
Theresa joined EPFL last year as a full-time Master’s student in Mechanical Engineering. Sophie first experienced the school as an exchange student and has now returned to complete her Master’s thesis in Electrical Engineering.
What has been your experience so far?
Sophie (S): It’s been quite different. As an exchange student, you meet new people through courses and events designed specifically for internationals. It’s exciting to explore the country alongside others in a similar situation. Now, working in a lab, I see the same people every day, which creates a more consistent routine. The two experiences complement each other nicely.
Theresa (T): I chose EPFL partly for its location—I’m passionate about nature and mountains! So far, I’ve really enjoyed the city and the university. I’m also very involved in sports, and much of my past year has been punctuated by traveling for competitions. Meeting people has been fairly easy, mainly internationals from France and other parts of Europe.
What do you think of the differences between your home university and EPFL ?
T: It’s hard to compare Bachelor’s and Master’s programs, but at the University of Stuttgart, I felt the workload was less intense. At EPFL, it’s more demanding but also more interesting, probably because of the academic level. Beyond academics, there are so many opportunities here—clubs, sports, and other activities. The network is also much bigger and more international.
S: I come from Stockholm, and I’ve noticed that EPFL’s workload is heavier but uneven across certain courses. Back home, the courses aligned more closely with my specialization, so that’s something to consider. What really surprised me here is the number of student activities. In Stockholm, most clubs are focused on networking with companies, while here they’re often based on personal interests.
What about student clubs, did you join one ?
S: During my exchange, I didn’t join any clubs except for ESN (Erasmus Student Network). I wanted time to explore and settle in. Now, during my thesis, I’m focused on my research. That said, the variety and number of clubs at EPFL are amazing!
T: I’m part of the running club, though I wouldn’t call it a formal student association. Joining a club here often requires a big commitment. With sports and studies, it’s hard to find the time. The language barrier is also a factor, but I know that immersing myself in a French-speaking group would help me learn the language faster.
How about learning French?
T: I understand it well, but speaking is still a challenge—it definitely needs more practice. It’s very easy to get by without French, especially at the university, but I’d like to improve.
S: Improving my French was one of the reasons I wanted to come here. During my exchange, I took two courses offered by the language center, but they weren’t enough because so many people in ESN speak English. I joined tandem programs, and they helped a lot!
Did you have culture shocks coming here ?
T: I come from a place close to the Swiss-German region, so I was surprised that so few people speak German or even English here. French is dominant everywhere.
S: I agree—the dominance of French was surprising. Also, the fact that supermarkets are closed on Sundays is quite annoying!