Overview

Key facts:

This 3-year PhD in Plant Science and Policy program at the ETH Zurich - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, introduces students in block courses and workshops to theory, tools and skills for advancing policy and then applying these in various case studies.

Each course is organized as a series of lectures, literature studies, and group work. Real-life case studies and exchange with external experts, policy-makers and politicians provide hands-on experience. Opportunities and expectations for networking are central to the training program. Students are further encouraged to attend at least one national or international conference addressing policy topics in natural sciences.

Accreditation

The program is fully accredited within the Life Science Zurich Graduate School.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Evidence-based Policy-making

Stakeholder Engagement

Communicating Science

Building Political Support

Contributing to Policy Action – Analysis and Communication of Risks and Uncertainties

Understanding Policy Evaluation

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 36 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-09-15 00:00:00

Apply anytime.

More details

There is a rolling admission policy for the doctorate: you can contact a potential supervisor and submit your application at any time.

Language

English

TOEFL^® IBT

100

Schedule TOEFL®

Credits

12 ECTS

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Zürich, Switzerland

Disciplines

Environmental Economics & Policy Botany View 4 other PhDs in Botany in Switzerland

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

TOEFL^® IBT

100

Schedule TOEFL®

Other requirements

General requirements

Required Qualifications

Applicants must hold a university Master's degree (or equivalent) before starting the Science & Policy program. Please note that degrees from Universities of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschulen) are not accepted.

Applicants must have strong English skills.

Student Insurance via Studyportals Partner

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items like Additional medical costs, Repatriation, Liability etc. Make sure your student insurance covers your needs.

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Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at ETH Zurich - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and/or in Switzerland, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

500 CHF / year

≈ 500 CHF / year
Domestic Applies to you

Applies to you

Citizens or residents

500 CHF / year

≈ 500 CHF / year

Living costs

Zürich

Switzerland

1920 - 2572 CHF / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Plant Science and Policy.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

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