Closing Date: 30 November 2026
ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme 2027: Fully Funded Master’s Scholarship in Switzerland
The Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP) 2027 at ETH Zurich offers an exciting opportunity for academically outstanding students to pursue a fully funded Master’s degree in Switzerland. The scholarship is open to applicants from Switzerland and other countries who demonstrate exceptional academic performance during their Bachelor’s studies.
Offered by ETH Zurich, one of the world’s leading universities for science, technology and research, the programme supports talented students through financial assistance, mentorship and access to the ETH Foundation network.
For the 2027/2028 academic year, approximately 60 ESOP scholarships are expected to be awarded. Successful candidates will receive funding towards their living and study expenses, as well as a tuition fee waiver for the regular duration of their Master’s programme.
About the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme
The Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme is ETH Zurich’s flagship merit-based scholarship for outstanding students entering its regular Master’s degree programmes.
The programme aims to attract exceptional students and enable them to concentrate fully on their academic studies and research without the financial pressure of meeting their study and living expenses.
In addition to financial support, ESOP scholars benefit from mentorship and connections through the ETH Foundation network. The scholarship is awarded for the standard duration of the Master’s programme, which is generally three or four semesters.
Scholarship Benefits
The ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship provides comprehensive financial support to successful applicants.
The scholarship includes:
- Living and study allowance: CHF 13,500 per semester for students starting in the autumn semester of 2027.
- Tuition fee waiver: Successful candidates receive a waiver of tuition fees for the regular duration of their Master’s programme.
- Mentorship: Scholars benefit from mentorship opportunities through the programme.
- Networking: Recipients gain access to the ETH Foundation network, providing opportunities to connect with other talented individuals and professionals.
The scholarship covers the regular duration of the Master’s programme, typically three or four semesters. The financial support is intended to cover students’ living and study expenses during their studies.
Eligibility Requirements
The Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme is open to outstanding students from Switzerland and around the world who wish to pursue an eligible Master’s degree at ETH Zurich.
To be considered, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Have an excellent academic record in their Bachelor’s degree programme.
- Rank among the top 10% of their Bachelor’s degree programme, equivalent to grade A. ETH Zurich indicates that this assessment is based on self-evaluation.
- Be applying for an eligible regular Master’s degree programme at ETH Zurich.
- Submit the application during the first Master’s application window, from 1 to 30 November 2026.
Applicants who are already enrolled in a Master’s degree programme at ETH Zurich or who already hold a Master’s degree are not eligible for the ESOP scholarship.
The programme does not cover Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) programmes.
Required Application Documents
Applicants must submit the documents required for admission to their selected Master’s programme, together with additional documents for the ESOP application.
One important additional requirement is a pre-proposal for the Master’s thesis. This document must be independently developed by the applicant and should follow established scientific citation practices.
Applicants whose chosen Master’s programme does not require reference letters must provide the names of two professors as reference persons. These professors will be contacted by ETH Zurich’s application system and asked to submit reference letters.
Applicants should also ensure that their CV includes a valid telephone number, as shortlisted candidates may be contacted for a telephone or video interview during February 2027.
How to Apply for the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship
Applications for the Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme are submitted together with the application for admission to an ETH Zurich Master’s programme.
Interested candidates should follow these steps:
- Visit the official ETH Zurich website and identify a suitable Master’s degree programme.
- Review the admission requirements and prepare the required application documents.
- Access the ETH Zurich online application portal, known as eApply.
- Complete the Master’s programme application and indicate that you are applying for the ESOP scholarship.
- Upload the required admission documents and your independently prepared Master’s thesis pre-proposal.
- Provide the details of two academic referees if your selected programme does not require references.
- Submit your application before the deadline.
Applicants should carefully follow the specific admission requirements of their chosen Master’s programme, as requirements may differ between departments.
Timeline
The application window for the 2027/2028 academic year is 1 November to 30 November 2026.
The deadline is 30 November 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Central European Time (MEZ). Applicants must apply during this first application window to be considered for ESOP.
ETH Zurich expects to award approximately 60 scholarships for the 2027/2028 academic year. Scholarship decisions are expected to be communicated by the end of March 2027.
Apply for the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship
The ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme provides an excellent opportunity for high-achieving students to undertake postgraduate studies at a leading Swiss university with substantial financial support.
Students with exceptional Bachelor’s degree results who meet the programme’s academic requirements are encouraged to prepare their applications early. Since the scholarship application must be submitted alongside the Master’s admission application, prospective candidates should not wait until the final days of the application window.
ETH Zurich Master’s application portal: https://www.lehrbetrieb.ethz.ch/eApply/
