FAQs

• Most of our students reduce their professional employment to 80% and complete the programme in 4 semesters;
• The maximum duration of study is 6 semesters.

• The MAS MTEC is a four-semester, part-time programme, starting every year in the Autumn Semester (September).
• It consists of two parts: the first three semesters are made up of lectures, seminars and block courses, while the fourth semester is devoted to a Master’s thesis.
• Classes usually take place between 8.00 and 20.00.
• We recommend reducing your professional workload to 80 percent and completing the programme parallel to your job.
• To this end, we offer flexibility in terms of distributing your workload over the course of the programme.

The MAS MTEC curriculum can be tailored to your own individual needs and interests. 

It comprises four different categories of study:

• Core Courses, which provide foundational knowledge in management and economics
• Elective Courses, which deepen your understanding of issues that cut across disciplines and technologies
• Skill-based Training, which focuses on your personal development
• The Master’s thesis, which applies your expertise to a real-world business context of your choice

An optional course abroad, featuring selected seminars, workshops, company visits and networking events completes the curriculum.

• Core courses are held in the ETH main building and can also be completed online.
• Elective and Skill-based Training courses are held in small seminars or interactive block courses and require on-site presence.

Most of our students reduce their professional employment to 80% and complete the programme in 4 semesters, on a part-time basis.

• The programme starts every year in September.
• The semester dates can be found in the ETH academic calendar.

• There is no age limit, but in general a MAS MTEC degree is a qualification which you would expect to take early on in your career.
• We generally have an age range from 30 to 40 years.
  

Most MAS MTEC students have about 4-6 years of professional experience.

Building on your academic background, the MAS MTEC programme empowers you to employ new technologies to address societal problems and business needs. You will become an innovative and critical leader, mindful of the impact of your decisions both on the organisations you work for and on society as a whole.

Over the course of the programme, participants enhance their ability to:

• develop concepts to sustainable growth support;
• structure and illustrate complex entrepreneurial undertakings;
• plan and implement interdisciplinary projects in collaboration with functional specialists;
• solve problems in a structured and innovative way;
• assume executive responsibilities;
• develop holistic thinking methods.

• Accreditation in the form of a Master of Advanced Studies degree from ETH Zurich;
• High academic standards combined with a strong practical orientation and a focus on technology management;
• Access to in-depth management and economics expertise, and provision of tools necessary to become a highly successful senior manager within multinational companies;
• Individual specialisation: You can choose from 50+ courses and tailor the programme to your own individual needs and interests;
• We further develope your communication, problem-​solving and self-​management skills with Skill-based Training courses;
• Course Abroad (optional);
  
• Mentoring Programme (optional);
• Integrative student-alumni learning formats.

The introduction of the titel MAS (Master of Advanced Studies) was discussed on local and international platforms and their advantages and disavantages were considered.

According to the Bologna declaration (in charge of harmonisation of European university systems) there are no more degrees with the term "Diplom", therefore the title "Nachdiplomstudium" cannot be used any longer. From now on the title MAS (Master of Avanced Studies) is used throughout Switzerland for postgraduate studies and was also introduced in Europe. In 2004 the CRUS (Conferénce des Recteurs des Universités) adopted it and it is now binding for all Swiss universities. The ETH Zurich hands out this title, which is in accordance with the Bologna system (see agreement from 19.5.2005 by ETH Executive Board).

• 60 ECTS credits

• The ETH academic calendar shows all dates and deadlines for ETH students.
• A downloadable MAS MTEC schedule also includes all MAS MTEC dates and events.
• Both calendars are available here

Take the opportunity for a personal exchange with our Admissions Team.

external page Book a personal consultation

• We are regularly offering information events between September and April.
• These events offer the opportunity to meet with programme staff, students and alumni to get first-hand information about the programme. 

Programme costs

• Tuition fee: CHF 23,700.
• Costs for materials: CHF 200 - 300 per semester.
• Costs for flight and accommodation for the Course Abroad (optional): approx. CHF 3,000.
  

Application fee

• CHF 50 for persons with a Swiss university degree
• CHF 150 for persons with another university degree (non-refundable, credit card payment only)

Withdrawal fee

• Within 30 days after the admission date: free of charge
• More than 30 days after the admission date and before the start of the semester: CHF 5,000
• After the start of the semester: CHF 10,000

• The tuition fees will be invoiced in two equal instalments during the first two semesters of study (October and March).
• Payment in more instalments is not possible.

