FAQ Bachelor

Please check the EPFL tuition fee page for the most recent updates.

Anyone who has obtained a diploma from a “gymnase” or “lycée” recognized by the Swiss Confederation is admitted to EPFL, in the section of their choice, under the admission conditions.

To help you assess your skills in mathematics and physics, a self-assessment test is available online.

The study plans include an average of 30 hours of weekly attendance, plus an additional 20 to 25 hours of personal study.

For more information, please check the study management page.

Each ECTS credit represents approximately 25 to 30 hours of work. This includes time spent in class, in the lab, as well as time spent on assignments, projects, and exam preparation.

EPFL recommends completing your entire military training either before starting university or between your Bachelor’s and Master’s studies.

Detailed information on this topic is available on the obligation to serve page.

Unless there is a valid reason, you cannot interrupt your studies during the Bachelor. For more information, please check the page regarding temporary interruption of studies.

If you decide not to enroll in the Master program after completing your Bachelor, you can interrupt your studies at EPFL for one year or more without any justification. Since you are no longer a Bachelor student and not yet a Master student, you will no longer be enrolled at EPFL.

For more information, please check the page on the end of studies and re-enrollment.

It is possible to change your field of study between the time you enroll at EPFL and your second week of classes. From the third week of classes onward, changes in your field of study are subject to conditions.

No. Students in Life Sciences Engineering are accepted in the Master of Life Sciences Engineering (by default) and in the Neuro-X Master program (upon request to the Student Services).

Students interested in changing their field of study must follow the procedure indicated on the EPFL website.

An option block of 8 credits is considered passed when:

• Subjects equivalent to at least 8 credits have been attempted, and the weighted average of the block is 4.00 or higher
• The total credits of the successfully completed courses is at least 8

In any case, the block average is calculated based on all attempted subjects.

The Bachelor project must be conducted in the field of Life Sciences Engineering.

The Bachelor project can take place in:

• An SV laboratory
• An EPFL laboratory outside of SV: the project must be approved by the section, and a form must be completed.
• Outside of EPFL, in an academic or industrial setting: the project must be approved by the section, and a form must be completed. The student must also find an EPFL supervisor (professor or research assistant) to supervise and evaluate the project.

The Bachelor’s project is validated in BA6 but can be done during the summer before BA5. The total workload is approximately 150 hours (6 ECTS): 10h/week for 14 weeks (spring semester BA6) or 3-4 weeks full-time (42 hours per week) during the summer preceding BA5.

For more information, please refer to the coursebook BIOENG-390.

An exchange during the 3rd year of the Bachelor in Life Sciences Engineering is possible at one of the partner universities.

You will find information about the acceptance conditions on the Life Sciences website, as well as practical information for studying abroad.

Students in Life Sciences Engineering can submit an application for an exchange during the 3rd year at one of the partner universities labeled SV.

A university that is not listed can be accepted for an exchange in exceptional cases. The necessary information can be found in the Mobility Service FAQ.

No, to be eligible for an exchange in the third year, you must have earned the 60 credits from your second year:

• For students who completed the first-year cycle in the summer session, this must be done in maximum two semesters
• For students who completed the first-year cycle in the winter session, this must be done in maximum three semesters

No. There are a limited number of spots available for an exchange at each university. However, it is possible to apply to multiple universities (up to six, whether in EU or non-EU countries).

The MAN (mise à niveau) applies to all first-year students at EPFL who do not achieve an average of 3.50 across all subjects in the first block by the end of the fall semester. The MAN course lasts for one semester (spring only). 

More information on the conditions for successfully completing the first-year cycle and the MAN is available here.

Please check the page on the requirements for successfully passing the Bachelor cycle.

The rules for starting the Master program without having completed the Bachelor are outlined on the page regarding the requirements for successfully passing the Bachelor cycle.

These rules also apply to students who were on exchange during their third year.