One Study Course – Many Career Opportunities

Graduates of the study course Environmental Sciences of ETH Zurich have a secure place in the career world. Their employment area is much broader than just the classical environmental field. Universities, administration and environmental offices as well as industry and service industries seek qualified environmental experts.

Two years after graduating the range of occupation is as follows:

• Approximately one quarter of the students remain in research for a while. In environmental science projects (e.g. during doctoral work) they compare well with international competition. This enables commencing a scientific career or specialising in a certain area of work.
• About 20% work in a profession with a direct connection to their studies. The graduates use and apply their specialised knowledge in public office (e.g. in state or county environmental departments) or in environmental and engineering offices.
• About half of the graduates decide to enter a service industry where there are many career openings. They work in banking, insurance, industry, media, commerce or schools often without a direct connection to their studies. They are employed on the basis of their intellectual abilities and key qualifications such as interdisciplinary knowledge and social and communication skills.
• Non governmental organisations such as WWF, Pro Natura and others employ approx. 5% of our graduates.

Selected profiles (see box) illustrate the many career opportunities of the environmental scientists (in German).