ETH Zurich IELTS requirement: minimum band scores for 2026
ETH Zurich based in Zurich publishes IELTS Academic minimums for both undergraduate and graduate study. The two cards below show those institutional baselines; the editorial body translates the bands into a study target and lists the programmes that publish their own, higher thresholds.
ETH Zurich requires a minimum IELTS Academic score of 7.0 overall for graduate admission as of 2026. Undergraduate requirements vary by school. All figures are sourced from the ETH admissions page and verified on 2026-05-26.
No single minimum published. Most undergraduate (Bachelor's) instruction at ETH Zurich is in German. International applicants for German-taught Bachelor programmes provide German proficiency (Goethe / TestDaF) rather than IELTS. The small number of English-medium first-degree options accept IELTS at programme-specific thresholds.
ETH Zurich accepts IELTS Academic for Master's admission to English-taught programmes. The certificate must be at C1 level on the Common European Framework - equivalent to roughly IELTS 7.0 overall. Some Master's programmes are taught in German or require both English and German; check the programme-specific language-requirement table on the ETH website. Certificates must be no more than two years old at the application deadline.
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Last verified 2026-05-26. The figures on this page are taken from ETH Zurich's own admissions page. Verify against the official source before relying on a specific number; programme directors can revise English requirements between intakes.
About ETH and its IELTS requirement
ETH Zurich is Europe's leading institute for science, engineering and architecture, regularly inside the global top 10 by QS rank. For its English-taught Master's programmes the language requirement is CEFR C1, which IELTS Academic 7.0 satisfies. German is required for most Bachelor programmes and some Master's tracks.
Translating the published minimum into a study target
For graduate study the institutional minimum is overall 7.0 with no published per-section minimum (CEFR C1). ETH Zurich accepts IELTS Academic for Master's admission to English-taught programmes. The certificate must be at C1 level on the Common European Framework - equivalent to roughly IELTS 7.0 overall. Some Master's programmes are taught in German or require both English and German; check the programme-specific language-requirement table on the ETH website. Certificates must be no more than two years old at the application deadline.
How to prepare for the ETH IELTS minimum
A target of 7.0 requires reliable performance across all four sections (CEFR C1). Most candidates at this band drop marks on Writing Task 2 or Speaking Part 3 because those sections reward extended, organised argument rather than accuracy alone. Practise full-length under timed conditions, then drill the weakest section.
Other English tests ETH accepts
TOEFL iBT, Cambridge CAE (C1 Advanced) and Cambridge CPE (C2 Proficiency) all accepted alongside IELTS at the C1+ level. German-taught Master's programmes require Goethe Zertifikat C1 or TestDaF 4.
Alternatives and thresholds change between intakes. Confirm on the official admissions page before relying on a specific alternative test.
Official sources
- ETH Zurich - official English-language requirements (primary source for the bands on this page)
- IELTS.org - IELTS scoring in detail (official nine-band scale and how each band is awarded)
- British Council - IELTS band scores explained
Common questions
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Does ETH accept other English tests besides IELTS?
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