Department of Computer Science

Data Science

Master of Science ETH

Data Science Master of Science ETH 3

Data is everywhere. An unprecedented amount of data

is collected every second, just because it has become
possible to collect it. But what can we learn from it and
how can we put it to use? What insights can we gain?
And where do we even start? Data scientists possess
the skills required to harness the deluge of information
in any domain, to separate knowledge from noise
and to extract real benefits from the sea of data that
surrounds us. From understanding the global interaction
of climate factors to teaching machines how to decode
human conversation, data science will continue to shape
the Information Age.
4 Data Science Master of Science ETH Contents 5

Contents

18

10

16
8

14
20

6 14 19
Future-driven: Data Science at ETH Zurich Further Master's programmes From science to business
Being part of one of the most exciting driving forces of today’s Three more Master's programmes cover promising fields of Two examples of successful knowledge transfer to the
Information Age. study. economy.

7 15 20
Faculty voices ETH Zurich
Professional outlook and career opportunities
“The programme is exceptional because of its high level of Where Albert Einstein once studied and taught.
Life after graduation offers excellent prospects.
interdisciplinarity.”

16 21
8 Campus life
Quotes from students and alumni
A department of international renown Living and studying in Switzerland’s largest city, located by
The student body is as international and diverse as the faculty.
A programme offered by the Computer Science Department, Lake Zurich and close to the mountains.
in collaboration with the Department of Mathematics (D-MATH)
and the Department of Information Technology and 18
Electrical Engineering (D-ITET). 22
Empowering data-driven science
The Swiss Data Science Center (SDSC) creates a unique Who? What? Where?
Useful information and contacts for prospective students.
10 synergy between the institutions within the ETH Domain as
well as academic and industrial stakeholders.
Master’s Programme
Introduction to the structure and course categories.
6 Data Science Master of Science ETH Faculty voices 7

Future-driven: Joachim M. Buhmann

Professor of Computer Science

Data Science at ETH Zurich

“Data science and computer science are radically transforming
our society and expanding our ability to grasp the complexity
of reality in unprecedented ways. The ETH Master’s programme
in data science offers fundamental insights into these method-
ological advances in science and technology and, by extension,
enables a new generation of students to discover, invent and
construct the digital solutions of the future. A balanced com-
Studying Data Science at ETH Zurich means being part of one of the most bination of foundational knowledge accompanied by practical
exciting driving forces of today’s Information Age, at one of the world’s leading data science projects in science, engineering and life science
applications provides a unique learning experience.”
universities, in one of Europe’s most enjoyable cities.

Foundation for future experts an encouraging environment with plenty of opportu-

Computers and the increasing digitalisation and inter- nities to quickly participate in exciting projects. Some
connection of the world have fundamentally changed may even seize the chance to develop their entrepre- Helmut Bölcskei
the way we produce, manage, process and analyse neurial spirit by being part of one of ETH Zurich’s suc- Professor of Mathematical Information Science
data. In light of the exponentially growing flood of cessful spin-off companies in the data science sector.
data in companies and organisations, the question of “The programme is exceptional because of its high level of
how we can use data to gain valuable insights is more Unique study environment interdisciplinarity: in addition to providing sound foundations in
important than ever. How can we extract relevant Studying at ETH Zurich is a unique experience. It is a mathematics, it also offers elements from computer science,
information from massive amounts of data? In what highly stimulating place with a friendly, cooperative statistics, electrical engineering, hardware, and software. And
ways can computers learn from experience to make and respectful atmosphere, bringing together stu- all this comes with a strong practical component. Overall, the
intelligent decisions? These questions are key to the dents from all over the world. Two campus locations, programme offers a flexible and comprehensive education for a
specialised Master’s programme in Data Science. both distinguished by their prominent position and wide range of profiles.”
with modern infrastructure, are the perfect place for
Data science is an interdisciplinary field. Students learning, conducting research and leisure.
learn scientifically sound methods, processes, algo-
rithms and systems to extract relevant insights, pat- Professional administration teams help students get
terns and keys from both structured and unstructured started, provide individual student counselling and
data. Based on concrete questions, the aim is to create give out academic advice. Committed student associ-
added value from data analysis, e.g. in the form of new ations and commissions offer support during studies
information or a service. Curiosity and creativity help and exam periods, help people connect, and contribute
to tackle challenging problems by always looking for to a diverse and inspiring culture.
different approaches without prejudice and by facing
new questions. Excellent job market Patrick Cheridito
The job market and career opportunities for data Professor of Mathematics
A wealth of expert knowledge science graduates are excellent. Whether graduates
The study programme is closely connected to the choose to be an employee in a company or an external “The ETH data science Master’s programme offers a unique
world-class research groups of ETH Zurich’s Depart- consultant, data scientists are in high demand. Char- blend of theoretical courses in data analysis, statistics and
ment of Computer Science and benefits from tight acterised by a hypothesis-driven and experimental learning theory, various interdisciplinary electives and a data
collaboration with the Departments of Mathematics way of working and an outside-the-box view of issues, science lab where students can gain hands-on experience with
and Information Technology and Electrical Engineer- they help ask the right questions, translate require- real data. As such, it provides excellent preparation for an ac-
ing. The research and teaching carried out cover the ments into abstract data-based questions and develop ademic career or a job in industry. As a result, it is not surpris-
whole spectrum of data science and combine theoret- solutions. ■ ing that it attracts some of the best students from all over the
ical foundations with practical experience. world.”