• ETH Zurich is not able to issue scholarships for continuing education programmes.
• However, students from low-income countries can apply for E4D continuing education scholarships.
• The Engineering for Development (E4D) Continuing Education Scholarship Programme awards scholarships for travel and living expenses for students from low-income countries.
  

Bring your own device

ETH Zurich requires you to have a laptop for studying with a certain minimum configuration.

Find out more about bringing your own device

The programme is directed at specialists and emerging leaders with a technical or scientific university education and at least two years of professional experience.

• Applications for the autumn 2025 intake will open on 1 November 2024. 
• Our admissions process operates in fixed rounds. 
• Applying early allows you to secure your spot in the programme.
• Final application deadline is on 30 April.

Go to Application and Admissions for detailed information about our application process

• A degree at the Master's level in a scientific or technical discipline from a university recognised by ETH, or an equivalent educational qualification
• A Bachelor's degree is accepted on presentation of additional qualifications
• At least two years of professional experience
• Good command of English

Required language skills

• English: C2 external page show proficiency scale
• You do not need any certification.
  

You can apply via eApply. Further details to the application process can be found here.

Application documents

• Diploma of the highest or most relevant degree
• Transcript of records (with grades) of that degree
• Passport or identity card
• Download Declaration of consent (PDF, 94 KB)
• CV
• Letter of recommendation and letter of motivation
• Job references

Additional application documents

• Doctoral students: Thesis abstract

• Please complete the application form in eApply and upload the required documents.
• Please fully complete the online application form and submit it by 30 April at the latest.
• When you complete your application, you will automatically be redirected to pay the application fee by credit card.
  
• You will receive a confirmation of receipt by e-​mail once you have submitted your online application.

• The application process takes place in May and June for admissions in the following Autumn Semester (September).
• If your application was successful and you have been admitted, you do not need to confirm your participation, you will be matriculated automatically.
• In case of withdrawal, we expect a written notification within the deadlines mentioned in the admission letter to info@sce.ethz.ch. In case of a late withdrawal, withdrawal fees will be charged.

Please contact our MAS MTEC Admissions Team.

external page Book a personal consultation

You have to earn 48 credit points (CP) for courses (max. 53 CP).

You may choose courses according to your own interests with the requirement:

• Core Courses: earn a minimum of 3 CP in at least 5 of 6 competence areas
• Skill-based Training: pass 2 courses of this course category
  

You can find further information here

• MAS MTEC students have the opportunity to earn at most 6 CP from other ETH departments.
• However, courses at institutions other than ETH are not recognised.
• Prior to signing up for these courses you have to get approval from Student Services.
• No credit points will be awarded for language courses.

You can register for a maximum of 8 courses per semester.  

We recommend to start working on the Master’s thesis in the 4th semester by calendar week 12 at the latest.

The Master’s thesis is written in collaboration with an industrial partner, organisation or institution and is supervised by an MTEC professor and a company supervisor.

Students have to fulfil certain requirements before they can register for a Master’s thesis:

• You must have read the Download Citation Etiquette (PDF, 88 KB) information sheet on plagiarism as well as the Download MAS MTEC Anti-plagiarism information sheet (PDF, 532 KB)
• You must have passed the "Epigeum's Avoiding Plagiarism Online Course" which covers anti-plagiarism topics and citation rules in your 1st semester of study
  

Please register for the Master’s thesis via myStudies. Proceed as follows:

• open myStudies;
• under «functions» select «projects, papers, theses»;
• follow further instructions and enter start & submission date, and the names of the supervising professor, external supervisor, and co-supervisor, as well as the thesis title;
• finish the registration process by clicking «register definitely».

• The Master’s thesis is written either on a full-time (10 weeks) or a part-time basis (16 weeks).
• The duration of the Master's thesis has to be stated in advance when registering it in myStudies.
• In exeptional cases it is possible to apply for a prolongation of the handling time. You must submit a request to the Student Administration.

• The minimum passing grade for a Master’s thesis is 4.0.
• A Master’s thesis that does not earn a passing grade can be repeated once.
• A new topic has to be chosen for the second attempt.

• Programme language: English
• Language of performance assessments: English
• Required language skills: English C2; external page show proficiency scales
• No language certificate needed