The ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship, officially the Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP), is one of the most generous master’s scholarships in Europe. ETH says it covers the full study and living costs of your master’s degree, adding mentorship and a network through the ETH Foundation. If you’re an international student with an outstanding bachelor’s result and an eye on Switzerland’s top technical university, this is the award to know about.
There’s no separate scholarship form. You apply for your ETH master’s in the usual online system, upload one extra document, and apply in a single November window. It’s simple on paper, but it’s also demanding: only around 60 scholarships are planned for the 2027/28 intake. This guide explains what you’d receive, who qualifies, how to apply and how to avoid the mistakes that end applications early.
Key Benefits: What the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship Covers
According to ETH’s student portal, the scholarship includes:
- A living-cost grant of CHF 12,000 per semester, rising to CHF 13,500 per semester from the autumn 2027 intake (called HS27 on ETH’s page)
- A tuition fee waiver
- Mentorship and a network through the ETH Foundation
How long it lasts
The scholarship is awarded for the regular duration of your master’s programme, which is three or four semesters. The tuition fee waiver covers the same period.
What that adds up to
At CHF 13,500 per semester, a three-semester programme comes to CHF 40,500 and a four-semester programme to CHF 54,000, plus the waived tuition. That’s my own arithmetic from ETH’s figures, so check the exact amount in your offer. Zurich is an expensive city, and ETH says the scholarship is meant to cover full living costs, but plan your own budget carefully.
What it doesn’t tell you
The page doesn’t mention flights, visa costs, health insurance or housing. Don’t assume they’re covered. Ask the Financial Aid Office if they matter to your plan.
Who the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship Is For: Undergraduate, Graduate and Postgraduate Students
Final-year undergraduates
You can’t use ESOP for a bachelor’s degree, but you can apply while finishing yours. ETH says that if you haven’t completed your bachelor’s by the time you apply, you must receive the degree certificate at the latest by the time lectures begin at ETH. If you’re in your final year, you’re the target audience.
Master’s applicants
This is the core group. ESOP supports “excellent Master’s students” starting an ETH master’s programme. Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) programmes are excluded.
Current ETH bachelor’s students
ETH bachelor’s students can also apply for a consecutive master’s programme. Only they can start ESOP with a leave of absence.
Postgraduate and doctoral applicants
If you already hold a master’s degree, you aren’t eligible, and neither are students already enrolled in an ETH master’s programme. ESOP doesn’t fund PhDs. If you’re aiming at doctoral study, you’d look at other routes, such as the Clarendon Fund Scholarships or the Gates Cambridge Scholarship.
ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship Eligibility Criteria
ETH lists these requirements for the scholarship:
- A very good bachelor’s result. ETH says this means the top 10% of your bachelor’s programme (grade A), based on your own self-assessment.
- No existing master’s. You must not already be enrolled in an ETH master’s programme or hold a master’s degree.
- Application in the first window. For ESOP you must apply within the first application window, November 1 to 30.
- A master’s thesis pre-proposal, uploaded with your application.
- References. If your programme doesn’t ask for them, you must name two professors, who’ll receive an email from the system to upload a reference letter.
- Availability for an interview. Your CV must include a phone number where you can be reached, because the process might include a phone or video interview in February.
The admission requirements still apply
Winning ESOP depends on first being admitted. ETH describes its master’s application process as “very selective,” and you need to meet your programme’s requirements:
- The profile of requirements for your chosen programme
- A recognised language certificate (see below)
- Minimum average grades for 16 listed programmes, including Computer Science, Data Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Robotics and Statistics. ETH publishes country-specific minimum averages for applicants from outside the EU and EFTA. If your current average is below the minimum for your country, ETH says your application has “no prospect of success.” I couldn’t see the country names in the text of that page, so check it for your own country.
An average above the minimum doesn’t guarantee admission. Applicants from countries not listed are also expected to perform excellently and be among the best of their cohort.
Language certificates
Most ETH master’s programmes are taught in English, though some need German as well. For English, ETH accepts only the certificates on its list. Highlights:
- TOEFL, IELTS and Cambridge C1 Advanced must be no more than two years old
- Cambridge C2 Proficiency, or C1 Advanced with grade A, must be no more than five years old
- The certificate must be submitted by the application deadline at the latest. Applications with an invalid, insufficient or missing language certificate are rejected on formal grounds.