The programme is linked to ETH Zurich’s own compe-

tence centres such as the Swiss Data Science Center
(SDSC), the AI Center and the Foundations of Data Sci-
ence (ETH-FDS). Each of these institutions maintain
close contacts with industry and the local research
centres of international companies. Thanks to all these
connections and collaborations, students benefit from
8 Data Science Master of Science ETH The Department of Computer Science 9

Pioneering mission
It is no exaggeration to say that, since its
establishment, the Department of Com-
puter Science at ETH Zurich has made an
impact that has been felt far beyond the

A department of perimeter of the Zurich campus. Dedicated

to undertaking fundamental research, the
department develops reliable, efficient and

international renown secure computer and IT solutions for use

in society, industry and academia. More-
over, while its main focus is on training
computer scientists at the highest level,
the department also teaches the funda-
mentals of computer science to students
Founded in 1981, the Department of Computer Science (D-INFK) today holds of other disciplines, offers continuing edu-
a leading position worldwide. The specialist ETH Master’s programme cation programmes and contributes to the
in data science is offered in collaboration with the Department of Mathematics high quality of general computer science
education in local schools. As a result, it
(D-MATH) and the Department of Information Technology and Electrical makes an important contribution to the
Engineering (D-ITET). excellence of education in society as a
whole. While maintaining longstanding,
traditional ties with electrical engineering
and mathematics, researchers in the de-
partment increasingly interact with other Strong research and business network Department of Mathematics (D-MATH)
disciplines, including physics, mechanical The department maintains strong ties The Department of Mathematics is an in-
engineering and the life sciences. In addi- with a wide network of top universities ternationally recognised point of reference
tion, the department collaborates with nu- around the globe. Close cooperation with for mathematical research and teaching
merous centres and labs when working on scientists abroad is an integral part of its at the highest level. It offers a broad spec-
particular issues, as part of joint research research culture, offering exciting pros- trum of pure and applied mathematics and
programmes or during outreach activities, pects for students, in turn: they are able to comprises around 20 independent profes-
with the latest examples including the ETH enjoy lectures from international experts sorships, as well as the Seminar for Ap-
AI Center, ETH Foundations of Data Science and experience collaborative learning plied Mathematics (SAM), the Seminar for
(ETH-FDS), and the Cyber Defence Cam- with students from the best universities Statistics (SfS) and the Institute for Oper-
pus. outside Switzerland. The department also ations Research (IFOR).
participates in intensive research collabo-
A faculty of global standing rations with global IT players and research www.math.ethz.ch
More than 45 professors from all over the centres, such as DisneyResearch|Studios,
world conduct their research and teach Microsoft, IBM, SAP and Google, and with Department of Information Technology
at the Department of Computer Science financial service companies such as ZKB and Electrical Engineering (D-ITET)
at ETH Zurich. They are among the best and SIX. The findings from this research The Department of Information Technology
in their field and span the many facets of flow directly into teaching. and Electrical Engineering (D-​ITET) com-
modern computer science, from its under- prises 19 research laboratories (institutes)
lying theory to the design and construction Outstanding infrastructure with activities ranging from integrated cir-
of practical systems. Boasting a consist- ETH Zurich offers state-of-the-art learn- cuits to computer networks, from wireless
ently high international ranking, the de- ing facilities, modern infrastructure and communications to signal processing, and
partment is widely considered to be one highly qualified employees. One of its key from control theory to power electronics.
of the best places in the world in which to strengths is the technology platforms that In addition, it has strong research units
study and undertake research in computer make specialist tools accessible. For in- in biomedical engineering and in neural
science. Around 350 doctoral students and stance, in the department’s Computer information processing.
110 post-doctoral and senior researchers Graphics Laboratory, students can work
contribute to maintaining the depart- with novel three-dimensional scanning www.ee.ethz.ch
ment’s high level of teaching and research, technology developed at ETH Zurich.
with around 1,400 Bachelor’s and 1,000 Students working on simulations and big
Master’s students currently benefiting data have access to its high-performance
from this excellent academic environment. computing clusters, and for large-scale
projects, it is even possible to access the
Swiss National Supercomputing Centre.

