HEAD-TO-HEAD INSTITUTIONAL DOSSIER · 2026/2027 INDEX

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne vs Kth Royal Institute of Technology

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne Logo
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne

Lausanne, Switzerland

QS World: #2220% Admit
Kth Royal Institute of Technology Logo
Kth Royal Institute of Technology

Stockholm, Sweden

QS World: #8225% Admit
EXECUTIVE DECISION BRIEFINGCross-System Synthesis

01 · Global Academic Standing

Overall Verdict: EPFL delivers an elite, intensely rigorous education with a strong international focus and superior global prestige. KTH provides a highly respected, practical engineering education deeply integrated into Scandinavia's strong industrial and innovation ecosystem, offering excellent regional ties but slightly less global recognition.

02 · Departmental & Subject Strengths

Discipline Match: For students aiming to push fundamental scientific boundaries, especially in fields like Electrical Engineering, EPFL is clearly superior. Conversely, KTH truly shines and dominates in areas such as Sustainable Energy Engineering, preparing graduates for impactful careers addressing global environmental challenges.

03 · Campus Environment & Cohort Culture

Final Choice Rule: Choose EPFL if you are driven by a fiercely competitive, research-heavy environment, targeting top-tier academic or R&D roles globally. Opt for KTH if you prefer a collaborative, industry-connected approach, particularly desiring to lead innovation in sustainable technology and design within Northern Europe.

SECTION 01 · QUANTITATIVE BENCHMARK LEDGER

Head-to-Head Indicator Showdown

Indicator Tally7 — 1 Advantage
Comparative DimensionSwiss Federal Institute of Technology LausanneKth Royal Institute of Technology
QS World University Rank
Global employer & academic reputation index
#22 (2027)+60 places
#82 (2027)
THE World University Rank
Teaching, research environment & citations
#36 (2027)+70 places
#106 (2027)
ARWU Shanghai Rank
Nobel/Fields alumni & highly cited researchers
#43 (2026)+158 places
#201 (2026)
U.S. News Global Rank
Global research reputation & publications
#80 (2027)+169 places
#249 (2027)
Admissions Selectivity
Estimated acceptance rate (lower = more selective)
20%More selective
25%
Annual International Tuition
Estimated undergraduate/graduate base fee
$1,794Lower tuition
$14,260
Founding Heritage
Year of institutional establishment
1969
1827Lead
Student Cohort Scale
Total enrolled degree-seeking students
14,012
13,500
Campus Safety Index
Composite campus & surrounding municipal safety
93 / 100Lead
88 / 100
SECTION 02 · DECADE TRAJECTORY COMPARISON

10-Year Historical Ranking Trajectory

Decade-long global standing curve across major league tables (higher curve position = stronger rank).

SECTION 03 · DEPARTMENTAL BENCHMARKS

QS Subject Rankings Showdown

Click any discipline row to inspect side-by-side degree programs, tuition, and scholarships below.

Swiss Federal Institute: 6 leads·Kth Royal Institute: 0 leads

Swiss Federal Institute · Specialist Subject Standings

Data Science and Artificial Intelligence#9
Chemistry#9
Computer Science and Information Systems#11

Kth Royal Institute · Specialist Subject Standings

Mechanical Engineering#20
Art History#21
Mathematics#45
Discipline Focus: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Clear Filter ×

Swiss Federal Institute Programs

Refer to the official Swiss Federal Institute course catalog for current intake fees.

Kth Royal Institute Programs

Refer to the official Kth Royal Institute course catalog for current intake fees.

SECTION 04 · FINANCIAL & LIVING BENCHMARK

Cost of Living & Annual Budget Face-off

Estimated monthly student expenditure in Lausanne vs Stockholm alongside annual international tuition.

High Cost Index

Swiss Federal Institute (Lausanne)

$2,420/mo
Housing & Utilities$1,800/mo
Food & Groceries$500/mo
Local Transit & Personal$120/mo
Est. International Tuition$1,794/yr
Est. 1-Year Total Budget~$30,834/yr
Moderate European Index

Kth Royal Institute (Stockholm)

$1,765/mo
Housing & Utilities$1,250/mo
Food & Groceries$420/mo
Local Transit & Personal$95/mo
Est. International Tuition$14,260/yr
Est. 1-Year Total Budget~$35,440/yr
APPLICANT DECISION SUITE · FREE & PRO TOOLS

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