Interruption of studies between the Bachelor’s and Master’s programs

This page is only for students who have obtained their Bachelor’s degree from EPFL and haven’t yet started the Master’s cycle. If you have already started the Master’s cycle, even if you were conditionally accepted into the Master’s cycle (without having completed the Bachelor’s program), please consult the page Interruption of studies during the Master’s program.

General rules

Should you choose not to register for the Master’s cycle after the completion of the Bachelor’s program, you may interrupt your studies at EPFL for a duration of a year or more, with no specific motive. Since you are no longer a Bachelor’s student and not yet a Master’s student then, you may not remain matriculated at EPFL. For more information, plese consult the page End of studies and reregistration.

Special cases

A student may exceptionally remain matriculated at EPFL between the completion of the Bachelor’s program and the registration for the Master’s cycle, for the sole motives detailed hereafter.

A student who obtains his Bachelor’s title after the winter exam session may either begin the Master’s program that follows his Bachelor’s degree in the spring semester, or ask to be put “on leave” for one semester and start a Master’s program in the following autumn semester (either the Master’s program that follows his Bachelor’s degree, or another Master’s program for which he has applied and into which he has been accepted in the meantime). After this one semester, you will automatically be registered for the Master’s cycle, unless you put a temporary or final end to your studies at EPFL.

An Architecture student who has not undertaken his architect’s internships during the Bachelor’s cycle is automatically “on internship” during the two semesters that follow the completion of his Bachelor’s degree, unless he puts a temporary or final end to his studies at EPFL. The Program may exceptionally grant a third semester of internship. After these two or three semesters, you will automatically be registered for the Master’s cycle, unless you put a temporary or final end to your studies at EPFL.

A student accepted into a Master’s program that includes an engineer’s internship credited with the Master’s project (STAP) or an engineer’s internship credited separately (SCS) of 8 ECTS credits may ask to be “on internship” during the semester that follows the completion of the Bachelor’s program to undertake this internship, provided that the planned internship takes place during that semester and has been approved by the Program. If this internship takes place during the autumn semester, you may either begin the Master’s program in the spring semester, or ask to be put “on leave” for an additional semester and thus begin the Master’s program in the following autumn semester. After this/these one or two semester(s), you will automatically be registered for the Master’s cycle, unless you put a temporary or final end to your studies at EPFL.

Should you be unable to study for one semester or more after the successful completion of the Bachelor’s program, you may remain matriculated at EPFL during that period, without registering for the Master’s cycle. The following constitute valid motives to remain matriculated between the two programs:

  • inability to work full time (attested with a medical certificate),
  • inability to work over 50% (attested with a medical certificate),
  • the birth of your child (attested with a copy of the birth certificate),
  • a period of military duty (attested with a copy of the duty summon),
  • a period of civil duty (attested with a copy of the duty summon), or
  • the death of a close parent (attested with a copy of the death certificate),

provided that the inability to study is such that the acquisition of knowledge and/or your participation in the assignments of the majority of the classes of the given semester(s) are rendered impossible. During that/those semester(s), you are “on leave”, and this status appears on your certificate of matriculation for the given semester(s).

Additional information

Administratively, a student who remains matriculated at EPFL between the completion of the Bachelor’s program and the registration for the Master’s cycle is registered during that period as a Bachelor’s student. Subsequently, the student is subject to the study regulations in force at the time of his registration for the Master’s cycle.

It is not possible to acquire ECTS credits between the completion of the Bachelor’s program and the registration for the Master’s cycle, with the exception of the credits for the engineer’s internship credited separately (SCS), which are however considered acquired upon registration for the Master’s cycle only.

A student “on leave” or “on internship” from the beginning of a semester is exempted from course fees and pays only the semester taxes for that semester. Course fees are not reimbursed if the status is modified during a semester.

The interruption of studies and its motive may be indicated:

  • through the academic reregistration form on IS-Academia (when it is open in the winter and summer)
  • at the Registrar’s Office, Monday–Friday, 10–12 AM
  • via email at [email protected]

The required attestations may be delivered in person, or sent by postal mail, or scanned and send by email.