www.inf.ethz.ch
10 Data Science Master of Science ETH Programme overview 11

A wide-ranging programme for

a deep dive into data science
Data science will shape our future dramatically. With the aim of understanding
and applying the full potential of this discipline, the Master’s in data science
programme offers a versatile and in-depth education in data science, accomplished
by insights into political, societal, legal, ethical and privacy-related aspects.

Who can apply? The programme is divided into several course categories. The
minimum numbers of credits required for completing the degree
Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree in computer science, are listed under the course categories. Several course categories
mathematics or electrical engineering or must have graduated are nested to provide more flexibility, since the minimum number
with distinction from a related field, such as mechanical engi- of credits required within subordinate course categories does not
neering or physics. A strong background in mathematics, pro- add up to the lowest number of credits for the overarching course
gramming, and algorithms is required. Admissions decisions are category. The remaining credits can be distributed across the
based on the curriculum of the applicant’s Bachelor’s programme, course categories Core Courses and Electives.
the level of mastery reached in each subject, their personal state-
ment, the reference letters submitted and the reputation of the ETH Zurich Master’s in Data Science 120
university they have graduated from, among other elements. For Core Courses 32
further details, candidates should refer to the admissions website.
Data Analysis 16
Data Management and Processing 16

Curriculum structure Electives28

Subject-specific Electives 20
Duration: 4 semesters
Data Management and Processing 8
ECTS credits: 120 Additional Electives 0
Language: English
Degree: Master of Science ETH in Data Science
Data Science Lab 10

Seminar2
This specialised two-year Master’s programme equips students
Science in Perspective 2
with in-depth knowledge and skills, while combining theoretical
foundations with practical experience. A central part of the pro- Master’s Thesis 30
gramme is the Data Science Laboratory, where students tack-
le specific and practical problems relating to interdisciplinary
applications. They engage in every kind of task, from process
modelling to the implementation and validation of data science
techniques. Students learn how to understand and use complex
data management (storage, querying, infrastructures, networks,
etc.) and analysis techniques (machine learning, statistics, etc.) so
they can utilise them in a broad range of applications.

Hosted by the Department of Computer Science, the programme

benefits from close collaboration with the Departments of Math-
ematics and Electrical Engineering and Information Technology.
12 Data Science Master of Science ETH Course categories 13

