Hello,

I am EU citizen proficient in English and French. I have finished in March this year my Master's studies at EPFL in Computer Science. I have also finished my Bachelors in Computer Science at EPFL.

Since that time, I have been unable to find any employment in my field. I have sent more than 150 applications to relevant job postings.

I had 9 first interviews, 4 second interviews, 2 third interviews, and 1 fourth interview. I have not received any job offer.

This is all despite the fact of having experience with relevant programming languages and technologies, having 2 publications (I was in the Research Scholar program), and 2 relevant internships.

I have tried searching for job abroad in the EU, but I found even less interest in my skills than in Switzerland.

I'm starting to wonder whether I'm doing something wrong, or whether there's something about my profile that isn't working. Has anyone else gone through a similar experience?

After six demanding years of study, it's discouraging to feel that my skills aren't attracting interest, and the situation has been weighing heavily on me.

Hi all,

A somewhat atypical question for those of you who attended/are attending a Master in whatever quantitative area (preferrably math). A concise background on me that'll hopefully help motivate my question:

A little more than two years ago I was admitted to ETH Msc Math and EPFL MFE for the 2024/2025 AY. Although very keen on finance I was still interested in pure math and I went for ETH. The summer before studies I developed a serious health condition and in the second semester I dropped out because I couldn't handle such demanding studies alongside it anymore. I have just recently gotten my condition under decent control and started reconsidering my old ambitions - which ultimately would be to live in Switzerland, working in the finance industry.

I'd like to apply again for the same two programs for a start in the next AY, so assuming the best possible scenario where I'd have to choose between the two again:

The one thing that always felt scary during my time at ETH was the high level of mathematical creativity that felt required by most of the exercises. I hold a bachelor's degree in pure math from a more than decent italian uni, and although I had nearly perfect grades there, I remember feeling hopeless in front of most exercises at ETH. That is, I could understand theory just fine, but the exercises felt from another planet wrt what I was used to. A random exercise sheet (publicly accessible): https://metaphor.ethz.ch/x/2025/fs/401-3642-00L/ex/BMSC_Sheet_5_Solutions.pdf

While I recognise I was far from being at my best because of my health conditions, I am looking for some opinions and data to take an informed decision about the future of my education.

I often heard that ETH's approach is considered to be much more heavily theoretical, so I'd like to ask you: does the level of the exercises in the link (or any type of exercises from the direct experience some of you may have had at ETH) resemble that of your studies at EPFL? If so, do you think it's worth spending this year trying to bridge the gap or should I just give up on this idea?

Sincerely thank you if you have the time to answer.

Hello everyone,

This year I will (very probably) be graduated with a bachelor of honors degree in Data Science.
For my masters degree I am curious to know what are the downsides and the upsides of the MSc in Financial Engineering at EPFL ?
I heard that EPFL is quite prestigious but it is not really a business school, and also that top banks have target school and not target schools. Do you think that this programm is better than the one (in finance) at HEC Lausanne ?
I am hesitating with the MSc in Finance at Frankfurt school of finance and business , and MSc in Financial Mathematics at UCD in Dublin. As I think that Frankfurt or Dublin might be better for end of the studies internship opportunities, what are your thoughts ?
By the way I have EU citizenship, I want to become a quant developer or a quant researcher, and I am not really interested in trading.
Thanks everyone who might have an idea?

Hello, I was just walking in "Forêt de Dorigny" and there was different signs there about the animals that lives there. On one of them it said beaver. Can anybody confirm this? I personally havent found a lot of evidence and find it unlikely that there are beavers in such a small stream.

Thank you

What the academics and Non academics should ideally looks like if some one wants to get into msc in financial engineering or msc in computational & data science or msc in computer science or msc in cybersecurity in epfl

Did the conditions for going on exchange in 3rd year change? I saw here https://www.epfl.ch/education/international/fr/partir-etudier-a-l-etranger/echange-bachelor/conditions-echange/

The 5 requirement for non-EU destinations is not here anymore. On the website, I only see 5 needed for X and ENS.

Hi everyone, I'm an IIT Delhi Mathematics and Computing graduate applying to EPFL's MSc in Computer Science.

I'd appreciate an assessment of my admission chances. Input from anyone willing to take a look is welcome. If you're an Indian student or IIT alumnus who got into EPFL, your perspective on Indian grading and similar applications would be especially helpful. I can also share my SOP in DM if someone is wiling to provide feedback on that. Thanks!

