The École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) is a technical university that specializes in science and technology. It is located in Lausanne, within the municipality of Ecublens, in Switzerland. The university was founded in 1853 under the name École spéciale de Lausanne. EPFL has earned a strong reputation for its research and teaching in engineering. In recent years, the university has expanded into the life sciences. It acquired the Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in 2008. École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) belongs to the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology Domain. This union of research institutes and universities also includes ETH Zürich. Like other Swiss universities, EPFL does not select students based on strict criteria for undergraduate admissions. It is ranked at #22 by the QS World University Rankings 2026.