Course categories Subject-specific Electives

The student body
at ETH Zurich is as
international and
The courses listed below constitute a snapshot of what is cur- Core Elective courses offer a rich, broad-based selection of data diverse as the faculty,
rently on offer. However, they are subject to change. Up-to-date science courses across the three host departments, and complete
course offerings can be viewed online in the ETH Zurich course the main two categories described above.
catalogue (www.vvz.ethz.ch). For further details, please also refer – Research in Data Science
to the study guide (www.inf.ethz.ch/master-ds). – Randomized Algorithms and Probabilistic Methods
– Natural Language Understanding
– Reliable and Interpretable Artificial Intelligence
Core courses – Deep Learning
Core courses ensure a high level of competence in data science. – Artificial Intelligence in Education
They are split into two sub-categories: – Computer Vision
– Statistical Learning Theory
Data Analysis – Machine Perception
These courses provide students with core knowledge relating – Cloud Computing Architecture
to the analysis of complex data sets so that they can fully mas- – Introduction to Topological Data Analysis
ter concepts and tools from statistics and information theory, in – Computational Semantics for Natural Learning Processing
particular. – AI Center Projects in Machine Learning Research
– Advanced Machine Learning – Guarantees for Machine Learning
– Advanced Algorithms – Computational Intelligence Lab
– Probabilistic Artificial Intelligence – Machine Learning on Microcontrollers
– Mathematics of Data Science – Information Theory I
– Mathematics of Information – System Identification
– Computational Statistics – Systems-on-chip for Data Analytics and Machine Learning
– Advanced Signal Analysis, Modeling, and Learning
Data Management and Processing – Learning, Classification, and Compression
The focus is on imparting core knowledge relating to the storage, – Deep Learning for Autonomous Driving
querying, processing and management of data, so that they can – Applied Analysis of Variance and Experimental Design Interdisciplinary Electives Seminars
fully master the infrastructure on top of which the analysis of – Probabilistic Method in Combinatorics
large data sets is performed. – Probability Theory A wide selection of Interdisciplinary Electives enables students Seminars serve to train students in how to read and understand
– Big Data – Stochastic Simulation to gain insight into an area where data science is applied, such as scientific publications. They usually build on lectures that have
– Data Management Systems – Statistical Modelling weather and climate, geographic information systems, finance previously been attended and promote active discussion among
– Optimisation for Data Science – Time Series analysis and insurance, transportation systems, social networks, and bio­ participants. Seminars often cover recent developments in a
– Algorithmic Foundations of Data Science – Applied Stochastic Processes informatics. They obtain background knowledge and skills that particular subject and provide an interesting way to learn about
– Fundamentals of Mathematical Statistics are important for the area in question so they can bridge the gap cutting-edge research:
– Estimation and Testing under Sparsity between different academic cultures. – Advanced topics in machine learning
– Causality – Hardware acceleration for data processing
– Deep Learning in Scientific Computing Additional Electives – Foundations of data science seminar
– Multivariate Statistics – Student seminar in statistics: inference in some non-standard
– Dynamic Programming and Optimal Control The Additional Electives is a free category that provides students regression problems
– Recursive Estimation with the possibility to complete their Data Science education with – Computational challenges in medical genomics
any courses they wish within: – Advanced topics in machine learning and data science
– All Master's level courses offered by D-INFK, D-ITET and – Student seminar in statistics: statistical network modelling
D-MATH
– All courses listed as Interdisciplinary Electives (in any category) Science in perspective
Data Science Lab Science in perspective is an integral part of the curriculum. Stu-
dents learn to understand and critically question the correlations
The Lab provides students with the opportunity to apply the between scientific knowledge, technological innovations, cultural
knowledge and skills they have acquired in an interdisciplinary contexts, individuals and society. Students are free to choose two
data science project, allowing them to gain hands-on experience credits from the Department of Humanities, Social and Political
with real data. The project is conducted in small groups and, at the Sciences (D-GESS).
end of the project, students submit a report and a presentation.
Master’s thesis
The Master’s thesis demonstrates that students are able to use
the knowledge and skills they have acquired during their Master’s
Professor Andreas Krause leads
the Learning and Adaptive Systems studies to solve a complex data science problem. ■
Group and is part of the core faculty.
14 Data Science Master of Science ETH Life after graduation 15

Further Master’s Programmes Professional outlook and

career opportunities
As an alternative to the Data Science Master’s programme described
in this brochure, Bachelor's graduates can choose from three other
Master's programmes offered by the Department of Computer Science ETH graduates enjoy an excellent reputation both in Switzerland and worldwide.
in cooperation with other departments. After completing their studies, data science graduates are sought-after experts
with exciting opportunities in industry or academic research around the world.
Consecutive:

Master of Science ETH in Computer Science Excellent prospects Entrepreneurial potential

