Switzerland · Bachelor's
ETH Zurich
BSc Computer Science
ETH Zurich
Course Overview
ETH Zurich's BSc Computer Science is widely considered the strongest undergraduate computer-science programme in continental Europe — consistently QS top-10 globally for CS. Three years, taught primarily in German for years 1–2 with English from year 3 onwards (and most upper-year electives in English). Sri Lankan applicants must be aware: the first two years require working knowledge of German (B2 level by enrollment), so this is a programme that rewards 12–18 months of serious German preparation.
Tuition is unusually low at CHF 730 per semester for all nationalities — a fraction of equivalent US or UK programmes. The trade-off is selectivity: ETH requires Sri Lankan candidates to sit the ETH Reduced Entrance Examination (mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, history, geography) unless they hold Cambridge A-Levels with A* in Mathematics and A in Physics or equivalent. The CS faculty is the same one that supplies Switzerland's tech corridor — Google Zurich, Microsoft Research, IBM Research Zurich, Disney Research, and the ETH spin-off ecosystem.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Sri Lankan A/Ls alone are NOT directly accepted for ETH Bachelor's — applicants must sit the ETH Reduced Entrance Examination OR present Cambridge A-Levels (A* in Mathematics + A in Physics) or IB 38+ with HL Mathematics 6+.
- check_circle Strong O/L mathematics record and demonstrated programming aptitude.
- check_circle Motivational letter, CV, and full school transcripts.
- check_circle German proficiency at B2 level is required by enrollment — years 1–2 are German-medium.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 6.5 Overall (years 3+ electives are in English).
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 88 Overall.
- check_circle Cambridge C1 Advanced or higher.
- check_circle Waived if prior schooling (Cambridge/Edexcel/IB) was English-medium — but note that German B2 is still mandatory.
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (CHF) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year) | CHF 1,460 | Rs. 540,000 |
| Accommodation in Zurich (per year) | CHF 14,400 | Rs. 5,328,000 |
| Living Expenses & Food (per year) | CHF 9,600 | Rs. 3,552,000 |
| Health Insurance & Mandatory Fees | CHF 1,800 | Rs. 666,000 |
| Estimated Annual Investment | CHF 27,260 | Rs. 10,086,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
ETH CS Bachelor's graduates typically progress straight into ETH's MSc Computer Science (one of the top CS Master's globally) — full Sri Lankan-tech-track careers begin from there. For students who go directly to work, Switzerland's 6-month post-graduation job-search residence permit applies, with conversion to work permits under the Federal Council's non-EU annual quotas (~8,500/year, STEM exemption pathway is strong). Internships during the BSc at Google Zurich, Microsoft, IBM Research Zurich, Logitech, ETH spin-offs (Disney Research, Scandit, Climeworks) are well-established.
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ඔබට සුදුසු විශ්වවිද්යාලයක් තේරීම, අයදුම්පත් යොමු කිරීම, SOP සකස් කිරීම සහ වීසා ලබා ගැනීම ඇතුළු සෑම පියවරකදීම, ඔබ වෙනුවෙන් සියලුම වගකීම් විශ්වාසවන්තව අප භාර ගනිමු.