Daniel Sim, Master's student
Singapore

If you had a full scholarship for any university worldwide, would you still choose ETH Zurich to study computer science? Which reasons speak for or against ETH?
I am actually on a full scholarship from the Singapore government, and I had a choice to study just about anywhere in the world. Back then I chose ETH because it was different. We Singaporeans tend to choose universities in the English-speaking world, but it just seemed too run-of-the-mill to go from the UK (where I did my Bachelor’s) to the US; so I chose a German-speaking city for my Master’s.

And I think I would make the same choice again. I don’t think I can find another university a stone's throw away from a beautiful, clean and very swimmable lake; a short train ride from ski mountains; with magnificent views all around; located in a city that is safe, with good public transportation, and where the public services just work. All that, plus good academics, too.

At that time I wasn't particularly focused on a particular field of computer science. If I had been, I would have chosen a university that was strong in that field. For example, if I had been interested in deep learning, ETH would have been out of the question; which is rather unfortunate, but every university makes errors in predicting the next big thing.

Compared to the British universities, ETH offers much more flexibility in the choice of courses and the pace of the course. You could add an internship, space out courses, take courses from other subjects, etc. The British universities have an illustrious history and strong international reputation, but I think they should enter the modern age in how they teach.

What highlights your student life up to now? What do you like most about it? What has been particularly memorable?
The proximity to forests, lake and mountains is great - coming from an urban jungle like Singapore, it's a spectacular change. I like the free coffee, fondue nights, apéros, etc. The algorithms lab course was particularly fun - one of the few courses where last-minute effort doesn’t help. I think I was quite lucky to have had plenty of time in my first semester to focus on that.

I stayed in a big student hostel in my first year, and it was great to meet so many people, both exchange students and Master's students. Now I rent a room from a Swiss family in a "chliine Dörfli" (alright, it’s not that small, but small enough compared to Zurich), and it is a different perspective altogether.

In your opinion, what has been the biggest change compared to your experience as a Master's student?
As a Bachelor's student in a university where students live on campus, I got to meet a lot more people and do loads of activities together. The societies were a lot more active. There were interesting talks and events taking place all the time.

I think it boils down to philosophy. ETH may be intended to be more of an egalitarian institution where even people who work part-time are able to get a degree; whereas universities with a "college life" are intended to strongly mould and shape students during their final formative years, by mixing students and surrounding their life with all sorts of intellectual stimulation.

If you had the possibility to change one thing at ETH, what would it be?
The food and campus life could be improved on, but I would rather one thing be improved that isn't really within ETH's control: the ease of getting a work permit for internships and full-time positions. I think many students from non-EEA countries are grateful for the affordable but excellent education at ETH; but new policies don’t allow them to find work easily in Switzerland (especially in Zurich). I think it would make more sense if ETH graduates were given more chance to contribute to the society that has given them so much.

Since I am obliged by the scholarship to return to Singapore, the policy doesn't affect me that much. But my case is the opposite example: my studies and living costs have been paid for and therefore I am required to make a contribution in return, that is to Singapore.

Many of my friends don’t have the option of working here, and are instead looking for opportunities elsewhere in Europe and in the US. Considering how jobs and higher education are so closely linked, for now it would actually be difficult to recommend ETH as a place to study for non-EEA citizens.

Assuming that after your graduation, you decide to stay in Switzerland. What are your personal and professional aspirations in this country?
I would first improve my German. It is not difficult to find well-paying jobs in Switzerland, but to move up the career path, realistically speaking one needs to get out of the back-office, and that isn't happening without a solid grasp of German (and Swiss German).