The general Master’s in Computer Science is a broad programme with five different ma- In 2012, the Harvard Business Review magazine published an ar- ETH Zurich and its associated organisations offer students a wide
jors. Its structure allows students to choose from a variety of courses and to tailor the ticle entitled “Data Scientist: The Sexiest Job of the 21st Century”. range of courses and programmes during their degree to help
curriculum to meet their particular interests, needs and goals. The objective is to help The article describes the profile of a professional data scientist them acquire the knowledge and contacts necessary for self-em-
students to receive an in-depth education in their field of choice while also becoming as follows: “A hybrid of data hacker, analyst, communicator, and ployment. Recognised ETH Zurich spin-offs will receive support
creative and efficient problem-solvers in the general domain of computer science. The trusted adviser”. This description, as well as the statement that from ETH transfer, including consulting and advice services, in-
Master’s programme in computer science is offered by the Department of Computer this combination of characteristics is extremely effective but un- frastructure during the first two years and helpful contacts.
Science (D-INFK) at ETH Zurich. fortunately also rare, remains true today. Over the years, numerous former ETH computer and data scien-
tists have established start-ups and ETH spin-offs in the field of
 www.inf.ethz.ch/master-cs Data scientists are sought-after specialists in almost all indus- data science and AI, such as Teralytics, Carbon Delta (acquired
tries. They help companies prepare for important business deci- by MSCI), SpinningBytes, Veezoo, Duolingo, Hades and SkillLab.
sions, such as creating competitive advantages, making reliable
forecasts about future events or also controlling, optimising and A scientific career
Master of Science ETH in Cyber Security automating processes. Exciting positions can be found not only Master’s graduates who have discovered their passion for sci-
Today’s global society and economy increasingly depend on the smooth processing of at large tech companies, but also in the medical, pharmaceutical, ence during their studies can apply for a doctoral programme,
digital information. In turn, the need to protect data against misuse is also growing. financial, insurance and environmental industries. With some pro- either with one of the internationally renowned research groups
Security technologies help to improve existing systems, make them more secure and fessional experience, there are exciting opportunities for career of the Department of Computer Science or at another prestigious
protect them from hackers or criminal organisations. At the same time, they enable new advancement, up to the level of Lead Data Scientist. These posi- university. ■
applications and help to reshape society by challenging and redefining existing norms tions often come with management responsibility and involvement
and assumptions when it comes to trust. In the cyber security Master’s programme in strategic projects.
offered by ETH Zurich and EPF Lausanne as a joint degree, students are trained to solve
important security problems in computer systems, networks and applications. They are
able to choose their specific path from a wide range of courses and, after successfully
completing their studies, use their knowledge to help develop secure information infra-
structures that serve important needs both today and in the future.

www.inf.ethz.ch/master-cybsec

With admission:

Master of Science ETH in Robotics, Systems and Control

The development of intelligent robots and systems requires knowledge in diverse areas
of expertise. It raises fundamental questions on how best to design, model and control
complex and highly interactive systems. Bridging the gap between various engineering
disciplines, this programme offers students a unique learning environment and a multi-
disciplinary education that will enable them to develop innovative and intelligent products
and systems to meet today’s most pressing challenges: energy supply, the environment,
health care and mobility. This specialised programme is offered jointly by the Depart-
ments of Mechanical and Process Engineering (D-MAVT), Information Technology and Data science touches almost all areas of
Electrical Engineering (D-ITET), and Computer Science (D-INFK) at ETH Zurich. life. The medical and pharmaceutical
industries, for instance, use data science
to optimise the quality and processes
 www.master-robotics.ethz.ch of products and services.
16 Data Science Master of Science ETH Quotes from students and alumni 17

What students and alumni say Roberta Huang, 26

Italian, Software Engineer at Google
“Looking back at my time at ETH Zurich, I found it extremely stimulating
and rewarding. I had constant access to a world-class education that
always pushed me past my intellectual limits, and formed long-lasting
The student body is as international and diverse as the faculty, relationships with other incredibly talented students from all over the
guaranteeing a stimulating study experience. Data science world. Within this resourceful environment, some friends and I founded
the Analytics Club at ETH, a student community that has been growing
graduates can expect to work in exciting roles around the world.
ever since. ETH certainly shaped me, giving me a range of skills that I’ve
constantly found beneficial in my career at the ETH spin-off GetYourGuide.
They will also help me succeed in my new chapter at Google, where I am
facing an array of interesting data-related challenges.”

Giulia Lanzilotta, 22
Italian, student
“Data science is, in a sense, the study of the nature of information, which
is at the very heart of humanity. It is thanks to our ability to store,
process and share information that we were able to evolve at such a fast
rate. As a result, data science allows me to unite my passion for
human cognition with my passion for computer science. My dream is teach David Deuber, 24
a machine to read – and understand – text. This advancement in the Swiss, student
field of natural language understanding would not only benefit society by
unlocking the huge amount of information that is expressed as text: “During my Bachelor’s degree in mathematics, I was particularly
it would also bring us closer to understanding the human mind. interested in probability theory and statistics. In addition,
And ETH Zurich is one of the few universities providing an education that I wanted to do more applied work and programming. I especially
truly embraces the whole spectrum of possibilities that data science like using advanced mathematical models to solve real-world
has to offer.” problems. The Master’s in data science offers me the opportu-
nity to combine all these interests. You learn about all the steps
of dealing with data, from storage through to efficient data
management and sophisticated data analysis, and you can put
all the theoretical foundations into practice in projects immedi-
ately, which I enjoy.”

