For Samuel Arm, working on construction sites was not enough. He wanted to help shape them too – hence his decision to study architecture. An ETH scholarship cleared some, though not all, of the obstacles from his path.

“I went to Gymnasium because I had good grades. During the holidays I always had jobs on building sites, which I really enjoyed. This is why, after getting my Matura, I did only a short apprenticeship as a painter – I didn’t need to attend vocational school. I was interested in everything that happened on site, and realised I wanted to take on a leading role in construction one day. That’s when I thought about studying architecture. Having grown up in Utzenstorf near Burgdorf, the idea of moving to Zurich was exciting and I saw studying at ETH as a huge opportunity. But after my parents separated, their financial situation was tight. It was clear that, despite some savings in the bank, it would be very difficult for me to afford university without a scholarship. Thankfully, I was awarded an ETH scholarship.

A competitive environment

At first, I was completely overwhelmed. Being catapulted from the construction site to Hönggerberg was an intimidating experience. I hadn’t realised how competitive the architecture programme at ETH would be. In the first semester I often wondered whether I really belonged there. But gradually I made friends, learned a lot, and started to really enjoy the course. The period leading up to the final submissions twice a year – during which we were on campus almost 24/7 – were always extremely stressful. But presenting your finished project at the end was cool.

What I hadn’t anticipated were the extra costs involved in studying architecture, i.e. for models, printing plans and trips. On top of already limited finances, this meant I had to work full-time during the semester holidays. Many of my fellow students had six weeks to study before the August exams. I was revising late into the night after work. However, it still wasn’t enough to pass all the exams, so I had to retake some blocks. During my Master’s, I got over this problem by choosing courses that required papers rather than doing the summer exams. This helped, and in 2024 I was finally able to graduate.

For fairer conditions

From a distance, the sums awarded through an ETH Scholarship may not seem that big. But the few thousand francs can take a huge amount of pressure off a student and allow them to focus properly on their studies. They help create not equal, but more equal conditions for those who want to earn a degree. And in broader societal terms, they help make sure that the people who graduate are those with the right mindset and character – not just those who can afford it.

At the start at ETH, I first had to almost free myself from my practice-related background, as the focus was set much more on conceptual thinking. But now, in my professional life, I benefit from both. My background really helps me when I’m dealing with tradespeople on site. At Studio Lima, where I work today, I get to be involved in the kinds of projects that interest me: architecture that’s not just about investment returns, but about the people who will use the buildings one day.”