Degrees, credits & grading system, legal basis

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Degrees and certificates awarded by ETH Zurich

Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees

The Bachelor’s degree certifies the completion of the first level of university education and qualifies the holder to begin Master’s degree studies.

The Master’s degree certifies the completion of research-oriented specialisation in the respective subject and qualifies the holder to enter a career, and/or to embark on doctoral studies. The Master’s degree is equivalent to the former Diploma awarded in non-tiered Diploma degree programmes.

Teaching diplomas and didactic certificates

The Teaching Diploma certifies completion of additional didactic training and qualifies the holder to teach in the Gymnasium (academic-track upper secondary school). The Teaching Certificate is a shorter additional didactic training course which may also be completed in non-Gymnasium subjects.

Doctoral degrees

The doctoral degree certifies the successful execution of independent research work and completion of the doctoral degree programme.

Continuing education

The Qualifications awarded in academic continuing education (MAS, DAS, CAS) certify the completion of a specialisation, or the interdisciplinary extension of the subject expertise of professional managers or specialists. They do not automatically qualify the holder for admission to a doctoral programme.

Qualification documents

ETH Zurich issues diplomas, academic records and further academic documents of completion only as unique copies. Duplicates or translations with the same legal validity as the original can be issued on request.

Documents issued by ETH

Credits

The ETH Zurich credit system is based upon the external page European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). One credit corresponds to an average student workload of 30 hours. Acquiring credits is always subject to passing an examination. Special rules apply to doctoral studies.

Credits for completion of studies

Grading system

Performance assessments are either graded or assessed on a pass/fail basis. Failed performance assessments may be repeated once.

ETH Zurich deploys a grading scale of 6.0 to 1.0, divided into quarter grades; 6.0 is the highest and 1.0 the lowest grade. The performance assessment is passed if it receives a grade of 4.0 or higher. For further information, including the relationship of the ETH grading system to ECTS grades, see the document Download ETH Zurich's Grading System and ECTS Grades (PDF, 54 KB)

Several performance assessments may be grouped in an examination block. The result of an examination block is computed as the weighted average of the individual examination grades. The examination block is passed if this average grade is at least a 4.0. A failed examination block must be repeated as a whole; credits are only awarded for the entire examination block if it is passed.