Федеральная политехническая школа Лозанны (EPFL), BA, Computer science

All holders of a Swiss high-school maturité certificate recognized by the Confederation will be admitted at EPFL in 1st year in their Bachelor’s program of choice, under no other condition. All holders of a bachelor’s degree from a Swiss HES will be admitted at EPFL in 1st year in their Bachelor’s program of choice, under no other condition. Holders of a diploma delivered by a Swiss HES before the introduction of Bachelor’s degrees will be admitted as well. Holders of a Swiss professional maturité or a Swiss specialized maturité will not be admitted in 1st year directly. They are kindly asked to apply to the CMS preparatory course. As of the 1st of December, holders of a high-school certificate with a scientific orientation delivered by a EU-member country or an EFTA-member country (baccalauréat, Abitur, matura, A-levels, etc.) will be admitted at EPFL in 1st year in their Bachelor’s program of choice, if their overall average grade equals or tops 80% of the maximum grade. If, in the country of graduation, an additional exam is necessary to be admitted at universities, candidates must prove that they also have been admitted in the wished field of study in their home country. EPFL considers that a B2 level in French is required in order to follow Bachelor’s programs taught at EPFL. A C1 level is recommended. International candidates from non-French-speaking countries must have a possibility to complete their application with a certificate proving their language-level. For countries that do not state an average grade on the high-school certificates or do not deliver scientific high-school certificates, please refer to the detailed admission criteria by country. Holders of an International Baccalaureate will be admitted at EPFL in 1st year in their Bachelor’s program of choice if the following criteria are fulfilled: - 38 points out of 42 (without bonus points); - Higher Level (HL) in mathematics, either physics or chemistry and one modern language (a language at A1 or A2 SL also counts as HL); - 3 additional Standard Level (SL) branches from the following fields: natural sciences, geography, history, economics, a modern language, applied mathematics. - EPFL considers that a B2 level in French is required in order to follow Bachelor’s programs taught at EPFL. A C1 level is recommended. International candidates from non-French-speaking countries must have a possibility to complete their application with a certificate proving their language-level. Candidates who do not fulfill these criteria have the possibility to apply to the Special Mathematics Course (CMS).

The program in computer science lasts 5 years. At the beginning of the curriculum, an important part is given to the acquisition of general knowledge in mathematics and in physics, which gives a permanent scientific basis for engineering technologies. At the same time, it includes courses teaching the basis of computer techniques such as electronics, computer architecture, networks as well as programming and mathematics foundations (algorithms). The second part of the program offers a large freedom in terms of course choices. The very few mandatory courses contain key professional knowledge indispensable to any computer engineer. The rest of the program can be done in parallel with mandatory courses. Students can choose optional courses, semester projects, and even specializations.