The minimum scores vary by programme and are listed in each programme’s application documents. Some third-party sites quote an IELTS of 7.0 as a general figure, but ETH’s own language page I read doesn’t state one, so check your programme.
Exemptions
You don’t need an English certificate if you completed a bachelor’s degree taught entirely in English, and your university’s central administration officially confirms this. Confirmations from teachers or professors aren’t accepted. No confirmation is needed for bachelor’s degrees from Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States. If English wasn’t the only language of instruction, ETH strongly recommends taking a test.
What the pages don’t say
ETH doesn’t state a nationality restriction for ESOP on the pages I reviewed. It also doesn’t publish an acceptance rate.
How to Apply for the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship (Step by Step)
Step 1: Choose your programme
You may apply for two different master’s programmes per semester. Each requires its own application and fee. Read each programme’s profile of requirements and required documents first.
Step 2: Check the minimum grade and prerequisites
Look up the minimum average grade for your country and programme. ETH can’t assess your chances in advance, so do this before paying a fee.
Step 3: Get your language certificate
Book your test early so the result is valid and reported in time. For TOEFL, order a report through ETS and name ETH Zurich as the receiving institution (institution code 9038). For IELTS, you’ll enter the test date and Test Report Form number in the online form.
Step 4: Gather your documents
ETH asks for official transcripts from every university you attended, plus programme-specific items. Details are in the checklist below.
Step 5: Write your pre-proposal
You must develop it yourself, using established scientific citation practice. ETH publishes guidelines for the pre-proposal as a PDF on its ESOP page, so download and follow them.
Step 6: Apply in eApply during the window
Complete the online form, upload your documents and pay the CHF 150 application fee. ETH sends a confirmation email when you submit.
Apply here: ETH Zurich eApply online application
Step 7: Be ready for February
A phone or video interview may happen in February. If you won’t be available, tell the study programme coordinator.
Step 8: Wait for the decision
Applications are first screened by the Admissions Office, then evaluated by the programme’s Admissions Committee. The final decision on scholarships rests with the Rector of ETH Zurich.
Required Documents Checklist
ETH’s pages say documents depend on your programme, so confirm yours in the programme-specific list. In general, expect:
- Completed online application form in eApply
- Official transcripts/academic records from every university you’ve attended, including exchange periods and unfinished programmes (double degrees need transcripts from both universities)
- Degree certificate, or confirmation it will arrive before lectures begin
- A valid, recognised language certificate (or an officially confirmed exemption)
- CV, including a phone number where you can be reached in February
- Programme-specific items, which can include a letter of motivation, a letter of recommendation, a portfolio or a GRE test
- ESOP pre-proposal for your master’s thesis
- Two professors’ names as referees if your programme doesn’t ask for references
- Application fee of CHF 150 per programme
Rules for documents
- Upload documents in their original language.
- If a document isn’t in German, English, French or Italian, you also need an official translation, or an English version issued by the university.
- Missing documents can’t be added after the deadline, because incomplete applications aren’t processed.
The application fee
The fee is CHF 150 per degree programme. It’s not refundable and can’t be waived. You must pay by credit card (Visa or MasterCard) or PostFinance card when you submit. ETH warns that some credit cards from certain countries may be refused for security reasons, and advises asking your bank about international transactions before you apply. You can’t submit the application until the fee is paid.
Important Deadlines and Timeline
Key dates for autumn 2027 entry
- November 1 to 30, 2026, 11:59 pm CET: the ESOP application window, which is also the main window for non-Swiss bachelor’s applicants. ESOP applicants must apply within it.
- By the deadline: language certificate valid and uploaded, all documents complete.
- February 2027: possible phone or video interview.
- Two to three months after the deadline: normal timeframe for master’s admission decisions.
- End of March 2027: ESOP decisions communicated.
Beware of other dates online
Some websites list different master’s dates, such as a December 15 deadline, or dates for other Swiss universities. For ESOP, use the November window on ETH’s page.
A practical timeline
- Now: pick your programme, check the minimum grade and book your English test.
- October: request transcripts, contact referees and sort out card payment.
- Late October: draft your pre-proposal and statement.
- November 1 to 10: upload everything and submit.
- Keep November 11 to 30 as a buffer for fixing problems.
- January and February: prepare for a possible interview.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Missing the single window. ESOP only accepts applications from November 1 to 30.
Assuming ESOP is a separate application. It runs through your master’s application in eApply, so a weak admission file sinks the scholarship too.
Applying with a master’s already in hand. Holders of a master’s degree aren’t eligible.
