2,240 instead of CHF 780. Swiss students, and foreign students who already lived in Switzerland for reasons other than study, pay the lower rate. EPFL recommends budgeting about CHF 29,000 a year for living costs, on top of your tuition. EPFL tuition fee and other fees.
8. Look for funding and housing early
Scholarships for international bachelor’s students are very limited, so most need to fund their studies themselves or find a scholarship in their home country. Non-European students also need Swiss health insurance, which EPFL says costs at least CHF 113 to 120 a month. Housing in Lausanne is in short supply, so start looking as soon as you’re admitted. EPFL: financing your studies.
9. Apply for your visa and residence permit early
If you’re from the EU/EFTA, you don’t need a visa: you register with the commune where you live within 14 days of arriving and receive a residence permit for study. If you’re from outside the EU/EFTA, you’ll usually need a national (D) visa for a stay of more than 90 days, which you apply for at the Swiss embassy or consulate in your home country once EPFL has admitted you. You’ll need your admission letter and proof that you can pay your tuition and living costs, and processing can take several weeks, so apply as soon as you’re admitted. Health insurance is compulsory for everyone living in Switzerland, so arrange it when you arrive. SEM: entry and visas.
10. Plan for work during and after your studies
If you’re from outside the EU/EFTA, you can work up to 15 hours a week during term, but not until six months after your course starts. Your employer has to apply for permission from the cantonal authorities, and EPFL must confirm that the job won’t delay your studies. After you graduate from a Swiss university, you have six months to look for a job that matches your qualifications, and you can be admitted to work if your job is of overriding scientific or economic interest. SEM: working in Switzerland FAQ.
Applying for a master’s or PhD at EPFL?
Most EPFL master’s programmes are taught in English. You apply online in one of two rounds, which close on 15 December and 31 March, and the application fee is CHF 150 if your bachelor’s degree is from outside Switzerland. Your referees upload their letters themselves, within a week of the deadline. Note that the higher tuition fee also applies to international master’s students. For a PhD, you apply to one of EPFL’s doctoral programmes, and doctoral students are paid. See our 50 sample SOPs and free GRE practice tests.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
EPFL’s places for international students are limited, so apply to other options too. Read our guides to ETH Zurich, the University of Zurich, the University of Basel and the University of Geneva. Our guide to studying in Switzerland explains how the Swiss system works, and our free study abroad assessment can help you build a shortlist.
Information was taken from EPFL’s official admissions and tuition fee pages, the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) and the QS World University Rankings 2027, and checked in October 2026. Admissions rules, deadlines, fees and immigration rules can change, so always confirm the details on EPFL’s admissions website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with EPFL.