New to ETH? Your IT starter pack for your studies
A warm welcome to ETH Zurich! And don’t worry: even experienced computer scientists have used the wrong password at some point.
New campus, new people, new logins: to ensure your start to your studies isn’t derailed by a password, the Wi-Fi or a printer that’s playing up, we’ve put together the most important IT steps for you.
The autumn semester begins on 14 September 2026 and with it, presumably, your own personal collection of passwords, apps and browser tabs. Don’t panic: the IT Services (ITS) are here to help you get started digitally at ETH.
Log in first, then get started
Before you explore Moodle, look for your first lecture or desperately try to connect to the Wi-Fi, you should set up your ETH user account in full. The onboarding process takes about ten minutes and includes, amongst other things, your contact details, two passwords and multi-factor authentication: MFA for short.
Yes, you read that right: two passwords
- You’ll need the «ETH Password» for email and web applications
- You’ll use the «ETH Network Password» for Wi-Fi and VPN
The Authenticator app on your smartphone also provides you with a time-limited code when you log in. A small extra step for you, a major hurdle for uninvited guests.
eduroam: your Wi-Fi almost anywhere
On campus, you connect to eduroam. Handy: your ETH login details work not only at ETH, but also at many other universities.
The username for Wi-Fi is: <ETH Username>@student-net.ethz.ch
The part after the @ is important: that’s the network zone, not your email address. A small difference with a big impact. Especially when the lecture is due to start in two minutes. To access certain ETH services from off-campus, you’ll also need a VPN connection.
Your ETH email: please check it from time to time
Your student email address is: <ETH Username>@student.ethz.ch
You can check your messages via Outlook in your browser or using an email app. Check it regularly: important messages relating to your studies may well be hidden amongst the administrative information.
Software, cloud services and printing
From the start of the semester, you’ll have access to software and various IT services via the IT Shop. There you’ll also find packages such as Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace.
If you want to print something, you’ll first need to top up your prepaid account. You can then send print jobs to the printing system via web upload. In case your own laptop is taking a creative break, there are also computer rooms on campus equipped with Office, programming tools and mathematical software.
Research requires computing power
Are you already working with research data, complex calculations or scientific software? Scientific IT Services support students and researchers with research-related IT issues and also offer courses and training sessions.
What if something isn’t working?
It’s often worth checking the IT Knowledge Base or the frequently asked questions first. If your screen remains mysteriously blank, you can contact the ITS Service Desk by email, by phone or in person at the helpdesk in the Main Building, room HG E 11.
Brochure «New at ETH – First Steps for Students»
You’ll find all the key information and links in a compact format in the brochures
- «New at ETH – First Steps for Students» in English
- «New at ETH – First Steps for Students» in German
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