ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship 2027 in Switzerland

About

The Excellence Scholarship and Opportunity Programme (ESOP) is ETH Zurich’s top award for master’s students. It supports outstanding students with a scholarship, mentorship and access to the network of the ETH Foundation. About 60 scholarships are planned for 2027-28, depending on available funds.

ESOP is open to excellent bachelor’s graduates who apply for an ETH master’s programme in the first application window. For autumn 2027 entry, the window runs from 1 to 30 November 2026. You apply for the scholarship at the same time and on the same system as your master’s application.

Host institution / country

ETH Zurich is a university in Zurich, Switzerland. It has 16 departments, covering architecture, civil, mechanical and electrical engineering, computer science, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, materials, earth and environmental sciences, health sciences, management and economics, and the humanities and social sciences. Your master’s programme will be run by one of these departments.

Financial benefits

• Full tuition fee waiver
• CHF 13,500 per semester for living and study costs, starting from the autumn semester 2027 (the rate was CHF 12,000 before)
• Support for the regular length of your master’s programme, which is three or four semesters
• Mentorship and access to the ETH Foundation network

Eligibility criteria

• You are applying to an ETH master’s programme (MAS programmes are not included)
• A very good bachelor’s result, which ETH describes as being in the top 10% of your programme (grade A), based on your own assessment
• You must apply in the first application window, 1 to 30 November 2026
• ETH bachelor’s students can apply for a consecutive master’s
• Not eligible: students already enrolled in an ETH master’s, and people who already hold a master’s degree
• The official page lists no nationality restriction

Required documents

• All the normal admission documents for your chosen master’s programme
• A pre-proposal for your master’s thesis, written by you, of at most 500 words plus references
• The pre-proposal should have a title, introduction, objectives, methods, background and prior work, timetable with milestones, and references
• Two professors as referees, if your master’s programme does not already ask for references. They upload their letters after receiving an email from the system

How to apply

1. Choose your ETH master’s programme and check its admission requirements.
2. Open the eApply portal between 1 and 30 November 2026.
3. Complete your master’s application and include your ESOP application in the same eApply process.
4. Upload your admission documents and your thesis pre-proposal.
5. Enter two professors as referees if your programme does not already require references.
6. Submit by 30 November 2026. The page gives the closing time as 11:59 Central European Time in one place and 12:59 in another, so submit well before the last day.

Selection process and timeline

• The admissions committee of each master’s programme evaluates the applications.
• Some candidates may have a phone or video interview in February 2027. A professor or scientist will discuss your pre-proposal with you.
• You must be reachable at the phone number in your CV. If you cannot be reached in February, tell your study programme coordinator.
• The Rector of ETH Zurich makes the final decision.
• Results are sent at the end of March 2027.
• Plagiarism or false information leads to exclusion, or to losing your admission and scholarship if it is found later.

Tips for a strong application

• Start your pre-proposal early. Keep it under 500 words, focused and realistic for a 4 to 6 month thesis.
• Link your proposal to research done at ETH, and cite your sources properly.
• Ask your two professors early, so their letters arrive on time.
• Prepare to explain your proposal clearly in a short interview.
• Check that your grades really place you near the top 10% of your class before applying.