Details

In the 3rd semester students are initially given a practical introduction to key measuring methodology in environmental engineering in Environmental Laboratory I. Students therefore deal with issues of metrology and measuring uncertainty, learn to characterise systems and compare and discuss the results of measurements with simple models. The work is documented with scientifically written reports.

In continued laboratory work in the 4th semester (Environmental Laboratory II), students learn to characterise environment-related systems and processes with experimental methods: incineration plants, activated sludge reactors, hydraulic systems, evapotranspiration, and disinfection of drinking water. They realise the work involved in gathering experimental data and learn how to handle it (evaluation, weighting, compression of information collected). As in Laboratory I, the work is concluded with a report.

Further information on the Environmental Laboratory (only in German).

In addition to the basic lectures in urban water management, ecological system analysis and water resources management, in the category of minor courses the professors offer half-day or full-day excursions. These excursions are awarded credits within the category Minor.

As part of the subject-specific electives, courses totaling at least 27 credits must be attended from the 5th semester onwards. The courses are assigned to different areas for a better understanding of the content, but can be freely selected independently of the assigned area.

The Environmental Engineering seminar in the 5th semester discusses issues from the core disciplines of the degree programme (Water resources management, Urban water management, Waste disposal technology, Air pollution control, Earth observation) on the basis of scientific publications presented and critically examined by the students. At the beginning of the seminar there is training in presentation techniques.

Bachelor’s degree students with an interest in doing so have the option spending one or two semesters at EPF Lausanne or at a university outside Switzerland in the 3rd year of their degree.

A condition for this is that they must have passed the first-year examination and the examination blocks (average grade over the last examination block of at least 4.5 at the time of departure).

Early Planning
Students who are interested in taking part in an exchange programme must obtain information in good time (approximately 1 year in advance) from the ETH Zurich Student Exchange Office.

To prepare for and plan an exchange, it is recommended that students contact the exchange coordinators for the Environmental Engineering degree programme.

In collaboration with the lecturers and the exchange advisory service, before enrolling on an exchange programme, it is recommended to draw up an individual curriculum which should be submitted to the exchange coordinators with the signatures of the lecturers. The exchange programme curriculum should be compiled in such a way that it completely or largely replaces the teaching units that will be missed at ETH. Study at the host university, therefore, must contain approximately 2/3 of the lectures in Environmental Engineering at ETH over the same period (at least 20 ECTS credits/semester). The entire duration of study programme should not be extended by an exchange programme.

Authorisation for an exchange programme will be granted by the director of studies.

Departmental exchange coordinator

Sabine Schirrmacher

Dep. Bau, Umwelt und Geomatik
Stefano-Franscini-Platz 5
8093 Zürich
Switzerland

Although an internship is not compulsory in the Bachelor’s degree programme in Environmental Engineering, it may be advantageous for the student to gain an understanding of the issues and problems arising in professional practice, before embarking on a Master’s degree programme.
The search for an internship is the responsibility of the student. The internship cannot be credited to the study programme.