The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) in Lausanne is considering implementing a cap of 3,000 places for first-year bachelor's degrees starting in 2025. The proposed limit, intended
to last for four years with the possibility of renewal, specifically targets students with foreign degrees, and a consultation process has been initiated.
A press release on Monday stated, “Thanks to its teaching and research excellence, EPFL has become a university of choice, especially for high-school graduates in other countries. However, the growing size of our student body is putting a strain on the quality of the education we can provide.”
In practical terms, admission without restrictions will continue for graduates with a Swiss school leaving certificate (Maturité), as mandated by law, along with those repeating their first year. Any remaining available spots would then be allocated to applicants with foreign diplomas, prioritized based on their secondary school leaving grades.
Over the past twelve years, the student population at EPFL has more than doubled. Starting with 5,283 bachelor's and master's students in 2010, the institution is expected to welcome 10,894 students in 2023. Photo by Fridolin freudenfett, Wikimedia commons.