Mélanie Bernhardt, 25
French, Applied Researcher at
Microsoft Research
“Understanding the maths behind the magic of AI, collaborating
with world-class labs for my research projects, surrounded
by classmates from all over the world: the MSc in data science
was a great cocktail of benefits for me! I particularly appreci-
ated the opportunities to collaborate with people from various Sheng Zhou, 23
fields of expertise as it allowed me to focus most of my projects Chinese, student
on the health-related applications of machine learning, which
I’m really passionate about. Besides lectures and projects, “Computer science and data science play an indispensable role
I also had great fun as a board member of the Analytics Club, in overcoming the most difficult challenges we, as a society,
connecting with other data enthusiasts at ETH. Overall, this face today, such as climate change. I especially enjoy developing
Master’s degree has opened all kinds of doors for me: it was an ways to accomplish tasks more efficiently, more accurately,
amazing experience!” more securely or in a completely new way. For this reason,
I plan to pursue a doctoral degree in an interdisciplinary field,
combining computer vision, neuromorphic engineering and
robotics. ETH Zurich is an excellent place for my studies since
it provides high-quality education and great professors. As an
added bonus, the student facilities are excellent, there are many
opportunities to make new friends and Zurich is a lovely city.”
18 Collaborative center ETH spin-offs 19

Swiss Data Science Center: From science to business

empowering data-driven science
Sometimes students develop an innovative product idea while undertaking
university research. When this happens, ETH Zurich supports them in their efforts
to transfer research results to industry, for example by licensing them to external
A joint venture between EPFL and ETH Zurich, companies or by supporting the researchers as they set up their own company.
the Swiss Data Science Center (SDSC) was To date, around 500 spin-offs have been created at ETH Zurich. Members of the
founded in 2017 to foster the adoption of Department of Computer Science have founded more than 50 of these.
data-driven science in academia and industry.
With its data science expertise, it supports
a wide variety of projects in collaboration with
research institutions, companies and public
entities, creating a unique synergy between
the institutions within the ETH Domain as well
as academic and industrial stakeholders.

In its academic projects, the centre fosters multidisciplinary re-

search and enables scientific breakthroughs that have a major
impact on society. Interest in its annual call for proposals has
been growing exponentially. At the same time, the SDSC is in great
demand within industry, where it acts as an educational platform
to help train the leading data scientists of the future. The centre
supports companies on complex data-related projects, especially Teralytics: advanced analytics for the SpinningBytes: solutions for text
smart and data-driven manufacturing, and helps them improve new age of mobility analytics and speech processing
their return on investment for their digitalisation efforts. As a
consequence, the SDSC facilitates the development of new tech- Olivier Verscheure
nologies and intellectual property, which will play a major role in The world is changing faster than ever and, with it, so too are SpinningBytes specialises in automated systems for natural lan-
the new data-driven economy. people’s mobility behaviour and their travel and transport needs. guage processing, e.g. for sentiment analysis, summarisation,
To make the right decisions for tomorrow, today, companies and topic classification and audio processing. They develop custom-
Its open-source platform RENKU, hosted on national infrastructu- private sector, public and federal administrations, the humanita- public authorities need an in-depth understanding of these needs ised solutions for companies and organisations that want to ex-
re, is at the heart of the centre’s efforts. The cloud-based RENKU rian sector and the world of academia. so they can stay one step ahead of developments. Teralytics col- tract useful information from their text and audio data.
Lab is available to researchers worldwide, facilitating multidi- lects and analyses mobile phone signal data and transforms it
sciplinary collaborations in data science and promoting reusabi- The centre employs a large team of multidisciplinary scientists into accurate, inclusive and up-to-date mobility information. The The company aims to bridge the gap between research and indus-
lity and reproducibility. Through a project called the Swiss Data and experts in domains such as personalised medicine, environ- results can be used to plan sustainable mobility solutions for the try. It works closely with Swiss universities and has won major
Custodian, the SDSC also aims to tackle the challenging issues of mental science and economics, working from campuses in Lau- future, with an aim of further developing cities and their trans- prizes in several international scientific competitions. In 2020,
data usage and data protection. It is a joint initiative between the sanne, Zurich, and Villigen. The SDSC’s reputation as a national port systems, for example. The analysis of mobility information SpinningBytes launched Interscriber, a web-based software
centre fostering cutting-edge research and attracting exceptional can improve business processes, thereby increasing operational solution to automatically transcribe and summarise recorded
scientists benefits Switzerland and the centre is called upon to efficiency, and it can also help optimise travel times and ultimately meetings using speech-to-text and speaker recognition methods.
play an increasingly important role on a national level, as well as reduce the environmental impact.
to strengthen its collaboration with the federal administration in Spinning Bytes is an ETH and ZHAW spin-off founded in 2015 by
the years to come. ■ Teralytics is an ETH spin-off co-founded in 2010 by computer Mark Cieliebak and Martin Jaggi, both of whom hold a doctoral de-
science alumni Georg Polzer and Luciano Franceschina. Head- gree from ETH Zurich, and by Fatih Uzdilli, who was, at that time,
www.datascience.ch quartered in Zurich and with offices in New York and Singapore, a research associate at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences
it combines extensive experience and expertise in data science (ZHAW). Since then, Martin and Fatih have pursued their careers
and machine learning. Its clients are large companies and organ- at EPFL and Google respectively, while Mark is the company’s CEO
isations around the globe. and Professor for Natural Language Processing at ZHAW.

