BSc Computer Science

Entry requirements

Accepted English tests

No English test required: the programme is taught in German. German C1 proof must be uploaded by 31 March (deadline fixed). Accepted: Goethe-Zertifikat C1 (at least 80 points on average, all modules passed within 12 months), Goethe-Zertifikat C2 (all sections passed), TestDaF (TDN 5 in three sections and TDN 4 in one section of the same session), ÖSD Zertifikat C1 (min. 'gut bestanden'), ÖSD Zertifikat C2, DSH-3, DSD II (C1 in each part), telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule (min. 'gut'). C1 certificates max. 2 years old at the start of the application period, Goethe/ÖSD C2 max. 5 years. Waivers (German native speakers, German/Austrian Abitur etc.) do not normally apply to Chinese applicants.

How grades are compared

China: upper secondary school-leaving certificate (Gaozhong) + certificate of university admission in the desired subject from a recognised Chinese university + ETH Reduced Entrance Examination. Otherwise: ETH Comprehensive Entrance Examination. No gaokao score or grade minimum is published (https://ethz.ch/content/dam/ethz/main/education/admission/bachelor/andere-qual/ETH-ZulassungsbedingungenHS2026_EN.pdf)

Other requirements

German C1 language certificate required by 31 March 2027 (see english_accepted_tests); applications with missing or insufficient German certificate are rejected. Chinese Gaozhong holders: need proof of admission to a recognised Chinese university in the same subject, then must pass the ETH Reduced Entrance Examination (Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, held in German, fee CHF 550); without that admission proof, the Comprehensive Entrance Examination (8 subjects incl. German, a foreign language, History, Geography, fee CHF 800). ETH decides which exam applies only after the complete eApply application. Exam route timing for this cycle: apply 1 Dec 2026 - 31 Mar 2027, register for exam 15 Sep - 15 Oct 2027, exam 17-27 Jan 2028, study start 18 Sep 2028. Exam-free admission: study start 20 Sep 2027. A-level route (England/Wales/NI) without exam: three A-levels at grade A each in Mathematics, Physics or Chemistry or Biology, and language of instruction or a foreign language, plus at least four additional (I)GCE AS/(I)GCSE subjects from physics, chemistry, biology, computer science, another language, geography, history, economics. Otherwise Reduced Entrance Examination. IB route without exam: 38 of 42 points (without bonus points), HL Mathematics (AA or AI), HL Physics or Chemistry or Biology, HL one Language A, plus three SL subjects from the published list. Otherwise Reduced Entrance Examination. Apply for one Bachelor programme only via eApply. Application fee CHF 150 (foreign certificates). Documents: CV, school reports from the last three school years, school-leaving certificate, university admission certificate if required, German certificate. Motivation letters, olympiad awards and portfolios are not considered. ETH plans to change entry requirements for all Bachelor programmes from autumn semester 2028 (details from spring 2027), which may affect exam-route applicants starting in 2028. Programme: 180 credits, 3 years; first year covers mathematics, programming, data structures and algorithms.