Study Life & Funding
The Institute of Science, Technology and Policy (ISTP) is located in the city of external pageZurich. The city is ranked among the top 5 in the world in terms of quality of life. Located on the shores of Lake Zurich, the city boasts magnificent views of the Alps and offers opportunities for outdoor exploration along with a broad spectrum of cultural venues. Zurich is Switzerland’s largest city and is home to several universities, attracting students from all over the world.
The ISTP offers an outstanding study environment. The small class size and excellent student-to-teacher ratio enables a cooperative, interactive and well-adjusted learning experience. The Institute holds weekly Colloquia and regularly organises schools as well as field trips. It is situated in its own building close to the ETH main building and includes the ISTP Lounge – inspired by a Vienna-style coffee house. The lounge serves as a meeting and event place for students, staff, professors, and guests.
You can get an impression of the ISTP student life from images gathered from our various past colloquia, events, and teaching classes.
Experience ISTP up close!
Follow us at external page@eth_istp to learn about student life and get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at our events.
Stay informed with ISTP!
Follow us external pageon LinkedIn for updates on our events, ISTP publications, and the latest news from our institute.
If you are a non-Swiss applicant, please check the information by the International Student Support (immigration, residency, health care etc.).
ETH Zurich supports excellent students wishing to pursue a Master’s degree at ETH. Take a look at ETH's scholarship opportunities.
Other scholarship opportunities:
- The external pageScientific Policy Grants offer politics scholarships for academics that enable graduates of Swiss universities to experience the political processes in the Swiss parliament “live”.
- There are also opportunities for scholarships from other Swiss foundations. Here you may find a list of non-ETH based scholarship opportunities.
The ETH Financial Aid Office provides an overview of available services and advising.
Students who are accepted into our MSc STP programme are given the opportunity to apply for research and/or teaching assistant positions. The ISTP will reach out to all accepted students and coordinate the application process for those interested in working as a research or teaching assistant in an affiliated research group of ISTP members or for other professors at the GESS department. Professors with open positions will contact their applicant of interest.
- Note: This only applies to accepted students who received a study place offer and then registered for the Master's studies (see step 7 in the Admissions section).
- Note: The ISTP will reach out to accepted students to collect applications. However, the professors make the final decisions. Do not apply beforehand or contact professors personally.
- Note: This is a coordination effort from the ISTP side only. There is no guarantee for open positions or that all applicants will receive one. Furthermore, ISTP students do not have priority over other students applying for such research and/or teaching assistant positions.
For information about the research and/or teaching assistant positions offered by ISTP, please refer to the available open positions at the Institute.
GESS Who! the student association for all those who are studying Humanities, Social and Political Sciences at ETH. Learn more about them at the GESS Who website or on their external pageInstagram page.
Sw*ish is the society for women in social sciences and humanities. They organize lecture series and workshops, have a book club and much more. Check out Sw*ish's website to learn more.
ETH Cyber Group is an ETH student initiative that organizes events to bring the topic of cyber security and cyber policy to students and create a network between students, academia, industry and the public sector. Learn more about the group at the Cyber Group website.
Take a look at all VSETH student organisations and find something that suits you!
The STP Alumni association provides former students of the ISTP with a platform for remaining in contact with one another. The organisation welcomes STP MSc and TPP CAS/MAS alumni as well as former doctoral candidates. The association regularly hosts events, also for current students and manages an alumni LinkedIn group.