The SHS program begins in the second year of the Bachelor’s degree and lasts for four semesters. It continues during the first two semesters of the Master’s degree. It is compulsory and carries the same weight for all sections. The curriculum offers a mix of lectures and more active teaching methods, such as seminars, workshops, and research projects.
Registration for SHS courses
Registration for courses is done via IS-Academia, as for all semester courses, according to the instructions sent by email. BA3 SHS courses will be open towards the end of July, with the exact date to be specified by the Academic Services Department (SAC). Other SHS courses are open at the same time as other EPFL courses (during the month of May).
As a general rule, any choice of elective courses can be changed at the beginning of the semester during a period set by the Academic Services Department.
Class schedules
- Bachelor’s degree, preparatory course: Tuesday 5:15 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- BA semester 3: Tuesday 3:15 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- BA semester 4: Tuesday 3:15 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- BA semester 5: Tuesday 1:15 p.m. to 3 p.m.
- BA semester 6: Tuesday 1:15 p.m. to 3 p.m.
- Master’s semester 1: Wednesday 4:15 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Master’s semester 2: Wednesday 4:15 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Number of students per class
In the second and third years of the Bachelor’s program, the number of students admitted per course is limited to 80.
In the first year of the Master’s program, enrollment is limited to 60 students per subject area. When the subject area involves several teachers in an interdisciplinary teaching program, a maximum of 30 students per teacher are admitted (due to the requirements of interdisciplinary teaching).
Special cases ECAL and HEAD: for logistical reasons, courses taught by ECAL (Industrial Design and Graphic Design) and HEAD (Artistic Practices) do not admit more than 40 students.
As the “Artistic Practices” courses offered by HEAD are held partly in Geneva, duly registered students may obtain partial reimbursement for their travel expenses from the SHS Program Secretariat upon presentation of their Camipro card.
Further details can be obtained from the professors responsible for these courses.
Exams and assessments
In the second and third years of the Bachelor’s program, each semester course is worth 2 ECTS credits. These two years form an independent block of 8 credits. In general, credits are obtained after a written or oral exam, or through the evaluation of a dossier or report submitted in advance to the teaching staff. The teaching staff will announce the assessment methods at the beginning of the course and mention them in the course descriptions.
In the first year of the Master’s program, the SHS Program consists of an annual research project (fall and spring semesters), with each semester worth 3 ECTS credits. The project is assessed on the basis of a written document and an oral defense. In most cases, the work is carried out in groups of 3-4 students. Teachers define and communicate the assessment methods to students at the beginning of the year.
Languages of instruction for SHS courses
SHS Program courses are generally taught in French. Some courses are also offered in English. However, class work and exchanges in the classroom can take place in French and English. The course descriptions are also available in French and English. If you have any questions or specific requests, the teaching team and coordinator are available to assist you.