Double Degree
The ZHAW School of Engineering maintains Double Degree agreements with Washington State University and Grand Valley State University that enable Master’s students to pursue a combined study programme in Switzerland and the United States and to earn both a Swiss university of applied sciences degree and a US university degree.
Programmes
Washington State University
The ZHAW School of Engineering in partnership with Washington State University has offered a Double Degree programme for full-time master’s students since 2016. Under the programme, you spend the first two semesters in Switzerland along with fellow students from the United States. You study one of the profiles offered in the Master of Science in Engineering. During the third and fourth semesters in the United States, you study one of three corresponding profiles (Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering) and write your Master’s thesis.
All students admitted to the Double Degree programme with Washington State University under a bilateral arrangement enroll and pay tuition and other required fees at ZHAW. Washington State University in the United States waives tuition fees for Double Degree students, but does charge some minor administrative fees.
Grand Valley State University
The Double Degree agreement with Grand Valley State University’s Padnos College of Engineering and Computing was signed in 2019. It allows students to earn a Master of Science in Engineering from Grand Valley State University in the following profiles: Electrical and Computer Engineering, Manufacturing Operations, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or Product Design and Manufacturing Engineering. An extension to Computer Science and Data Science is planned. The two-year Double Degree programme is aimed at full-time students. Students spend the first two semesters at the ZHAW School of Engineering and then transfer for another two semesters to Grand Valley State University, where they write their Master’s thesis. Enrollment as a part-time student is possible in principle, accordingly lengthening the duration of the programme.
Tuition fees at Grand Valley State University (GVSU) are charged in accordance with GVSU’s tuition schedule and thus may be much higher than the tuition fees charged by ZHAW. However, Grand Valley State University generally offers the prospect of a scholarship grant and a part-time job in one of its departments to help fund tuition.
Impressions of the Double Degree programme in Switzerland
Graduation
Students write their Master’s thesis in English at the partner university in the United States. In the course of writing their Master’s thesis, they will be supervised by ZHAW faculty members and will receive support from faculty members of the partner university during their stay in the United States. The Master’s thesis is worth approximately 12 ECTS credits (equivalent to 6 US credits).
"The year overseas was a very good personal experience for me. I learned to adapt to a new environment and to flexibly address new challenges each day."
Dominic Thaler, graduate of the Double Degree programme and Structures Design Engineer at Aurora Swiss Aerospace
Click here to view graduate profile
Admissions application
To apply for enrollment, please specify your interest on the electronic MSE enrollment application form. The number of enrollees is limited.