A quick overview:

• IIT Delhi, B.Tech in Mathematics and Computing, graduated in 2024.
• CGPA: 8.24/10; final-year GPA: 9.42/10.
• Undergraduate thesis on graph-based and fractional-diffusion methods for image denoising.
• Co-authored a paper on predicting car drag coefficients from 3D point clouds, which received a Best Student Paper award at AI-2025 by British Computer Society.
• Software engineer at a computer vision company since July 2024; previously a software development intern at Amazon.

Hello everyone,

I am an undergraduate student considering applying to EPFL MSc in CSE and I have some questions about both the admission and the programme where I would really appreciate any information or opinions.

1. I understand that GPA, or relative academic performance is the criteria which matters the most, and I also read that generally being within top 10% of the cohort is usually what is considered as competitive (please feel free to correct me). Does this apply to all universities equally, or is it also corrected based on different universities? I am particularly concerned about my odds because I come from a highly ranked university (>10 in QS, >20 in THE), and hence my GPA is nowhere near being top 10%. I approximate my GPA to be around top 30% to 35% of the cohort, but limiting the scope to students who are interested in research, I think my GPA is subpar.

2. I looked at the programme brochure for EPFL CSE and I love the wide range of electives that are offered. Looking at it, I couldn't help but wonder how the cohort looks like in terms of their undergraduate backgrounds, whether it is more engineering-leaning, or more maths/CS-leaning, etc. Does anybody know, or able to observe, whether EPFL has a preference in the academic backgrounds of applicants? FYI, I am pursuing a degree in Data Science, but I have filled in my electives with more CS/math-related course to pursue my personal interest in areas like stochastics, numerical methods and HPC.

Any input would be greatly appreciated! :P

Okay, I've known about this for 3 years, but it's time for a rant : no official Bachelor graduation ceremony, it's the students who have to organize it, book the room, prepare the buffet and clean up afterwards??? All that just to end up in an old CM/CE auditoire on a week night because the section doyen.ne didn't want to give up his Friday/Saturday evening? So it's impossible for parents who don't live nearby to take time off to attend
It's truly a scandal and a disgrace for EPFL. After 3 or 4 years, sometimes more, of nights grinding away and stressing like crazy, it spits in our faces like this. Once again, EPFL shows that it is far more interested in the international rankings than in its students, and this deserves to be brought more into the spotlight

What are realistic odds for getting it

Hello, I'm applying for E3 summer program for the upcoming year and I have a couple of questions.

In the program webpage, it's mentioned that they're looking for students with top 10% gpa. I have a first class but I'm ranked at top 10.xx%. Did anyone with similar or lower grade get accepetd?

Do you contact your potential superviors before the result comes out in general?

The webpage mentions that recommendation letters are not compulsory but they would consider it if one submits them. Do you guys plan to get one? Is it going to make big difference?

Thank you so much for reading and your help ;)

Hey everyone, Im in my final year of my BSc in pharmaceutical engineering. Im looking at applying for a PhD program in EPFL. Im a little confused by the process so would love if anyone has any advice on applying as a Bsc student.

Also a bit of a general PhD question, I have an area of particular interest (Sjogren's disease) which ive researched during my undergrad - The EDMS school seems interesting for this but it doesnt seem to be part of any research aims for the labs within EDMS - If youre succesful in applying can you choose what to do your research on or does it have to align with the labs objectives exactly?

Thanks for any help everyone

Applying to MSc in Mechanical engineering. It states that 3 letters of recommendation from professors are required.

This is unusual compared to the other universities I will be applying to this fall - many just request academic letters (which can come from non-professor lecturers). It would be hard for me to get 3 strong letters of recommendation from full professors, as my institution frequently used adjunct lecturers (who have PhDs but not tenure) to teach classes.

Did any of you get into MSc programs without all of your letters being from professors?

Lease Takeover – 35 m² Studio – Silo Bleu Residence, Renens

I am looking for one or two people to take over the lease of my XL studio of approximately 35 m² in the Silo Bleu residence, located just a few minutes’ walk from Renens train station.

The studio is fully furnished, bright, and very spacious.

