Exchange Semester ETH Zürich

The semester at ETH Zürich is a mandatory component of the joint Master’s program in Cyber Security.

Students enrolled at EPFL must start the Master’s program in Lausanne. During the Master’s cycle, they are required to spend one semester—of their choice—at ETH Zürich.

During their exchange semester at ETH Zürich, students must complete between 20 and 35 ECTS of coursework.

• The Cyber Security course list is published here
• The ETH Zürich course catalog is published here

Exchange semester registration

In April, an email will be sent to students eligible for the Autumn exchange semester at ETH Zürich to collect registration details. For the Spring exchange semester, this email will be sent in October.

After registration, and once the ETH Zürich course catalog is published, students must complete a Cyber Security Learning Agreement. This agreement lists the selected courses and must be submitted before the semester begins. Modifications can be made during the first two weeks of the semester; however, any changes require approval and must be communicated immediately to Jasmine Locatelli. Without approval, the courses may not be recognized.

Academic regulations at ETH Zürich

During the exchange semester, ETH Zürich’s academic regulations and deadlines apply.

Notably, students must register separately for exams at ETH Zürich during the third and fourth weeks of the semester.

The duration of the semester cannot be extended. If a student fails to obtain the minimum required 20 ECTS during the exchange semester, they must make up the missing credits remotely in a subsequent semester, while remaining enrolled at EPFL with a ‘Present’ status in IS-Academia.

Stipend

To cover additional expenses, all Cyber Security Master’s students receive a stipend of CHF 2500.- before the start of their exchange semester in Zürich. Further information will be sent by email after registration for the exchange.

Accommodation

Spring semester: Pre-booked housing in Zürich is available. After registration, students will receive an offer for a furnished room from the ETH Zürich International Students Office. Rent must be paid by the student.

Autumn semester: No pre-booked housing is available. Students are advised to search independently using the following resources:

• WOKO – Student Housing Cooperative
• ETHZ Student Housing Portal

Residence Permit

For a temporary relocation, the Vaud Population Office recommends maintaining your main address in the canton of Vaud. Details can be found here.

In the canton of Zürich, students must register their secondary residence (Wochenaufenthalter) at the relevant Kreisbüro within 14 days of arrival.