ETH Zurich

ETH Zurich (from its German name Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, ETHZ) is the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich, Switzerland. It is commonly called the ETH or the Poly after its original name Polytechnikum.

History

The ETH was founded in 1854 by the Swiss Confederation and opened its doors in 1855 as a polytechnic institute (Eidgenössische Polytechnische Schule). It comprised in the beginning six departements: architecture, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, chemistry, forestry, and a catch-all departement for mathematics, natural sciences, literature, and social and political sciences.

Related Topics:
1854 - Swiss Confederation - 1855 - Architecture - Civil engineering - Mechanical engineering - Chemistry - Forestry - Mathematics

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The ETH is a federal institute (i.e., under direct administration by the Swiss government), whereas the University of Zürich (founded in 1833) is a cantonal institution. The decision for a new federal university was heavily disputed at the time. In the beginning, both universities were co–located in the buildings of the University of Zürich.

Related Topics:
University of Zürich - 1833

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The main building of the ETH was built 1861 to 1864 under Gustav Zeuner; the architect was Gottfried Semper, who was a professor for

Related Topics:
1861 - 1864 - Gustav Zeuner - Gottfried Semper

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architecture at the ETH at the time. The south wing of the building was allocated to the University of Zürich until the university's own new main building was constructed (1912 – 1914). At about the same time, Semper's ETH building was enlarged and also got its impressive cupola.

Related Topics:
1912 - 1914 - Cupola

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In 1909, the course program of the ETH was restructured to

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that of a real university, from its early, very schoolish agenda,

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and the ETH was granted the right to award doctorates. In 1911, it was given its current name, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule. In

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1924, another reorganization structured the university in

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12 departments.

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With a new law in 1991, which became effective in 1993,

Related Topics:
1991 - 1993

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the ETH Zürich, the EPFL, and four associated research

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institutes were joined and administered together as the "ETH Bereich".

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To day ETH is worldwide under the top ten universities (see Times Higher Education Supplement ) . ETH got its good reputation specially in the areas of physics and chemistry.

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