EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) is one of the world’s leading universities for engineering, science and technology. Located in Lausanne, in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, it is one of Switzerland’s two federal institutes of technology, alongside its sister institution, ETH Zurich.

EPFL at a glance

Location	Lausanne (Switzerland)
Founded	1969 (as a federal institute; roots dating back to 1853)
Type	Federal institute of technology (public)
Strengths	Engineering, science, computer science, technology (STEM)
Ranking	around 22nd in the world (QS 2027)

Admissions

EPFL is highly international (more than 125 nationalities, with around 48% of students from abroad) and selective, with an admission rate of around 23%. International students are generally expected to have an average of around 80% or higher in their secondary school leaving qualification.

Tuition fees

As a public institution, EPFL charges low tuition fees: historically around CHF 730 per semester, rising to around CHF 2,190 per semester for some non-resident students from autumn 2025.

How to get into EPFL

Your Dream School helps you apply to Switzerland’s top institutions (see Studying in Switzerland). Prepare your application and take stock of your options with a guidance assessment.

Sources: information published by EPFL and international rankings (QS, Financial Times, THE). Figures change every year, so check the latest data on the official website.