Socioeconomic Background
The term ‘socioeconomic background’ generally refers to the various scholastic, social and economic origins of an individual, such as the level of education of their parents or the type of university entrance qualification they have. ETH Zurich welcomes people from different socioeconomic backgrounds to study and work.
First-Generation at ETH Zurich
Almost half of the students at ETH Zurich are so-called ‘first-generation students’. The parents or legal guardians of first-generation students or academics have not obtained a bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification from a Swiss-recognised university, which means that these students or academics are the first generation of their family to attend university.
First-generation students and graduates are diverse and often highly motivated and keen to prove themselves in a university environment. However, they may face challenges. For this reason, ETH Diversity aims to contribute to effective approaches to supporting first-generation students and graduates in order to promote their acceptance at the university, their academic success, and their chances of pursuing a successful academic career.
“Having equal access to educational opportunities means that people bring their own skills and their own vision. And then they can choose what they want to do.”Julia Dannath, ETH VP for Human Resources Development and Leadership
What are the key requirements of an education system that ensures that everybody has the same opportunities?
A conversation about social mobility in Switzerland, with an ETH doctoral student, ETH Vice-President for Human Resources Development and Leadership, and an ETH professor.