Overview

Doctoral students from Mechanical and Process Engineering (D-MAVT) att the ETH Zurich - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology have the duty and the right to continue their education within the framework of their doctoral studies. Doctoral studies include the deepening of specialized knowledge, the expansion of interdisciplinary competencies, and the integration into the scientific community. Doctoral students coordinate the details of their individual doctoral studies with their thesis supervisor.

Key facts

One of the first milestones in doctoral studies is the creation of a doctoral plan, which must be presented at the aptitude colloquium. Passing the aptitude colloquium is a prerequisite for definitive admission to the doctorate.After successfully passing the aptitude colloquium, research progress must be reviewed and discussed in detail at least once a year. This discussion is documented in the progress report. Together with the annual status conversation, this process serves as an early warning system for addressing potential issues in the student-supervisor relationship and provides a structured framework for feedback.

During the doctoral program, doctoral students must earn a minimum of 12 ECTS credits. These credits are aimed at deepening knowledge in their field of study and beyond. Credits can also be earned by participating in activities such as international conferences, which help students integrate into the scientific community.

Programme Structure

To obtain additional information about the program, we kindly suggest that you visit the programme website, where you can find further details and relevant resources.

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

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Credits

12 ECTS

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Zürich, Switzerland

Disciplines

Mechanical Engineering

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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

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Other requirements

General requirements

In principle, all university graduates with a Master’s degree or an equivalent university degree can apply for admission to doctoral studies.With the following degrees an admission is not possible:

Degrees from universities of applied science

Master’s degrees from university continuing education departments (MAS, DAS, etc.)

Any kind of MBA (Master of Business Administration)

Bachelor's and/or Bachelor Honours degrees

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.

Studyportals partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home.

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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 Mechanical and Process Engineering.

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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