Admission Criteria and Application

Qualifying disciplines
  • This Master’s program is consecutive to a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or Communication Systems obtained at EPFL.
  • Bachelor’s degrees obtained in the same fields but from another institution are eligible on the basis of an application dossier and must be accompanied by excellent academic records.
  • EPFL Bachelor’s degrees in another related field of science and engineering are also subject to a dossier-based analysis and are eligible if they are accompanied by excellent academic records.
  • A HES Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or Communication Systems (from a Swiss University of Applied Sciences) with a grade point average of at least 5.0. In this case, candidates must acquire 60 credits through the HES Gateway in Computer Science and Communication Systems before formal admission to the Master’s program.

EPFL Bachelor’s students who wish to pursue a Master’s degree in a field different from their Bachelor’s must complete the EPFL online application process (deadlines: December 15, March 31). Admission is competitive. The Admission Committee will evaluate the candidate’s academic performance in their Bachelor’s program, the relevance of their studies to the desired Master’s field, their motivation, and the overall quality of their application.

EPFL Bachelor students intending to switch fields for their Master’s degree are strongly encouraged to take the following courses during their Bachelor’s studies. These courses can be taken either as part of their Bachelor’s options or as “Off Plan Subjects”, with approval from their Section. For EPFL students on exchange during their third year of Bachelor’s studies, equivalent courses should be identified, and an equivalency analysis must be requested if they are accepted into the Master’s program, which will be reviewed by IC faculty.

Recommended Cyber Security courses:

  • Software Construction, 8 cr, autumn semester
  • Computer Security and Privacy, 6 cr, autumn semester
  • Algebra, 4 cr, autumn semester (except for MA, PH, & CH)
  • Computer Systems, 8 cr, spring semester

If these courses have been completed during the Bachelor’s program, students will not need to retake them if admitted to the Master’s in Cyber Security. However, if these courses have not been completed, admission to the Master’s in Cyber Security will be conditional on acquiring these credits during the first year. Students must therefore prioritize these courses upon enrollment. These additional credits are non-negotiable, and will not count toward the Master’s degree.

Additional information

Admission principles

Candidates must have a strong foundation in mathematical subjects such as differential and integral calculus, discrete mathematics, linear algebra, and probability. A solid understanding of algorithms, data structures, and databases is also essential. Candidates should be proficient in programming languages (such as Python, Java, or C++) and have experience in software development. Knowledge of operating systems, computer architecture, and the theory of computation is essential for developing and managing software systems across various levels.

For further details, candidates can refer to the courses outlined in the propaedeutic program, as well as the second and third years of the Bachelor’s program at EPFL. An excellent academic record in both the polytechnic disciplines and in blocks A, B, and C is essential to demonstrate readiness for advanced studies in cyber security.

In addition, candidates are expected to demonstrate strong intellectual ability and analytical skills.

Please note that meeting these criteria is not a guarantee of admission. The Admission Committee conducts a holistic review of all aspects of the application, including the candidate’s academic record, the ranking of their university, their background in the chosen field, their statement of purpose, and their letters of recommendation.

GPA requirement

While no minimum GPA is specified, candidates are expected to have excellent grades at the Bachelor’s level.

Language requirements

The Master’s program is taught entirely in English. As such, candidates must have strong English language skills. English language certificates (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS) are welcome but not required.

Financial support

Financial support is primarily available through the Research Scholars MSc program, which provides funding from the start of studies and offers opportunities to work on research projects in one of the school’s laboratories. Additionally, EPFL awards a limited number of Master Excellence Fellowships, which provide financial support. Students can also arrange research assistantships paid by the hour in direct communication with the professor of the hosting laboratory; these are part-time during the semester and up to full time during the holidays. Swiss and EU students can start working from the beginning of their studies, while non-EU students may start after an initial six-month period.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. If you start your Master’s in Cyber Security at ETH ZĂŒrich, you must complete your studies in ZĂŒrich, with one semester being carried out at EPFL (the duration of this exchange semester cannot be extended).

When applying for the Master’s in Cyber Security, your application is tied to the institution where you intend to complete the majority of your studies (excluding the mandatory exchange semester):

  • If you apply to EPFL and are admitted, you will be enrolled at EPFL and required to complete an exchange semester at ETH ZĂŒrich. The remainder of the program must be completed at EPFL.
  • If you apply to ETH ZĂŒrich and are admitted, you will be enrolled at ETH ZĂŒrich and required to complete an exchange semester at EPFL. The rest of your studies must be completed at ETH ZĂŒrich.

You may choose to apply to EPFL, ETH ZĂŒrich, or both institutions. The admissions processes at both schools are coordinated.

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About the program

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Financing of your studies