Reviews of Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) | Switzerland

Useful | 0

Gonzalo V

Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain
Computer Science / IT, Graduate, Erasmus

Student life

Describe host city:

Students interact with the local community without much university involvement

Activities: Takes place mostly within the university/student environment

Travel, Nightlife: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment

Personal social experience

Activities

Nightlife

Travel

Overall

Personal comments

Lausanne is not exactly a

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Gonzalo V

Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain
Computer Science / IT, Graduate, Erasmus

Housing

Type of housing: Room in a studenthouse

Arranged by: Host university

If returning, I would choose: In another studenthouse

Why?

I would go to a different studenthouse, with bigger rooms and more facilities.

Personal assessment

Cost

Facilities

Location

Cleanliness

Space

Personal comments

The exchange office there works pretty well, they gave me much more help than on my origin university. The main problem is that there is no campus, and therefore most of the accomodation places are far from the university. There are some very nice appartments but it is difficult to find a place if you are not going to stay a whole year.

Useful | 1

Gonzalo V

Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain
Computer Science / IT, Graduate, Erasmus

Languages

Language of instruction: English

Local language was: Different than language of instruction

Was learning English a key decision factor?

Yes, I wanted to improve my English

Was learning the local language a key decision factor?

Yes, I wanted to improve my the local language

How much did you improve your English?

My level before: Everyday knowledge (shopping, directions, etc.)
My level after: At ease in most situations

How much did you improve your the local language?

My level before: Everyday knowledge (shopping, directions, etc.)
My level after: No problems in any areas (including slang)

Language difficulties

Social

Educational

Administrative / Institutional

Overall

Personal comments

In Lausanne they speak French, but you have not too many problems speaking English in many situations. Anyhow, I recommend to everyone coming to do an effort and to learn French, it will make your life much more easier, and you can learn it for free at the university.

Useful | 1

Gonzalo V

Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain
Computer Science / IT, Graduate, Erasmus

Expenses

Main source of funding:

An ERASMUS grant

Other sources of funding:

Family<br> Personal savings<br> A private grant

Work opportunities:

It was not legal for me to work

Personal spending habits

Because the level of life is much more higher than in my country (most of the prices are twice or three times higher). Besides, when you are in another place you spend quite a lot of money travelling and hanging around.

Travel, Nightlife, Overall, Housing, Food:

was more expensive than at home.

Telephone:

was the same price as at home.

Accessibility of student needs

Second-hand text books

Second-hand household items

Second-hand bedding

Administrative

Money from home

Personal comments

The main problem is the health insurance. Health insurance is private and is mandatory to have one (which is pretty expensive). But if you are going to stay less than a year, you can maybe try to validate the insurance you have in your home country, saving more than 100 CHF per month. Also, if you are student and under 25, metro/bus monthly ticket is cheaper.

Useful | 0

Gonzalo V

Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain
Computer Science / IT, Graduate, Erasmus

Academic

Course recommendations

Try to get in touch with the assistants everytime you need it, because they are quite accessible, much more than professors. Be prepared to plenty of projects and exercises throgouhout the course.

My academic experiences

Quality of courses

Variety of courses

Access to resources

Interaction with teachers

Interaction with international students

Interaction with local students

Personal comments

They should try to promote more the interaction with local students, the contact is quite reduced, and the system does not help at all.

My opinion of the university assessment

Exams at end of course

Exams throughout the course

Essays and/or projects at the end of course

Essays and/or projects throughout the course

Overall

Useful | 0

Gonzalo V

Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain
Computer Science / IT, Graduate, Erasmus

Overall

I wish I had known...

No

In my opinion:

Most people loved it.

Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important

Academic reasons

4

Culture

2

Costs

1

Activities

2

Campus life

2

Party / people

3

Weather / location

2

Personal recommendation

It is a great university, with lots of money and facilities. There is a lot of reknown professors, and in most of the laboratories English is the official language. And if you like skiing, Switzerland is your paradise:)

During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot

Became familiar with another culture

3

Traveled

3

Improved language skills

3

Met people from other countries

3

Became more independent

4

Partied a lot

2

Experienced a change in life

3

Advanced my studies & career

3

Final comments

It is a good place to learn/improve your French, and also to relax from time to time (life is rather calm). If you pretend to travel quite often around Switzerland, don't forget to buy the card "demi-tarif" (150 CHF a year), so that you only pay the half of the train ticket price, and maybe also the card "Voie 7" (90 CHF),which allows you to travel after 7 PM until the end of the service without paying the train.

Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)

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