Studying at ETH Zurich and University of Zurich: A 2026 Guide
Last updated: May 18, 2026
Zurich is home to two of Europe's strongest universities: ETH Zurich, a federal institute of technology focused on STEM, and the University of Zurich (UZH), a broad research university covering medicine, law, humanities, and the sciences. This guide walks international students through what it actually costs, how admissions work, and what living in Zurich looks like in 2026.
Last updated: May 18, 2026
ETH Zurich vs. University of Zurich: which one fits?
The two universities sit a few tram stops apart and share some facilities, but they are different institutions with separate admissions, fees, and governance.
- ETH Zurich is a federal institution under the ETH Board. It focuses on engineering, natural sciences, architecture, mathematics, and computer science. About 35% of its roughly 21,000 students are international, with around 7,300 students coming from abroad.
- University of Zurich (UZH) is a cantonal university with a wider academic range, including medicine, law, theology, economics, and the humanities. In 2025 UZH had 28,664 enrolled students, including 5,570 international students from over 120 countries. Reported acceptance rates hover around 19–20%.
If your field is engineering or hard sciences, ETH is usually the first stop. For medicine, law, social sciences, or humanities, UZH is the natural choice. Many students cross-register for courses between the two through the joint Zurich academic ecosystem.
Admissions: requirements and deadlines
ETH Zurich
ETH admits Bachelor's students based on the recognition of their school-leaving certificate. Applicants whose certificate is not directly recognized may be required to sit the ETH entrance examination. Master's admission is competitive and program-specific, with each department setting its own academic prerequisites.
Key dates for international Bachelor's holders applying to an ETH Master's:
- Autumn Semester 2026 application window: 1 November to 30 November 2025, 11:59 CET.
- A second window (1–30 April 2026) is restricted to holders of a Swiss Bachelor's degree.
- Admissions decisions are normally issued within 2–3 months of the submission deadline.
The ETH application fee is CHF 150 per degree program, paid by credit card or PostFinance. It is non-refundable and cannot be waived.
University of Zurich
UZH admission depends on the faculty and program. Medicine has a national numerus clausus and is highly restricted for non-Swiss applicants. Other programs assess academic equivalence of your prior degree. For Master's programs, faculties may require specific Bachelor's coursework, language proficiency, and supporting documents.
UZH explicitly advises applicants who need a visa to have their admission decision in hand three months before planned entry, so the National Visa D can be issued on time. Plan backwards from that date.
Withdrawal of enrollment at UZH costs a CHF 50 processing fee, with refund deadlines of 15 October (Fall) and 15 March (Spring).
Tuition and other fees in 2026
This is the area where the most has changed recently, so verify the current figure on the official tuition pages before budgeting.
ETH Zurich's two-tier system
From Autumn Semester 2025, ETH Zurich introduced a two-tier tuition system:
- Group 1 (simple tuition): Swiss nationals, foreign nationals who completed their schooling in Switzerland, and certain other exempt groups. Total tuition and semester fees come to CHF 804 per semester.
- Group 2 (threefold tuition): Foreign nationals who move to Switzerland to study. The ETH Board approved tripling tuition for this group, bringing the per-semester rate to around CHF 2,190.
Students already enrolled before Autumn 2025 keep the previous fee until they finish their current Bachelor's or Master's. ETH has also announced that fees will be indexed to the Swiss consumer price index going forward, so check https://ethz.ch/students/en/studies/financial/tuition-fees.html for the latest figures.
Switzerland and the EU are negotiating an immigration protection clause under which the EU is demanding that European students not pay more than Swiss nationals. The outcome was still pending in 2025.
University of Zurich
UZH charges semester fees that are comparable to other Swiss cantonal universities and significantly lower than fees at most US, UK, or Australian universities. Because UZH has its own fee schedule and may adjust rates per semester, check https://www.uzh.ch/en/studies/application/fees.html for the current amount in the faculty you are applying to.
Visas and residence permits
Switzerland does not issue a traditional "student visa" in the way the US or UK do. Non-EU/EFTA students apply for a National Visa D abroad, and then convert it into a residence permit for education (B permit) at the cantonal migration office after arrival.
Non-EU/EFTA students (visa required)
- Receive your admission letter from ETH or UZH.
- Apply for the National Visa D at the Swiss embassy or consulate in your home country. Fee: CHF 50–100.
- The Migration Office of the Canton of Zurich charges an additional CHF 95 for the document entitling visa issuance.
- Processing typically takes 8–12 weeks. Start as early as possible.
- After arrival, register with the cantonal migration office to obtain the B permit.
You must show proof of financing. The Migration Office of the Canton of Zurich requires confirmation from a Swiss-domiciled bank that the student has access to the equivalent of CHF 21,000 per year. The account must be in the student's name and denominated in CHF, EUR, or USD. As an alternative, a Guarantee Declaration may be signed by a Swiss-resident solvent person (Swiss citizen or holder of a B or C permit) pledging to cover costs up to CHF 21,000.
Visa-exempt nationals (e.g., USA, Canada, Japan)
You may enter Switzerland first and apply directly at the cantonal migration office within 14 days of arrival. Bring your admission letter, financing proof, passport, and accommodation contract.
EU/EFTA students
No visa is required. Register within 14 days of arrival at the cantonal migration office and apply for a residence permit. The permit is typically processed within 2–4 weeks and is valid for up to 5 years or the duration of studies.
