How did Albert Einstein recieve his degrees?

After taking himself out of school early in Italy, where his parents had relocated for business reasons, Einstein gained a place in a Swiss college, perhaps with some family intervention because they were quite worried about his removing himself early from school. Einstein attended the Federal Polytechnic Institute in Zurich - although this might seem less prestigious than the Universities of Germany, it was in fact one of the finest scientific institutions of that time.

Einsten then renounced his German citizenship. This was apparently to avoid military call-up. However, he had fallen in love with a Swiss girl whom he could not marry because of having no funds, and his family being in opposition to the match. There was a gap before he gained Swiss nationality. He worked in the patent office and began his lifetime of impressive theoretical work.