Tuition fees at ETH Zurich and EPFL will only be increased by CHF 300 p.a. rather than by CHF 500 as initially planned. This was decided by the ETH Board after a hearing in the ETH Domain, an office consultation procedure, internal deliberations concerning cushioning measures and discussions with political parties. The increase will be made step by step over two years from autumn 2019. The tuition fees at both Federal Institutes of Technology will cost CHF 1,460 p.a. from 2020 and will continue to be among the lowest in Switzerland.
At its meeting of 5 July 2018, the ETH Board decided to increase tuition fees by CHF 300 per year. Thus it reduced the annual rise of CHF 500 which had originally been planned. The fees are scheduled to be increased step by step over two years from autumn 2019, in individual increments of CHF 150. This means that studies at one of the two Federal Institutes of Technology will cost CHF 1,460 p.a. from autumn semester 2020. The decision was preceded by a hearing in the ETH Domain, an exchange with students of both Federal Institutes of Technology, an office consultation procedure and discussions with representatives of politics. In addition, the ETH Board conducted internal deliberations concerning cushioning measures.
The ETH Board is convinced that the moderate and socially compatible adjustment of tuition fees for studies at ETH Zurich and EPFL in Lausanne is appropriate. Students are provided with a high-quality education at low cost and have the best career opportunities. According to internal calculations, there are adequate funding options for students who require financial support.
Studies remain affordable at both Federal Institutes of Technology
With annual tuition fees of CHF 1,460 from autumn semester 2020, studies at the two Federal Institutes of Technology continue to be among the most favourably priced degree courses in Switzerland. The fees of the two Federal Institutes of Technology are thus lower than those of the Università della Svizzera Italiana (CHF 4,000 p.a.), the University of St. Gallen (CHF 2,852) and the Universities of Basel (CHF 1,700), Fribourg (CHF 1,670), Lucerne (CHF 1,620), Berne (CHF 1,568) and Zurich (CHF 1,548). Also, most degree courses at the universities of applied science are significantly more expensive. The last increase in tuition fees in 2004 was a mere adjustment in line with inflation.
