Founded back in 1874 as the Technikum Winterthur, the School of Engineering is an academic and research institution with a long tradition. Ever since it was founded it has been closely involved in the development of Swiss engineering. Today, it forms one of eight departments of the ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences.
The ZHAW offers 28 Bachelor’s and 18 Master’s degree courses. You can find detailed information about our degree courses under the links below, including instructions on how to apply. It is possible to apply for some courses online.
At its three locations in the canton of Zurich, the ZHAW carries out research projects which either lead directly to new developments in companies in Switzerland and globally, or which bring improvements for our society. Researchers at the ZHAW are therefore in close contact with business partners and with public institutions. Our partners gain from the specialist knowledge of our experts and have access to our excellent research infrastructure.
Whether you would like an evaluation of your current situation and potential, career advice or job application coaching, our career services can help you make a smooth transition between university and the professional world.
The business and consultancy services provided by the ZHAW are tailored to your specific needs. We offer support in solving complex issues in the context of existing knowledge, and our expertise and modern infrastructure is available to you for analyses, simulations, expert opinions, training courses, workshops, etc.
In Winterthur, the SWOWI Foundation (Studentischer Wohnraum Winterthur, Student Accommodation in Winterthur) offers about 280 rooms for ZHAW students. WOKO (Studentische Wohngenossenschaft Zürich, Student Housing Cooperative, Zurich) manages and runs all SWOWI properties and its own student houses in Winterthur on the Bürglistrasse 21/23 with 77 units.
The ZHAW library in Winterthur was completed in 2014 and is now the largest library at a university of applied sciences in German-speaking Switzerland. The library is housed in the former Sulzer industrial building with its ten metre high factory hall and the old crane tracks still visible.
There are many wi-fi hotspots at the ZHAW, ensuring that you can always access the Internet. In several buildings, there are group study rooms and workstations in the hallways. If you prefer to study at home or while you are travelling, you also have access to various study aids and resources, such as VPN, Switch Drive, Switch File Sender and Eduroam.
The campus of the School of Health Professions offers both a central location next to the historic centre just a few minutes' walk from the main train station, as well as a modern infrastructure of the buildings at the Technikumstrasse 71 in Winterthur. Students have access to workstations and WLAN hotspots throughout the campus, and the canteens offer a varied and inexpensive catering.
The ZHAW Students' Association (VSZHAW) is a lobby group for supporting students. It performs political tasks and is dedicated to student life. The VSZHAW organises events for students such as the end of term parties, the “Studitreff” meeting place and campaign days. "Brainstorm Magazin" is the students' official means of communication, a magazine by students for students.The sports activities at the ZHAW are coordinated by the Academic Sports Association Zurich ASVZ. As members of ASVZ, students profit from a wide-ranging sports programme with numerous team and individual sports at the facilities in Winterthur, Zurich and Wädenswil.
Since 2015, the SML has been proud to be accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). AACSB is regarded as the leading international organization for the accreditation of business schools and certifies excellence in research and teaching.
Studyportals ranking look at the scores of the most used ranking systems and present you with one number of how well this University performs.
By TopUniversities
Dropped 50 places compared to 2026
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 781 | 801 | 851 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
By Times Higher Education
This university doesn’t have a ranking for 2027 yet. Rankings are updated yearly, so check back later for the latest info.
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| - | 1001 | - |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
By U.S. News & World Report
This university doesn’t have a ranking for 2027 yet. Rankings are updated yearly, so check back later for the latest info.
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 1284 | 1309 | - |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Based on 31 reviews
It was the best choice I made,it was really difficult to get admissions,I tried giving up but I kept researching and luckily I got admission at last. Even though is far from my family,I get to meet different people from different places who shaped my life to be more better and I’m more than grateful. So don’t give up hope yet.
I really liked the learning opportunities, the quality of the educational content, and the support provided throughout the program. The experience helped me develop my knowledge and skills and gave me a valuable opportunity to grow academically and professionally. One area that could be improved is providing more practical activities and opportunities for interaction and networking among students. Overall, my study experience was very positive and rewarding. I am grateful for the opportunity and would recommend it to other students looking to develop themselves and gain valuable knowledge.
It’s my dream I went there and start journey with new peoples
The Global Student Satisfaction Awards empower students across the globe to determine the best universities of 2025. Universities with a score above 4.0 (out of 5) in any of the 7 award categories, receive Badges of Excellence. Congratulations!
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