It includes:

• two single beds with mattresses and storage drawers
• a large desk with chair and drawers
• a private shower room / WC with sink and storage cabinet
• a dining table with four chairs
• a fully equipped kitchen with stovetop, refrigerator, and microwave
• several pieces of furniture, cupboards, and storage spaces

The residence is modern, very well maintained, and offers many included amenities:

• fitness room
• study / coworking space
• rooftop with panoramic views
• common areas
• common room with table football
• covered bicycle storage
• laundry rooms with washing machines and dryers
• high-speed Internet throughout the residence

Very convenient location:

• Renens train station just a few minutes away on foot
• EPFL and UNIL are easily accessible, around 15 minutes by bike and also quickly reachable by metro
• pharmacy directly in the building
• Migros, Denner, OBI, and migrolino nearby
• around an 8-minute walk from the Migros at Renens train station, open every day, including Sundays, until 11:00 PM
• numerous shops and services nearby
• very easy access to Lausanne and public transport

Rent: CHF 1,650 / month

Lease takeover from 15 October 2026, with the possibility of taking over earlier if necessary.

Important: the residence is reserved for students, PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and people enrolled in an educational institution. Proof of enrolment will be required as part of the application.

The lease takeover and approval of the application are handled directly by the property management company. If you are interested, I will put you directly in contact with them so that you can complete the necessary steps.

Address: Avenue du Silo 5, 1020 Renens

Feel free to contact me by private message for more information, photos, or to arrange a viewing.

https://silobleu.ch

Bonsoir
Je suis du canton de Vaud et j'ai une Maturité gymnasiale.
Mon objectif est d'entrer à l'HEPIA en architecture.
Pour éviter de faire l'année de stage à 100%, je vise une entrée en"classe passerelle" de 1 an au CFPC de Genève pour la rentrée 2027.
Je sais qu'il y a un test d'aptitudes obligatoire (logique 3D, géométrie, échelles, etc.). N'ayant jamais fait de stage ni d'architecture avant, j'avoue que ce test me stresse un peu.
Est-ce que certains d'entre vous sont passés par là ?
Comment s'est passé le test pour vous ?
Est-ce que c'est vraiment difficile sans connaissances de base ?
Quels sont vos meilleurs conseils pour bien s'y préparer ?
Merci d'avance

Hello everyone!

I am organizing a really cool event called OpenTech Connect.

OpenTech Connect brings together researchers, professors, students, developers, and industry experts for two days of hands-on learning, demos, lightning talks, and thought leadership around data, AI, and open technology.

The goal is simple: connect academia and industry, and create a space where we can share knowledge with each other. 

We’ll have speakers joining us from CERN, IBM Research, P&G, ITU, LlamaIndex, HES-SO, BFH, Anyon Systems, and many more across industry and academia.

📅 11-12 November 2026
Day 1: Lightning Sessions + Panel
Day 2: Technical Hands-on Sessions
📍 EPFL Innovation Park

The event is primarily for industry professionals. Day 1 is geared more towards business people, and Day 2 is for developers.

However, if you are a student, please register too! I will try to make some space for you guys as well :)

The speaker lineup this year is packed with heavy-hitters from both industry and academia, and having all of them in one place will be an experience out of this world.

So... What are you waiting for?

Check out the agenda and register:
👉 Day 1 - Inspire
https://luma.com/fed525vb

👉 Day 2 - Build
https://luma.com/ur9eqs2t

Can't wait to see you there!

hey - if you just landed and the admin stuff is a mess (commune registration, LAMal / exemption, CAMIPRO, semester deadlines), I put the usual first steps in one place with links only to official EPFL / canton / federal pages:

marcocostapadilla.github.io/vaud-newcomer-admin-kit

quick heads-up on communes: the deadline depends on where your lease is. Renens (and Ecublens / Chavannes) ask you to announce arrival within 8 days; Lausanne student pages are different. Always use your commune’s own page.

unofficial student checklist, not legal advice - double-check the linked pages before you do anything. happy to fix mistakes if you spot any.

im doing the ib rn. and i have physics, maa and cs at hl and i have english, french b and business management at sl.

is there any way at all for me to be able to apply to epfl with this combo? cause ik i dont have the sl combination.

like rn i have high 7s in all my subjects, like 90% above and have maintained that throughout my diploma. and before that i did icse(india’s national board) where i got 98% overall.

