Digital Humanities

Digital Humanities at EPFL offers an interdisciplinary Master's program designed to equip students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary to analyze, interpret, and develop digital content across the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Combining cutting-edge technology with traditional humanistic inquiry, the program prepares students to address complex cultural, historical, and linguistic questions through innovative digital methods. Students will learn to utilize digital tools such as data analysis, digital curation, visualization techniques, and programming to enhance research and scholarship in their respective fields. The curriculum covers a broad range of topics, including computational linguistics, digital humanities project management, content modeling, digital archives, and the ethical considerations surrounding digital data. Emphasizing an experiential learning approach, the program integrates coursework, collaborative projects, and internships with cultural institutions and tech companies, providing students with hands-on experience in designing and implementing real-world digital humanities applications. Graduates of the program will be equipped to pursue careers in academia, cultural heritage organizations, digital libraries, technology firms, and research organizations, contributing to the development of innovative solutions for digital research challenges. The program also fosters critical thinking about the societal impacts of digital technology and encourages students to develop original research projects that advance the field. With a faculty composed of experts from diverse disciplines including computer science, history, linguistics, and digital media, students gain a well-rounded perspective on the interdisciplinary nature of digital humanities. The program is designed for students with backgrounds in arts, humanities, social sciences, or related fields who are passionate about integrating technology into their scholarly practice. Upon completion, graduates will be proficient in both theoretical frameworks and practical skills necessary to navigate and shape the evolving landscape of digital humanities research and application.

Optional courses: students choose an orientation:

• A Audio-visual Media
• B Spatial Digital Humanities

Computer Science 25

• Applied data analysis 6
• Computational social media 4
• Digitalisation and visualisation 4
• Introduction to digital humanities 4
• Pattern classification and machine learning 7

 Humanities 20

• Data corpora 4
• Digital culture 5
• Distant reading 5
• SHS: Introduction to project 3
• SHS: Project 3

Optional courses 15

• Advanced Computer Graphics A 6
• Analyse exploratoire de données géospatiales B 3
• Automatic speech processing A 3
• B2B high-tech marketing A B 4
• Computational Photography A 5
• Computer Vision A B 4
• d. Thinking: real problems, human-focused solutions A B 5
• Database Systems A 7
• De la structure a l'ornement A B 3
• Decision-aid methodologies in transportation B 4
• Digital 3D Geometry Processing A B 5
• Digital Education & Learning Analytics B 4
• Digital Humanities A B 7
• Digital Museology and Art History A 4
• Digital Musicology A 4
• Geocomputation B 3
• Human Computer Interaction A B 4
• Image and Video Processing B 6
• Image Processing 1 A B 3
• Image Processing 2 A B 3
• Introduction au BIM (Building Information Modeling) B 3
• Introduction to Natural Language Processing A B 4
• Linear Models A B 5
• Programming concepts in scientific computing B 4
• Spatial Statistics and analysis B 5
• Strategic Marketing and Technology commercialization A B 4
• Technology & innovation strategy A B 4
• Théorie de l'espace B 3
• UE H: Graphie B 4
• UE J : Territoire et paysage B 4
• UE R : Introduction au BIM (Building Information Modeling) B 4
• Virtual Reality A B 4
• Visions et Utopies A B 3

• Admission to the Master will be on a case-by-case basis (sur dossier). Students will be evaluated based on their academic curricula, which include knowledge of statistics and advanced programming skills, and a demonstrable interest in the broader field of humanities and social sciences.
• Your resumé (curriculum vitae)
• Copy of your University degree(s) or Bachelor's degree. If you don't have your degree yet, you will bring it to the Registrar's Office upon registration at EPFL*.
• Legalized transcripts from each university you have attended.
• A statement of purpose. See hereunder for a more detailed explanation.
• Three recommendations (except holders of any EPFL Bachelor's degree applying in another field than their original field and except for candidates from another Swiss university applying to a Master in the same field of study as their Bachelor).
  During the electronic application process, you will have to give the details of three referees, who will then be requested to produce recommendation letters for you directly to EPFL. See hereunder for a more detailed explanation.
• Your identity card or passport.
• For foreigners who already live in Switzerland: your residence permit.
• Extra documents such as TOEFL or GRE scores, research publications or other portfolios of your previous work, are welcome but not compulsory. We will only consider documents uploaded in your online application form. (No documents sent by postal mail).
• Application fee CHF 150.

The Digital Humanities master's program at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) is primarily funded through a combination of tuition fees, government grants, research scholarships, and teaching assistantship opportunities. As a Swiss public university, EPFL offers relatively affordable tuition fees for both Swiss and international students compared to private institutions, which helps to subsidize education costs and makes studying more accessible. The tuition fee for master's programs at EPFL is approximately CHF 1,266 per year for Swiss residents and around CHF 1,500 to CHF 2,000 for international students. Additionally, students are encouraged to seek external funding sources, such as national research grants or scholarships provided by foundations and governmental agencies, which can significantly offset expenses. EPFL offers a variety of scholarships aimed at supporting international students, including merit-based awards and need-based financial aid.

Students enrolled in the Digital Humanities program may also be able to take advantage of research assistantships, where they assist faculty with research projects in exchange for a stipend. Teaching assistantship positions are occasionally available, providing students with an opportunity to gain teaching experience and financial support concurrently. Many students also fund their studies through part-time work or internships, often within university departments, research centers, or partner companies involved in digital innovation and humanities research.

The university encourages international students to apply for scholarships from Swiss federal programs or abroad, such as the Erasmus+ program, which facilitates exchange and funding opportunities within Europe. Students are recommended to proactively explore university-specific funding options, including departmental grants linked to their research interests. EPFL’s emphasis on interdisciplinary research and innovation creates a vibrant environment where financial support is matched with professional development opportunities in digital humanities and related fields. Overall, financing for studies at EPFL’s Digital Humanities program involves a mix of student contributions, university-based funding, external scholarships, and part-time employment, ensuring that students have multiple avenues to support their educational pursuits and research activities.

Digital Humanities at ETH Zurich offers a multidisciplinary approach combining computing, cultural studies, and humanities to analyze and interpret digital data related to human culture and society. The program aims to equip students with both technological skills and critical perspectives necessary for research and applications in digital cultural heritage, digital text analysis, and computational social sciences. The curriculum encompasses courses in computer science, linguistics, history, philosophy, and media studies, enabling students to develop technical competencies such as programming, data analysis, and digital tool development, alongside a deep understanding of humanistic methods and theories. Students engage in collaborative projects, internships, and research initiatives that focus on digitizing and preserving cultural artifacts, analyzing historical texts, or exploring digital storytelling. The program encourages innovation through cross-disciplinary teamwork, fostering skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, and effective communication. Graduates are well-prepared for careers in digital archiving, cultural institutions, digital publishing, academic research, and technology companies working in cultural data analysis. The program also emphasizes ethical considerations surrounding digital data, intellectual property, and the societal impact of digital technologies. Students have access to advanced laboratories, digital libraries, and software tools, supported by faculty with expertise in both humanities and computational sciences. The program is designed for students with a background or strong interest in both technology and culture, aiming to bridge gaps between computing and humanities to enhance digital scholarship and cultural understanding. The interdisciplinary nature of the program reflects ETH Zurich's commitment to innovation at the intersection of digital technology and humanistic inquiry, preparing students to become leaders in the evolving digital cultural landscape.