www.teralytics.net www.spinningbytes.com
20 A world-class university Campus life 21

ETH Zurich – Living and studying in

where the future begins Switzerland and Zurich
Everyday student life can be quite
stressful and demanding. This makes
it all the more important to have a
well-organised learning setting, a strong
social environment and a good balance
between study and leisure time.

Where quality of life and beauty meet

Switzerland is famous for its political and economic
stability, public safety and extraordinary beauty. Na-
tional institutions like schools, healthcare providers
and public transportation are of excellent quality.
Many Swiss people are multilingual and, especially
in the cities, English is often spoken. German is not
required for a Master’s programme at ETH, but a basic
Where once Albert knowledge will help when settling in.
Einstein studied and
taught: the Main Zurich is Switzerland’s largest city. It is truly interna-
Building of ETH Zurich
is one of the city’s tional and ethnically diverse, offering a modern life-
landmarks. style and a vibrant nightlife. For many years, Zurich
has been ranked among the top cities in the world for
quality of life.
Freedom and personal responsibility, an entrepreneurial spirit Top rankings
and openness to the world: Switzerland’s core values were also ETH Zurich is an institution with regional and national roots that Centrally located with a view
central to the foundation of ETH Zurich. The roots of this technical is fully integrated into the international academic community. It ETH Zurich’s campuses are distinguished by their
and scientific university go back to 1855, when the founders of measures itself in all respects against the world’s leading uni- central locations and are easily accessible by public
modern Switzerland created this place of innovation and knowl- versities – from its education and research to its management. transport. The Zentrum campus, with its historic Main
edge. At ETH Zurich today, students find an environment that de- Building, is within walking distance of the beautiful
mands independent thinking, while researchers enjoy a climate In international rankings, ETH Zurich regularly features as one old town, which is replete with restaurants, cafés,
that inspires them to achieve excellence. Located at the heart of of the best universities of technology and natural sciences in the museums and galleries. It is also close to a long prom-
Europe and part of a worldwide network, ETH Zurich develops world and as the leading university in its field in continental Eu- enade next to the lake that stretches more than 30 km To enable growth and learning outside the classroom,
solutions for the global challenges of today and tomorrow. rope. towards the mountains. ETH students and their associations provide a wide
range of services for their peers. With networking
For the benefit of society Bright minds A caring community events, parties, barbecues, dance classes, the photo-
ETH Zurich currently has over 22,500 students from more than The 21 Nobel laureates who have studied, taught or conducted ETH provides a safe and pleasant environment that graphy lab, music rooms, cultural and artistic projects
120 countries, of whom almost 4500 are doctoral candidates. research at ETH Zurich underline the excellent reputation of the contributes to an inspirational learning experience. and the entrepreneur club, it is fair to say that there is
More than 520 professors teach and conduct research in the fields university. Among the prize winners are Wilhelm Konrad Röntgen The university embraces diversity, and places strong something for everyone.
of engineering, architecture, mathematics, natural sciences, sys- (1901), Albert Einstein (1921) and Kurt Wüthrich (2002). A Turing emphasis on values such as respectful interaction as
tems-oriented sciences, management and social sciences. Award, popularly labelled the Nobel Prize in Computer Science, well as taking individual responsibility. For brain, body and soul
was awarded to Niklaus Wirth (1984), one of the earliest computer Physical activity and a healthy lifestyle are part of the
The findings and innovations of ETH Zurich researchers are in- scientists and inventor of the Pascal programming language. ■ university’s culture. The Academic Sports Associa-
corporated into some of the fastest-growing and most promising tion Zurich (ASVZ) provides state-of-the-art athletic
sectors of the Swiss economy: from IT, micro and nanotechnology www.ethz.ch facilities and over 120 different activities and sports,
to high-tech medicine. Each year, ETH applies for around 100 pat- including outdoors, utilising Switzerland’s beautiful
ents and 150 inventions. More than 500 spin-off companies have mountain and lake landscape. ■
emerged from the university.
www.ethz.ch/student-life
22 Information and addresses

