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HEP, HES, EPF/ETH: how to choose

By The Agences-Placement editorial team·General··2 min read

Which Swiss higher education institution to pick based on your profile, qualifications and ambitions.

Choosing between HEP, HES and EPF/ETH in Switzerland: practical guide

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

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