ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship

The Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP) supports outstanding students who wish to pursue a master's degree at ETH Zurich. The scholarship covers the full cost of living and study, and includes mentoring by an ETH professor.

• Outstanding academic record (top 10% of graduating class or equivalent)
• Bachelor's degree from a recognized university
• Admitted or applying to a master's degree programme at ETH Zurich
• Both Swiss and international students are eligible

• CHF 12,000 per semester living grant
• Tuition fee waiver
• Mentoring by an ETH professor

• ETH Zurich master's application
• ESOP scholarship application
• Curriculum vitae
• Two academic reference letters
• Bachelor's degree transcript
• Motivation letter specifically for ESOP

1. 1Apply for admission to an ETH Zurich master's programme by December 15
2. 2Submit the separate ESOP scholarship application at the same time
3. 3ETH evaluates both applications in parallel
4. 4Scholarship decisions are communicated alongside admissions decisions (typically March)

• Outstanding academic track record
• Quality of the application dossier
• Potential for an academic or professional career

• You must be in the top 10% of your class — verify before applying
• The ESOP application is separate from the ETH admission application — submit both
• A strong recommendation from a professor who knows your research ability is crucial
• Apply by the December 15 deadline — there is only one round per year

Last verified: April 30, 2026

ESOP application deadline aligns with the ETH master's admission deadline, typically December 15.