Who? What? Where?

Address Scholarships
ETH Zurich It is primarily the responsibility of students and their families to
Department of Computer Science finance their studies. If their means are insufficient, students may
Universitätstrasse 6, CAB file a scholarship request or apply for the Excellence Scholarship &
8092 Zurich Opportunity Programme.
Switzerland www.ethz.ch/scholarships

Studies Administration Office Student organisations

General questions, administrative concerns and study counselling www.vis.ethz.ch
Bernadette Gianesi www.vseth.ethz.ch
[email protected] www.ethz.ch/int-student-associations

Application and admission Committee for students without ETH Bachelor

Depending on the selected Master’s programme and where the Bache- vis.ethz.ch/moeb
lor’s degree has been earned, a different admission process applies.
Campus life
Bachelor’s degree from ETH Zurich: www.ethz.ch/student-life
Some Master’s degree programmes require a formal application, while www.asvz.ch
others permit direct registration. www.gastro.ethz.ch
www.bqm-bar.ch
Bachelor’s degree from other Swiss or foreign universities: www.ethz.ch/sph
All students from other Swiss or foreign universities must apply at the
Admissions Office. Accommodation
www.wohnen.ethz.ch
Before starting the admission process, please check your eligibility: www.woko.ch
www.ethz.ch/application www.wgzimmer.ch
www.students.ch
Admissions Office www.homegate.ch
All information regarding the admission process is provided by the www.ronorp.net
Admissions Office.
www.admission.ethz.ch Social Media
www.facebook.com/ETHInformatik
Application deadlines www.twitter.com/csateth
First application window: www.youtube.com/ETHInformatik
1 November – 15 December mandatory for: www.linkedin.com/school/csateth
– students with a bachelor's degree from outside Switzerland
- students who wish to apply for the Excellence & Opportunity Scholar- Photo credits
ship programme (ESOP) or a Direct Doctorate programme (DD) p. 7 (top, bottom), 16 (top), 17 (center): Jonas Weibel
- Students with a Master's degree/PhD from a Swiss university who p. 7 (center): ETH Zürich / Giulia Marthaler
obtained their undergraduate degree outside Switzerland p. 8, 9, 12, 13: Ruth Erdt
p. 14 (bottom): Alessandro Della Bella
Students with a Swiss Bachelor's degree are also welcome to apply p. 15: Shutterstock
during this period. p. 17 (top), 18 (top): Paolo Emmanuele / Detail AG
p. 18 (bottom): Bühler AG
Second application window: p. 19 (left): Ingo Joseph, Pexels
1 April – 30 April p. 20, 21: ETH Zurich
Only available for students with a Swiss Bachelor's degree.

Dates are subject to change. Please visit the admission office website.

Financial information
ETH Zurich is committed to providing affordable education and,
in contrast to most other top universities, keeps tuition fees to a
minimum. Tuition and semester fees at ETH amount to around
CHF 800 per semester. In addition, it is estimated that students
spend CHF 20,000 to CHF 26,000 on study and living costs each year.
www.ethz.ch/financial
ETH Zurich
Department of Computer Science
Universitätstrasse 6, CAB
8092 Zurich
Switzerland

www.inf.ethz.ch

Publisher: ETH Zurich, Department of Computer Science

Project lead: Sandra Herkle
Content: Sandra Herkle, Bernadette Gianesi, Ghislain Fourny,
Simona Bochsler, Anna Ettlin
Concept & Design: Scholtysik
Print: Wolfensberger AG
2nd edition 2022

© ETH Zürich, December 2023