Einleitung/Introduction

Programmes of Study

Departments of Mathematics and Physics (D−MATH and D−PHYS)

Department of Mathematics

General
D−MATH has overall responsibility for the teaching of mathematics at the ETH Zurich. Its rich and carefully coordinated offering of lectures and seminars covers the most diverse areas of pure and applied mathematics. The department’s goal is to acquaint its students with fundamental mathematical concepts and structures, and to hone their skills such that they are able to independently apply learned theories to new situations.

Department of Physics

General
D−PHYS has overall responsibility for the teaching of physics at the ETH Zurich. The physics curriculum comprises a large body of obligatory, elective and extra lectures on the most important topics of experimental and theoretical physics, plus proseminars, practical work and experimental semester projects.

This department’s objective is to introduce students to scientific and mathematical modes of thought, provide them with fundamental knowledge of and skills in physics, and acquaint them with modern methods for independent solution of experimental or theoretical problems.

Five Programmes

The two departments are together responsible for these five programmes

• Mathematics
• Statistics
• Computational Science and Engineering
• Physics
• Neural Systems and Computation

The corresponding activities are regulated and administered collaboratively in the common part of the curriculum.

Direction and Study Administration

Head of Studies: Prof. Dr. Gian Michele Graf, HG G 33.2, Tel. 044 632 34 78

Secretariat Study Administration

Gelawej Assef, HG G 33.1, Tel. 044 632 43 83
Doris Amstad, *HG G 33.2, Tel. 044 632 34 78

* Postal address of the Course Director

General
A particularity of the ETH Zurich compared with other universities is the close links it makes between mathematics and physics. These are founded on tradition and the conviction that the two disciplines will continue to influence one another’s development.

In addition to the courses in Mathematics and Physics emphasizing deep knowledge of these fields, the Computational Science and Engineering course offers scientific and engineering training which is interdisciplinary, application- and problem-oriented, and deploys the computer as an intrinsic tool. A supplementary course may lead to the teaching certificate in Mathematics or Physics.

Links between individual courses of study are cultivated at all levels and allow students to change professional focus if they wish.

Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree Courses

Mathematics

Director of Studies
Prof. Dr. Horst Knörrer, HG G 62.2, Tel. 044 632 34 22

Subject and exchange programmes guidance
Dr. Maurice Cochand, HG G 28.3, Tel. 044 632 50 60

Concentration Insurance Mathematics
Prof. Dr. Paul Embrechts, HG F 42.3, Tel. 044 632 34 19

Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics
The Bachelor’s degree course in Mathematics lasts three years. During the first year the foundations of mathematics are taught, supplemented by the basics of physics and informatics. The obligatory curriculum is identical to that of the Physics course; after the foundation year students may choose to proceed in Mathematics, Physics or Computer Science.

The second year of study in Mathematics covers further obligatory subjects and offers a broad knowledge in various areas of the subject.

The third year is dedicated to specific areas of pure or applied mathematics, and students largely exercise freedom of choice. The Bachelor’s degree examinations normally take place at the end of the respective year of study.

Master’s degree in Mathematics
The standard period of study for the Master’s degree in Mathematics is one and a half years. The Master’s degree consolidates and deepens knowledge gained during the ETH Zurich Bachelor’s degree programme, and allows concentration on a particular subject within the many areas of mathematics. It leads to the Master’s degree in Mathematics or Applied Mathematics. The course concludes with delivery of a Master’s thesis demonstrating the student’s ability to function independently as a mathematician. Completion of the Master’s degree is a preparation for employment or for Ph.D. work.

Specialized Master Degree Programme in Statistics

Director of Studies
Prof. Dr. Sara van de Geer, HG G 24.1, Tel. 044 632 22 52

Subject and exchange programmes guidance
Dr. Markus Kalisch, HG G 15.2, Tel. 044 632 34 35

Specialized Master Degree Programme in Statistics
The specialized Master Degree Programme in Statistics is intended for Bachelor degree holders from various subject areas. This programme provides a solid base in statistical methods, which depending on students’ previous knowledge and interest may be augmented by subjects in the areas of statistical methodology, applied statistics or biostatistics.

In three semesters students are familiarized with fundamental methods and concepts, confront the statistical procedures involved in a statistical application area, and produce a Master thesis. Interested Bachelor degree holders in mathematics are advised to do the Master Programme in Applied Mathematics, where they may choose a Statistics emphasis.

Computational Science and Engineering

Director of Studies
Prof. Dr. Ralf Hiptmair, HG G 58.2, Tel. 044 632 34 04

Subject and exchange programmes guidance
Prof. Dr. Kaspar Nipp, HG E 13.2, Tel. 044 632 34 07

Bachelor’s degree in Computational Science and Engineering
The Bachelor Degree Programme in Computational Science and Engineering was offered for the first time in the Winter Semester 2003/04. In the Autumn Semester 2008 a base year was introduced.

The base year can also be completed in another ETH Zurich programme or at another university. Students may then transfer to the Bachelor Degree Programme in Computational Science and Engineering at the beginning of the second year. After the base year around half of the credit points required in obligatory subjects can be obtained. The other half may be earned via obligatory core subjects in a selected focus area, electives, and a Bachelor thesis project.

