HEP, HES, EPF/ETH: how to choose
General · May 22, 2026 · 2 min read
Which Swiss higher education institution to pick based on your profile, qualifications and ambitions.
Swiss higher-education landscape
- EPF / ETH: 2 federal institutes (EPFL Lausanne, ETH Zurich) — cutting-edge research, engineering
- Cantonal universities: 10 universities (Geneva, Lausanne, Bern, Basel, Zurich, etc.) — humanities, law, medicine, economics
- HES / Fachhochschule: ~9 universities of applied sciences per region — vocational degrees (business, engineering, health, social, art)
- HEP / PH: ~14 universities of teacher education — teachers
- Specialised schools: design (ECAL), hospitality (EHL), music (HEM)
EPF / ETH
- For whom: gymnasium maturity (math-physics preferred), strong scientific record
- Admission: exam or special maturity
- Fees: CHF 730–1,460/semester (Swiss and residents), more for international (ETH gradually increasing)
- Programmes: civil eng, EE, computer science, mechanical, chemistry, biology, micro/nano, architecture, math, physics
- Starting salary: bachelor median CHF 85,000–95,000, master CHF 95,000–110,000
- Top 10 worldwide in several rankings
Cantonal universities
- For whom: gymnasium maturity; strong theoretical specialisation
- Programmes: law, medicine, economics/HEC, humanities, social sciences, theology, natural sciences
- Fees: CHF 500–1,500/semester
- Starting salary: varies by faculty (medicine, law and HEC are best-paid)
HES / Fachhochschule
- For whom: professional or gymnasium maturity + internship, or CFC + professional maturity
- Programmes: business (HEG), engineering (HEIG), health (HEdS), social work, art (ECAL, HEAD), music
- Style: applied focus, in-company projects, mandatory internships
- Fees: CHF 500–1,200/semester
- Starting salary: CHF 75,000–90,000 bachelor, more depending on field (IT, health)
- Leading HES: HEIG-VD, HSG Lucerne, ZHAW, HEdS Geneva, ECAL
HEP / PH (teaching)
- For whom: gymnasium maturity (primary) or master's (lower-upper secondary)
- Programmes: primary (3-year bachelor), secondary (master + didactic diploma)
- Fees: CHF 500–1,000/semester
- Starting salary: see specific teacher article (CHF 75,000–115,000 depending on canton)
How to decide
- You love fundamental science, research, complex engineering → EPF/ETH
- You want an applied job and to start your career fast → HES
- You want to teach → HEP
- You aim for medicine, law, theoretical economics, humanities → university
- You want design, art, music → specialised schools (ECAL, HEAD, HEM)
Combining paths
- HES bachelor → EPF/ETH master possible with bridge courses
- University → HES (rare but possible)
- HES → international master very common
Tips
- Attend open days: EPFL/ETH organise immersion days by track
- Talk to current students via LinkedIn and student associations
- Plan for language: ETH = German, EPFL = French + English at master level, HES = local + sometimes English