Ignoring the minimum grade for your country. ETH says applicants below it have no prospect of success.
Submitting without a valid language certificate. It can’t be added after the deadline, and the application will be rejected.
Leaving payment to the last minute. International card payments can fail, and you can’t submit until the fee is paid.
Writing a weak or copied pre-proposal. Plagiarism or misinformation leads to exclusion, or to revocation of admission and scholarship if discovered later.
Overclaiming your class rank. The top-10% criterion is based on self-assessment, but misinformation has serious consequences.
Using an unreachable phone number. A February interview is possible.
Applying for an MAS programme. Those are excluded.
Insider Tips to Improve Your Chances
These come from reading how the process is built, not from any official guarantee.
- Treat it as two applications in one. The programme’s Admissions Committee evaluates you for both admission and the scholarship, so everything you upload needs to be strong.
- Document your top-10% claim. The criterion is self-assessed, but many universities outside Europe don’t give ECTS grades. Ask your registry for a class-rank or percentile letter, and explain your grading scale briefly in your CV or a note.
- Make the pre-proposal specific. It’s a short plan for your master’s thesis, so show you’ve thought about a research question, method and why it fits the programme. Follow ETH’s published guidelines closely.
- Pick referees who can speak to research potential. If your programme doesn’t ask for references, you must name two professors. Contact them early so they’re ready when the system email arrives.
- Apply early in the window. There’s no reward for waiting, and payment or upload problems are easier to fix with days to spare.
- Sort out payment now. Ask your bank to enable international online payments, or arrange a card that works, before November.
- Prepare for a short interview. Be ready to discuss your pre-proposal, your academic record and why ETH.
- Check the programme’s own requirements for GRE or other tests. They vary by programme.
- Have a plan B. Only around 60 scholarships are planned for 2027/28, and the exact number depends on funds. Our guides to Chevening Scholarships, the Gates Cambridge Scholarship and the MPOWER Global Citizen Scholarship cover other options.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship?
The Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP), a scholarship for excellent ETH master’s students that covers study and living costs.
How much does it pay?
CHF 12,000 per semester, rising to CHF 13,500 per semester from the autumn 2027 intake, plus a tuition fee waiver.
How long does it last?
The regular duration of your master’s programme, three or four semesters.
How many scholarships are there?
Around 60 are planned for 2027/28, depending on available funds.
Do I need a separate application?
No. You apply through eApply with your master’s application and add a pre-proposal.
When is the deadline?
The window is November 1 to 30, 2026, 11:59 pm CET, for a start in autumn 2027.
Can I apply after the window closes?
No. ESOP requires you to apply within the first window.
Who is eligible?
Applicants for an ETH master’s (not MAS) with a bachelor’s result in the top 10% of their programme, who aren’t already enrolled in an ETH master’s or holding a master’s degree.
Is there a nationality restriction?
None is stated on the pages I reviewed.
Do I need an English certificate?
Usually yes, unless your entire bachelor’s was taught in English and officially confirmed by your university’s central administration.
What’s the application fee?
CHF 150 per programme, non-refundable and non-waivable, paid by Visa, MasterCard or PostFinance card.
Can I apply to more than one programme?
You may apply for two different programmes per semester, paying a fee for each.
Will there be an interview?
Possibly, by phone or video in February.
When will I know?
Decisions are communicated at the end of March.
Who makes the final decision?
The Rector of ETH Zurich, after evaluation by the programme’s Admissions Committee.
Conclusion: Your Next Steps
The ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship gives top master’s applicants something rare: full funding at one of the world’s leading technical universities, plus mentorship and a network. The process is straightforward, but the standards are high and the window is short.
Here is what to do this week:
- Choose up to two ETH master’s programmes and read their requirements.
- Check the minimum grade for your country.
- Book your English test, or confirm that you qualify for the exemption.
- Request official transcripts and a class-rank letter.
- Ask two professors to act as referees.
- Start drafting your pre-proposal using ETH’s guidelines.
- Make sure your bank card can pay the CHF 150 fee internationally.
- Build a backup funding list.
If it doesn’t work out this time, the preparation still counts: a strong application builds the evidence and writing you’ll need for every other scholarship. Start early and keep going.
A note from the author: scholarship amounts, deadlines, eligibility rules and processes change often. This article reflects what ETH Zurich’s official pages said at the time of writing. Please verify every detail on ETH Zurich’s student portal and master’s admissions pages before you apply.