Bachelor

BSc in Environmental Engineering — Protected open water public space at Furttal (© Max Maurer, ETH Zürich)

A total of 180 credits are required in the Bachelor's degree studies to successfully complete the degree. It is assumed that one credit corresponds to one performance task which can be completed in 25 – 30 working hours. The entire workload includes all time that has to be put in by the student on the course (e.g. lectures, seminars and examinations, as well as preparation and follow-up time). Of course, more than the required credits may also be earned.

First year

In the first year of studies, the general fundamentals are taught, in particular in mathematics, computer science and chemistry which are also important for students on other degree programmes at ETH Zurich. The lectures are therefore offered by other departments and are held together with students on other Bachelor’s degree programmes.

In the second semester there will also be the first independent project, the “Small Project”.

Projects

The Small Project in the second semester has the following objectives:

Insight into future professional work
Introduction to efficient project and teamwork
Development of comprehensive, system-specific, clearly structured, interdisciplinary problem-solving (at concept level)
Promotion of creativity and innovation

The project work is carried out in groups together with geomatic engineering students. If successful, project work is assessed as “passed” as an ungraded semester performance.

First-year examinations

After the first year of studies, all subjects taken in the first and second semesters (with the exception of the Small Project) conclude with a first-year examination.

Subject-specific fundamentals

In the second and third year of the programme, the core competencies are studied in greater depth and the foundations laid for the Master’s degree programme. These include physics, hydrology, hydraulics, biochemistry, microbiology, ecology and geographic information systems (GIS) in the third semester, as well as the principles of the core disciplines of Environmental Engineering, as well as business management and project management from the fourth semester.

At ETH Zurich, the core disciplines include the following:

Urban water management
Ecological system design
Water resources management including earth observation
Air pollution control

Examinations will be taken in four blocks.

Language

In the first year of studies the teaching language is German. From the third semester onwards, it is possible that occasional courses will be conducted in English.

What's next after the Bachelor's degree?

The Bachelor’s degree gives direct access to the Master’s degree programme in Environmental Engineering and Environmental Science at ETH Zurich. Access is also possible to other Master's degree programmes at ETH Zurich (some of which must be applied to separately and have additional requirements), such as "Spatial Development and Infrastructure Systems" or "Management, Technology, and Economics".