MSc: ETH Zurich or UBC ?

[pgx]

Anyone to give more insight? Both schools seem to have good job prospects (with much higher salaries and cost of living in Zurich) and have good vision/machine learning people working there.

[frenzydude]

ETH Zurich is ranked higher i think. It depends on whether you are getting funded at some place (and how much) or you have a location preference, or there is a certain research group at one of these where you have to go. If all of these are No's I would go to ETH. I think UBC MSc is fully funded, and ETH also has some scholarship or something.

[Bleu]

If I were you, and everything specially funding was the same, I would go for UBC because of its location, and better potential job opportunities.

[adinutzyc]

I think ETH Zurich is the better school though. But Switzerland is hella expensive...

[pgx]

If I were you, and everything specially funding was the same, I would go for UBC because of its location, and better potential job opportunities.

Better job opportunities because there are more high tech companies in Canada and USA? (I suspect it's easier to get a job in Silicon Valley with a Canadian, rather than an European one)

[adinutzyc]

The only problem you might have is getting a visa for an interview, so others may have an edge in that respect. And then there's the optional work permit you can apply for after your Masters that allows you to try out working for a year... without having to apply for a visa... Also, you should consider the language. Although a tourist city, the language of choice in Zurich is by no means English (although that would be the perfect opportunity to learn German ). Plus, your professors will not be native speakers of English (I don't know if that makes a difference at all, esp since in USA/Canada many professors are not natives either). But ETH is still the better ranked school...

[Bleu]

Better job opportunities because there are more high tech companies in Canada and USA? (I suspect it's easier to get a job in Silicon Valley with a Canadian, rather than an European one)

Yes, because of being in North America, and specially near California. By the way, if you consider ARWU, ETH is only slightly higher than UBC, and I personally believe that the best place to study computer science, besides US, is Canada, even though there are a couple of very good schools in some European countries. I know many professors from Switzerland, and mostly graduated from ETH, who are now at Canadian universities, but I don't think there's the opposite case too. Why a German professor who got her PhD from ETH has come to McGill, and didn't stay in Europe? I also know professors at Waterloo. Many has also come to US. I think it's mostly because of better job opportunities in North America.

[frenzydude]

Yes, because of being in North America, and specially near California. By the way, if you consider ARWU, ETH is only slightly higher than UBC, and I personally believe that the best place to study computer science, besides US, is Canada, even though there are a couple of very good schools in some European countries. I know many professors from Switzerland, and mostly graduated from ETH, who are now at Canadian universities, but I don't think there's the opposite case too. Why a German professor who got her PhD from ETH has come to McGill, and didn't stay in Europe? I also know professors at Waterloo. Many has also come to US. I think it's mostly because of better job opportunities in North America.

You maybe right but that's mostly a personal choice. I know a professor who did his PhD at MIT and is now a professor in Germany, as well a professor who did his PhD in CMU and is a professor at Caltech however, is shifting to ETH Zurich. Both of them are German natives.

[pgx]

Thanks for the replies everyone. More specifically for machine learning, I know that UBC has some very strong people, but I can't say the same thing for ETHZ. Anyone has a more informed opinion?

[frenzydude]

Thanks for the replies everyone. More specifically for machine learning, I know that UBC has some very strong people, but I can't say the same thing for ETHZ. Anyone has a more informed opinion?

If you are looking for theoretical machine learning, as I mentioned a professor from Caltech has recently moved to ETHZ.

[adelashk]

ETH Zurich has a better reputation around the world and more academic connections. Not sure about UBC.