Hi everyone,

I built a small GeoGuessr game on the UNIL–EPFL campus. There are two modes:

Classic: no account needed, answer shown right away and Ranked: a different photo, answer revealed at midnight, with a leaderboard for players and faculties (week / month / all-time).

You can play here:  www.campuspin.ch

It's free, no ads. Google login is only used to identify you; the site doesn't store your name or email. (The site is in French, but there's not much to read.)

I did my Btech in Engineering physics , IIT Dhanbad , India. My undergrad work is heavily focused on Numerical simulations , GPU/HPC and data in 2 major domains - Astrophysics and CFD. I can say my projects and exposure (such as interns) are relatively high and I had valuable experiences and LORs. But my biggest concern is not the profile but my GPA is just 8/10 ( in swiss scale 5/6).
EPFL seems to weigh raw GPA pretty heavily, and an 8/10 from a tier 1 Indian university seems pretty low (I guess) .
How much does strong research output offset a GPA that isn't top-tier? Anyone with a similar profile who got in (or didn't) willing to share what mattered most in their case?
I need to know is there any chances to get or is it completely out of reach ?
Thank you for reading!

I am looking for a realistic and critical assessment of my chances of being admitted to EPFL’s Master in Management, Technology and Entrepreneurship (MTE) and ETH Zurich’s Master in Management, Technology and Economics (MTEC).

I am a Chinese citizen, and my academic background is somewhat unusual:

I studied Physics through a joint academic path involving Jilin University in China and Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) in Russia.

I completed a Bachelor of Science in Physics at Tomsk Polytechnic University, with a focus on condensed matter physics. The degree is 240 ECTS, with an average grade of 4.78/5.0 and graduation with distinction.

My Jilin University transcript has an overall grade of 88.20 and a GPA of 3.58.

I am currently a direct PhD student in China.

My current research involves explainable artificial intelligence.

My TOEFL score is 102. My GRE score is 149 Verbal, 167 Quantitative, and 3.0 Analytical Writing.

I have taken courses in calculus, linear algebra, mathematical methods for physics, mechanics, electrodynamics, quantum mechanics, programming, numerical methods, and some economics/finance-related subjects.

One concern I have is how EPFL and ETH evaluate degrees awarded by Russian university and Chinese university for international applicants. I would like to understand whether the Russian degree itself could create additional concerns regarding international credential recognition, degree equivalence, document verification, or admissions risk, especially given the current geopolitical context. I am not asking about political opinions; I am specifically asking how universities actually handle the academic recognition of Russian degrees in admissions.

I originally studied physics because I wanted to understand the regularities behind the world. Physics gave me a way to analyze complex phenomena, identify underlying structures, and gain some sense of control and clarity even when I could not change the situation itself.

However, I no longer want physics to remain the center of my academic and professional life. I now want to move from understanding systems to participating in and changing them. In particular, I am interested in management, technology commercialization, entrepreneurship, organizational decision-making, and possibly finance. I want to use the analytical habits developed through physics to understand organizations and social systems, and then take responsibility for practical decisions rather than remaining only an observer of objective reality.

This is not simply an attempt to escape physics. I am trying to build a new direction in which scientific reasoning becomes a foundation for management and action. My long-term goal is to work at the intersection of technology, organizations, and society, possibly in technology management, consulting, innovation, entrepreneurship, or policy-related work.

I would appreciate honest opinions from people familiar with EPFL or ETH Zurich admissions:

Does my academic background look realistic for EPFL MTE or ETH MTEC?

Would my transition from physics and a current physics PhD to management and technology be considered coherent or suspicious?

Which of the two programmes would be more realistic for my profile?

How much of a disadvantage are my limited formal economics and business courses?

Would my current PhD status and research experience strengthen my application, or could they make the transition appear less credible?

Could my Chinese nationality and Russian Bachelor’s degree create any additional credential-recognition or admissions concerns?

What weaknesses would you recommend addressing before applying?

I am not looking for reassurance. I would prefer a conservative assessment based on comparable applicants, programme requirements, and actual admissions experience.

Hi everyone i am actually ending my masters degree in computer engineering with a focus in cybersecurity and I ‘d like to continue my studies of security with a PhD. For all of you have got a PhD in EPFL, can you suggest me the roadmap to maximize the likelihood to get it? Something from searching for professors and contacting them to Making some research oriented projects. I am interested in binary exploitation and malware analysis