Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme — Master's Scholarship

The Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme supports outstanding applicants pursuing a regular Master’s degree at ETH Zurich; MAS programmes are excluded. ETH Zurich runs the scholarship, while recipients also receive mentorship and access to the ETH Foundation network.

The programme is open to applicants from Switzerland and abroad. The 2025 cycle is closed, and the confirmed next window is 1–30 November 2026 for Master’s study beginning in autumn 2027.

Benefits & funding

From autumn 2027, recipients receive CHF 13,500 per semester for living and study expenses.
ETH Zurich waives tuition fees for the regular three- or four-semester duration of the chosen Master’s programme.
Recipients receive mentorship and access to the ETH Foundation network.

Eligibility

Applicants must be seeking admission to a regular ETH Zurich Master’s programme and apply for ESOP in the first application window.
Applicants should place in the top 10% of their Bachelor’s programme, equivalent to grade A under ETH Zurich’s self-assessment guidance.
Applicants already enrolled in an ETH Zurich Master’s programme, or who already hold a Master’s degree, are not eligible.
Applicants may be from Switzerland or any other country; no nationality or residency restriction is stated.

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Bachelor

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Application process

1
Apply online for an ETH Zurich Master’s programme through eApply during the first application window and select the ESOP option.
2
Submit all documents required for Master’s admission and upload a self-developed pre-proposal for the intended Master’s thesis.
3
If the chosen Master’s programme does not require references, name two professors who can upload recommendation letters after the system contacts them.
4
Keep the telephone number listed in the CV reachable because the selection process may include a phone or video interview in February.

Program timeline

Most recent annual application cycle closed.
30 November 2025
Next application window opens.
1 November 2026
Next application deadline.
30 November 2026, 11:59 CET
Possible phone or video interviews.
February 2027
Scholarship decisions communicated.
End of March 2027
Master’s programme starts.
Autumn semester 2027