The École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) is a world-renowned university founded in 1853 in Lausanne, Switzerland, with the aim of training engineers and scientists. The university offers departments of architecture and design, engineering, computer and communication sciences, and life sciences. In the 2014/15 QS World University Rankings, the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne is ranked 18th.