ETH Zürich Doctoral Positions
A doctorate at ETH Zürich — one of the world's leading science and technology universities — is a paid employment position, not a tuition scholarship, and we present it that way. Doctoral students are hired as research or teaching assistants on the standard ETH salary scale (roughly CHF 53,000 in year one, rising past CHF 60,000), with full Swiss social security and no tuition to fund. For Sri Lankan Master's graduates in engineering, the natural sciences, computer science, mathematics, or architecture, this is one of the best-paid and most prestigious research routes in Europe. Positions are either advertised by individual professors or entered through structured doctoral programmes; in both cases admission is the real hurdle, not money.
Rolling — most positions are advertised by individual professors year-round; structured programmes have fixed annual deadlines
ETH Zürich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)
University-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
Salary
~CHF 53,000-63,000/yr (employment)
Duration
3-5 years (typical doctorate)
Type
Salaried RA/TA contract (no tuition)
Fields
Engineering, science, CS, maths, architecture
info How this award actually works
Who awards it
ETH Zürich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.
How you are considered
Through your admission application. Awards like this are usually assessed automatically from the application you already submit — there is typically no separate scholarship form to fill in.
What it covers
Salaried PhD Contract (~CHF 53k-63k/yr). This is a reduction in tuition, not a full ride. You still fund the remainder, plus living costs and the balance your visa requires you to show.
Where we come in
We make the admission application strong enough to be competitive — course choice, documents, references and deadlines. The funder makes the decision.
fact_check Eligibility Criteria
Excellent Master's Degree
A very strong Master's (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline. ETH expects top-of-class academic results; a research Master's thesis is a major plus for Sri Lankan applicants.
Supervisor / Programme Admission
You either secure a professor willing to hire you onto a funded project, or gain admission to a structured doctoral programme. Approaching potential supervisors early is the practical first step.
English Proficiency
Most ETH doctorates are conducted in English. Proof of English is required unless your prior degree was English-taught — many Sri Lankan English-medium degrees qualify.
Open to Internationals
ETH hires doctoral researchers from across the world on equal terms, including Sri Lankans. ETH supports your Swiss residence/work permit once you are hired.
Research Proposal & References
A focused research statement (or fit to an advertised project) plus strong academic references. Demonstrating independent research ability is decisive.
account_tree Application Process
Identify supervisors or programmes
Browse ETH department pages and the ETH job portal for advertised doctoral positions, or email professors whose research matches yours with a CV and short proposal.
Apply to the position or programme
For advertised posts, submit directly to the hiring group. For structured doctoral programmes, complete the central application by the programme deadline with transcripts, references, and a research statement.
Interview & selection
Shortlisted candidates interview with the professor and group (usually online for international applicants). Be ready to discuss your Master's research and the project's methods.
Hiring & relocation
On selection you sign an ETH employment contract; HR supports your Swiss permit and relocation. There is no separate tuition cost to cover.
About ETH Zürich
ETH Zürich is regularly ranked the top university in continental Europe and among the global top 10 for science and engineering, with 20+ Nobel laureates in its history. A salaried ETH doctorate pairs a world-class research ecosystem with a Swiss living wage and zero tuition — a transparent, high-value research pathway for Sri Lankan graduates.
Top 10
World for Science & Engineering
Salaried
Doctoral Contracts
20+
Nobel Laureates in History
Looking for a scholarship because of the cost?
Then start here instead. Scholarships are competitive, usually partial, and decided by someone else — they are the least reliable way to make studying abroad affordable. Your destination and course choice move the number far more, and both are entirely within your control.
Work out your real number
Tuition, living costs, visa funds and flights for your destination — so you know the gap you are actually trying to close.
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The full catalogue, cheapest tuition first. Changing course or country saves far more than most awards are worth.
Browse lowest-fee courses arrow_forwardWhat CH actually costs
Tuition, living costs and the total first-year figure for CH, in LKR as well as local currency.
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Every student visa requires you to show funds. Find out what you need before you commit to an application.
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