Master’s degree in Computational Science and Engineering
The Master’s degree programme in Computational Science and Engineering was introduced in the Winter Semester of 2005/06. It builds upon the Bachelor’s degree in Computational Science and Engineering and takes one year to complete, plus five months to write a Master’s thesis. The study year involves two obligatory basic subjects, a semester thesis, elective subjects and a specialism.

Physics

Director of Studies
Prof. Dr. Bertram Batlogg, HPF F 9, Tel. 044 633 22 48

Subject programmes guidance
Prof. Dr. Markus Sigrist, HPF D 19, Tel. 044 633 22 89

Exchange programmes guidance
Dr. Diethlem Würtz, HIT K 32.3, Tel. 044 633 38 24

Bachelor’s degree in Physics
The Bachelor’s degree programme in Physics lasts three years. During the first year the foundations of mathematics and physics are taught, supplemented by the basics of informatics. The obligatory curriculum is identical to that of the Mathematics course; after the foundation year students may choose to proceed in Physics, Mathematics, or Computational Science and Engineering.

The second year of the Physics programme covers further obligatory subjects and provides a broad knowledge in various areas of physics and mathematics.

The third year is dedicated to specific areas of experimental and theoretical physics. The Bachelor’s degree examinations normally take place at the end of the respective year of study.

Master’s Degree in Physics
The Master Degree Programme in Physics builds on the knowledge gained in the Bachelor Degree Programme. In the Master Programme emphasis is laid on flexibility, and on learning in a research group context. The lecture offering is large and the range of themes covered very wide.

In addition to a concentration on one or more specialized areas in physics or mathematics students also select further courses from the ETH offering. This gives them the opportunity to become familiar with elements of other scientific disciplines, for example biology and chemistry, at an advanced level.

The programme concludes with a 4-month Master thesis project, via which students demonstrate that they are able to work independently in the areas of theoretical or experimental physics. The Master Degree serves as a preparatory step to doctoral work or as a qualification for entry into the labour market.

Specialized Master Degree Programme in Neural Systems and Computation

Director of Studies
Prof. Dr. Richard Hahnloser, Y 55 G 72, Tel. 044 635 30 60

Subject and exchange programmes guidance
Dr. Daniel Kiper, Y 55 G 92, Tel. 044 635 30 36

Master Degree Programme in Neural Systems and Computation
The Master Degree Programme in Neural Systems and Computation will be offered for the first time in the Autumn Semester 2008. This programme lasts 18 months and is aimed at Bachelor degree holders from various subject areas including physics, biology, engineering, mathematics, computer science and the cognitive and medical sciences.

The programme offers students a trans-disciplinary foundation for understanding principles of information processing in the brain, and prepares them for research work in areas of neuroinformatics and system-oriented neurosciences. It comprises both obligatory and elective core and minor subjects, plus a Master project. Elective core subjects are in the areas of system neurosciences, theoretical neurosciences, computational science and engineering, and neuromorphic engineering sciences. For the Master thesis project students may choose between two options: either they undertake to write a long thesis, or they combine a shorter thesis with semester projects and/or seminars.

Student Exchange

Swiss and European student exchange programmes offer the possibility to complete two semesters of the ETH course at a partner university in Switzerland or abroad. To gain official Diploma credit for external courses an individual study programme must be agreed upon in advance. For further information please contact the programme advisor (study programme) and the Student Exchange Office, HG F 23.1 (administrative matters, scholarships).

Further Training in Didactics

Graduates of a D-MATH or D-PHYS Master’s degree course may take part in an additional training programme in didactics, beginning after earning 110 Bachelor’s Degree credit points. Completion leads to a Master’s of Advanced Studies or a certificate.

Registering for examinations

Doctoral Programme

The doctorate programme provides an introduction to the world of current research. The prerequisite for admission is an ETH degree (Diploma or Master degree) or the equivalent from another university, plus the readiness of an ETH professor to supervise the doctoral thesis. Further details are set down in the Regulation for Doctoral Studies at ETH Zurich. Specific D-MATH and D-PHYS regulations also apply.

Doctoral Administration

Ph.D. studies
The most important condition for conferral of a doctorate is the readiness of an ETH Zurich professor to supervise the Ph.D. work. Students are normally members of an ETH Zurich institute or an independent chair. There is a rich offering of high-level specialist lectures, seminars and colloquiums, often organized together with the Mathematics Research Institute and the Center for Theoretical Studies of the Institute of Theoretical Physics.

Documentation

The guidelines and regulations of individual programmes contain details and useful information concerning programme disciplines and examinations. Careful reading is recommended!

For Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree courses

• Course regulations
• Guidelines

Zurich Graduate School in Mathematics

Die Zurich Graduate School in Mathematics is run jointly by ETH D-MATH and the University of Zurich’s Institute of Mathematics. It coordinates common D-MATH and Institute activities in the context of the Ph.D. programme. These include:

• Selection process for external applicants
• Regular course programme offering
• International activities and exchange programme
• Linguistic and cultural integration

For further information: www.zgsm.ch

• Selection process for external applicants
• Regular course programme offering
• International activities and exchange programme
• Linguistic and cultural integration

Continuing Education

    * Master of Science in Quantitative Finance
       (together with the University of Zurich)
    * Master Programme in Medical Physics
    * Continuing Education Diploma and Certificate Course in Applied Statistics