Doctorate

The École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) 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

Women	Men
621	1521

Country of origin

Switzerland	Europe	World
20%	50%	30%

Degrees

Delivered in 2018

407

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

PhD admission criteria & application

All the information required for an admission to a PhD program at EPFL

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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