EPFL EDIC 2027: Fully Supported PhD in Computer and Communication Sciences at EPFL, Switzerland

Deadline: 1 December 2026 (23:59 CET) | Location: Lausanne, Switzerland | Field: Computer and Communication Sciences | Funding: Salaried PhD, with 55 one-year fellowships available

EPFL’s Doctoral Program in Computer and Communication Sciences (EDIC) is one of the largest and most competitive computer science PhD programmes in Europe. It covers areas from AI and data science to cybersecurity and computer systems, and it admits through a single central committee. You don’t need to find a supervisor before you apply. The main round closes on 1 December.

About the programme

EDIC covers all areas of computer science and of information and communication theory, with roughly eighty affiliated faculty members, and is one of the largest and most competitive doctoral programmes at EPFL. The programme is entirely in English and lasts 4 to 6 years. During the first year, students take at least one advanced course, join research projects and pass a candidacy exam. Doctoral students also act as teaching assistants.

Funding and fellowships

EPFL says the programme supports all admitted students financially at competitive salaries. How you get funded depends on the route:

• IC School Fellowship: Among accepted applicants, the strongest are offered a one-year IC School Fellowship, and 55 fellowships are available in 2027. Fellowship students are unaffiliated during their first year, so they can take courses and get to know different labs. They are hired into a lab at the end of the first semester or later in the year.

• Direct hiring: Accepted applicants who don’t receive a fellowship are made available to the affiliated labs. A professor who is interested in your application may contact you and invite you to an interview.

• In total, around 50 doctoral students start in EDIC each year.

EPFL also publishes a page on doctoral students’ salaries. You can find it through the “Useful links” section of the EDIC application page.

Key dates

• Main round deadline: 1 December (23:59 CET), for enrolment the following September.

• Open House: Candidates selected as fellowship recipients from the first round are invited to the EDIC Open House.

• Second round: 15 April, which considers a much smaller number of candidates who did not apply in the first round.

• Programme start: September.

Who can apply?

At the time of enrolment, applicants should hold a four- or five-year Bachelor’s or a Master’s degree with a rigorous background in computer science, communication systems, electrical engineering, mathematics, physics or related fields. So a Master’s degree is not strictly required.

What you need to apply

All documents are uploaded as unprotected PDFs of up to 2 MB each:

1. Grade records from all universities attended, as unofficial PDFs including the grading scale

2. Diplomas if already available, or an attestation stating when your degree will be issued

3. A CV in English

4. A one- or two-page Statement of Purpose in English covering your areas of interest, the faculty you’d like to work with, your research experience and your objectives

5. Three letters of recommendation, preferably from professors, though industry employers are acceptable

6. A copy of your passport or official identity document

Other points to know:

• GPA: Enter your cumulative GPA exactly as it appears on your transcript, without rescaling it.

• English test: Non-native speakers whose degree wasn’t taught in English must submit a recognised test. The minimums are TOEFL iBT 100 or IELTS Academic 7.0, with several other tests accepted.

• GRE: It is optional, and the lack of a score will not harm your application.

• Fee: Submitting an application is free.

How to apply

The process is fully electronic, including the recommendation letters. Late applications are not accepted, and incomplete applications may be denied. Apply through the online application portal linked from the EDIC “How to apply” page on epfl.ch. Questions can go to the contact address listed on that page.

Details that catch applicants out

• You can’t edit after submitting. Even if you submit before the deadline, you cannot update your application afterwards. Check every document first.

• Referees are emailed when you submit. They receive an automated request at that point, and your application is reviewed straight after the deadline. If the committee reviews your file before a letter arrives, it won’t be reviewed again. Submit early.

• Use institutional email addresses for referees. Letters from anonymous addresses such as Gmail may be subject to additional review.

• You don’t need to contact faculty first. The committee decides centrally, but you should browse the affiliated labs and name the research areas and faculty that interest you in the form and statement.

Tips for a strong application

• Make the Statement of Purpose specific. Name subfields and faculty, and explain why your research experience fits them.

• Send referee requests the week you submit, not the week of the deadline. The review starts immediately, so early letters count.

• Prepare the English test early if it applies to you, since results must be available by the deadline.

• Use the student-written guide. EDIC’s PhD students’ association has published an “applying to PhD” guide, and EPFL links to it from the application page.

Want help with your application?

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