Working while studying
- Non-EU students: up to 15 hours per week during semesters, full-time during official breaks, after the first 6 months of residence.
- EU/EFTA students: no such restrictions.
Cost of living in Zurich
Zurich consistently ranks among the most expensive cities in the world. ETH recommends budgeting CHF 20,000–26,000 per year for student living and study costs. A realistic monthly breakdown:
Category | Typical monthly cost (CHF) |
|---|---|
Rent (shared room or student housing) | 480–1,800 |
Health insurance (mandatory KVG) | 80–250 |
Food and household | 400–600 |
Transport (ZVV monthly pass) | 60–90 |
Phone, internet, misc. | 50–100 |
Notes on individual line items:
- Housing: ETH-affiliated WOKO (Studentische Wohngenossenschaft) rooms start at CHF 480 per month. Private rooms in Zurich generally run CHF 800–1,800 per month. Apply for student housing as soon as you are admitted; demand far outstrips supply.
- Health insurance: Basic Swiss health insurance is mandatory under the KVG. Premiums will rise by an average of 4.4% in 2026. Students under 26 can request reduced premiums and, in some cases, an exemption if they hold equivalent EU coverage.
- Food: Cooking at home is dramatically cheaper than eating out. A restaurant meal easily costs CHF 25–35.
Scholarships and financial aid
A handful of named programs cover a meaningful share of costs:
ETH Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP)
ESOP is the flagship ETH scholarship for incoming Master's students. It provides:
- CHF 12,000 per semester for living and study expenses.
- A full tuition fee waiver for the regular duration of the Master's program (3 or 4 semesters).
Around 60 ESOP scholarships will be awarded for the 2026/27 (and again for the 2027/28) academic year. Eligibility requires being in the top 10% (grade A equivalent) of your Bachelor's program. Decisions are communicated by the end of March.
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships (ESKAS)
ESKAS targets PhD researchers, postdoctoral researchers, and art scholars. For the 2027–2028 cycle:
- PhD researchers and art scholars: CHF 2,450 per month (raised from CHF 1,920).
- Postdoctoral researchers: CHF 3,500 per month.
- Applications open 20 August 2026.
- Master's must be completed by 31 July 2027 (30 June 2027 for ETH Zurich).
- Applicants must be born after 31 December 1991 (for the 2027–2028 cycle).
ESKAS applications for the 2026–2027 cycle moved fully online via the ESKAS portal at go.eskas.ch. The previous embassy-based submission process has been discontinued.
UZH and faculty-specific funding
UZH offers a smaller number of merit and need-based grants administered by individual faculties, plus support for doctoral candidates through graduate schools. Check the faculty page of your program directly.
Common pitfalls
- Underestimating the visa timeline. UZH and ETH both recommend having admission three months before your intended entry date. Non-EU students who delay risk arriving after the semester starts.
- Banking on a part-time job to cover rent. Non-EU students cannot work in their first 6 months of residence, and even after that 15 hours per week at Swiss wages does not cover Zurich rent plus health insurance. Treat the CHF 21,000 financing requirement as a real floor, not a paperwork formality.
- Forgetting health insurance enrollment. You must register for KVG-compliant insurance within 3 months of arrival, and coverage backdates to your arrival date. Skipping this leads to retroactive premiums.
- Missing the WOKO and student housing deadlines. Private rentals in Zurich are competitive even for locals; students arriving with no housing often end up in expensive short-term lets.
- Assuming UZH and ETH share admissions. They are separate institutions. You apply, pay fees, and receive decisions independently.
- Treating German as optional. ETH Master's programs are largely in English, but daily administration, GP appointments, and housing contracts often run in German (specifically Swiss German is spoken, while Standard German is written). A working level helps significantly.
FAQs
Can I transfer between ETH Zurich and UZH mid-degree?
Not directly. You would need to apply to the other institution as a new student. However, you can take courses at both through the joint Zurich academic agreements during your enrollment.
Are ETH Master's programs taught in English?
Most ETH Master's programs are taught in English. Bachelor's programs are predominantly in German for the first year and shift toward more English at advanced levels.
Do I need a German language certificate for UZH?
It depends on the program. German-taught programs typically require a C1 certificate (Goethe, telc, TestDaF, or equivalent). English-taught programs require C1 English (IELTS, TOEFL, or recognized equivalent).
What is the difference between the National Visa D and a residence permit?
The National Visa D is the entry visa stamped in your passport at a Swiss embassy abroad. Once you arrive, you register with the cantonal migration office and receive a residence permit (B permit for education), which is your actual legal stay document.
Can my partner or family join me?
Family reunification is possible but the financing thresholds increase considerably. Check the Canton of Zurich migration office for the current requirements.
Is there an application fee for UZH?
UZH charges a CHF 50 processing fee for withdrawal of enrollment. Application fees vary by program; check the UZH fees page for the current schedule.
If you are weighing other European options or planning the broader move, these guides may help: Studying in Vienna: Swiss alternatives, the France Student Visa step-by-step guide, and Getting a Freelancer Visa in Germany.
Daily life in Zurich runs in Swiss German and Standard German, even when your degree is taught in English. If you want to settle in faster, getting comfortable with German through real Swiss content (news, podcasts, shows) is the most useful thing you can do before and during your studies, and Migaku is built for exactly that.