Doctorate

EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, offers its doctoral candidates an extraordinary setting: customized PhD programs; cutting-edge laboratories directed by internationally renowned professors; a modern, fast-developing campus; satellite sites in French-speaking cantons; and close ties to industry.

EPFL is one of the world’s most dynamic and reputed institutes of science and technology. In the heart of Europe, it offers a combination of excitement, excellence, inspiring education, and outstanding facilities for research. Its Doctoral School is organized into 21 doctoral programs, each covering a well-established discipline or one of today’s interdisciplinary research areas. They form vibrant scientific communities that energize the exchange of scientific ideas and progress.

Prof. Pierre Vandergheynst, Vice President for Education

Doctoral candidates

Academic year 2019-2020

2199

Country of origin

Switzerland	Europe	World
20%	50%	30%

Degrees

Delivered in 2019

424

Career

	Academia		Industry
	35%		65%

Doctoral studies at EPFL

Doctoral studies structure

An EPFL PhD is typically obtained after four years of study devoted to an original and independent scientific research project.

Doctoral programs

EPFL’s Doctoral School is organized into 21 doctoral programs.

Admission criteria and application

Information about an admission to a PhD program at EPFL.

More than thirty new distinguished PhDs

Published:20.01.21 — At the end of last year, 30 new EPFL PhDs from 18 different doctoral programs received a "Doctoral Program Thesis Distinction".

Robert Gnehm Grant for Parent Postdocs

Published:14.01.21 — A new grant to support parents postdocs in their first year of parenthood has been allocated, with the support of the Robert Gnehm Fund.

New transferable skills course open to all doctoral students

Published:22.12.20 — Preventing and facing conflicts – a Toolbox

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Intensive modules Winter 2020: Registration is now open.

Published:15.11.19 — The Language Centre offers intensive and specific modules during the Winter intersemestrial period 2020. Register online at langues.epfl.ch before December 13th, 2019. Direct access to registration

Great success for the 2nd edition of the Engineering PhD Summit

Published:30.10.19 — The PhD Summit is a workshop for final year PhD students interested in a career in academia. Each year, we invite to campus, on a competitive basis, a group of exceptional graduating PhD students from institutions worldwide. In this 2ndedition, the Summit focused on the theme of «Intelligent systems».

How has digitalization impacted creativity, memory, privacy & public engagement? © iStock

In the Digital Age: EPFL and RTS to host radio series for the public

Published:21.10.19 — A series of four weekly radio shows will be recorded by Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS) at EPFL’s ArtLab in November. EPFL professors and external experts will debate key issues at the intersection of digitization and society, and members of the public are invited to attend.

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Why choose EPFL?

Thesis distinction

Each year, a distinction is granted to a selection of very high quality theses, in order to highlight the doctoral candidates’ research work and their scientific merit.

EPFLinnovators

The EPFLinnovators programme aims to attract excellent PhD candidates with an interest in entrepreneurship to EPFL.

Meet EPFL representatives

EPFL regularly takes part in educational fairs and information sessions throughout the world.

15th anniversary of the Doctoral School, 4 July 2019

The EPFL President, the Vice-Presidents for Research and Education, as well as the representatives of the Doctoral School warmly thank you for your participation in this 15th anniversary. We were happy to be able to meet you during this day of exchanges and sharing, and hope that the event lived up to your expectations. The speakers’ presentations are available on the event’s web page.

Contact

In case of questions, please contact your doctoral program of interest.

You may also contact the Doctoral Students’ Office.