General rules
Both cycles of the Master’s program must be completed within a fixed maximum duration:
- Master’s cycle of a 120-ECTS-credit Masterâs program: six consecutive semesters
- Master’s cycle of a 90-ECTS-credit Masterâs program: four consecutive semesters
- Master’s project: two consecutive semesters (three if the Master’s project, of a duration of twenty-five weeks, serves to validate the engineerâs internship)
The deadline to complete the Masterâs project is calculated from the successful completion of the Masterâs cycle or from the conditional admission to the Master’s program should that be the case.
A leave of absence of one semester with no specified reason can be requested by the student after the successful completion of the Masterâs cycle, provided that the maximum duration of the Masterâs cycle has not been reached. Upon request as well, this leave of absence with no specified reason can be prolonged by one semester (maximum), under the same condition. In such cases, the deadline to successfully complete the Mastersâ project is calculated from the end of the leave of absence. It is not possible de to obtain a leave of absence with no specified reason during the Masterâs project nor, if applicable, between the first and second attempts at the Masterâs project.
The interruption of studies during the Masterâs cycle is not authorised.
Special cases
Should you be unable to study for one semester or more, the maximum duration of the ongoing cycle may be extended for the same amount of time. The following constitute valid motives of inability:
- 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 remain matriculated at EPFL. You are âon leaveâ, and this status appears on your certificate of matriculation for the given semester(s).
If you decide not to study for one semester or more for a personal motive (learning a language abroad, working, etc.), you may ask to be put âon leave.â In such a case, however, the maximum duration of the ongoing cycle is not extended. This is not possible during the Master’s project.
A student enrolled in a Masterâs program that includes an engineerâs internship credited with the Masterâs project (STAP) or an engineerâs internship credited separately (SCS) and who has not undertaken this internship before his registration for the Masterâs cycle may ask to be âon internshipâ during one semester, provided that the planned internship takes place during that semester and has been approved by the Program. The maximum duration of the Masterâs cycle is then extended for one semester, as well as the deadline to complete the full Masterâs program, except in the case of an engineerâs internship credited separately (SCS) of 30 ECTS credits.
Additional information
It is not possible to acquire ECTS credits during a semester âon leaveâ during the Master program, with the exception of the credits for the engineerâs internship credited separately (SCS).
A student âon leaveâ or âon internshipâ from the beginning of a semester is exempted from course fees and pays only the semester taxes for that semester. This exemption does not apply for students undertaking an engineerâs internship credited separately (SCS) of 30 ECTS credits (since they can acquire, during that semester, as many credits as students studying at EPFL). 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 Registrarâs Office, MondayâFriday, 10â12 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.
Semesters in a mobility program are not leaves: they count toward the maximum duration of studies and the couses fees are due.