ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship 2026 offers outstanding international students the chance to pursue a Master’s degree at one of the world’s leading science and technology universities. This prestigious scholarship; part of the Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP) provides full financial coverage, including tuition fees and living expenses, ensuring scholars can focus entirely on their academic and professional growth. Beyond funding, recipients gain access to mentorship and a valuable network through the ETH Foundation.
Applications for the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship 2026 open from November 1 to November 30, 2025. Highly competitive and merit-based, the scholarship is available for students with exceptional academic records and a passion for innovation and research. If you’re aiming to study at ETH Zurich and want to benefit from world-class education without the financial burden, this is your opportunity to shine. Prepare early, meet all the requirements, and take your first step toward a transformative academic journey in Switzerland.
Scholarship Summary
- Country: Switzerland
- Host: ETH Zurich
- Study Level: Masters
- Benefits: Fully Funded
- Deadline: 30 November 2025
Benefits
The scholarship covers the full study and living costs during the Master’s degree course.
- 💰 CHF 12,000 per semester to cover living and study expenses
- 🏫 Full tuition fee waiver for the entire duration of the Master’s program
- ⏳ Valid for 3 or 4 semesters, depending on program length
- 🎓 Only ETH Bachelor students may begin the ESOP while on a leave of absence
Eligibility for ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship 2026
- Very good result in Bachelor’s degree programme (top 10% of Bachelor’s degree programme = grade A)
- Please make sure to be reachable under the telephone number specified in your CV as the selection process might include a phone/VC interview in February
If you are already enrolled in a Master’s degree programme at ETH Zurich, or hold a Master degree, you are not eligible for ESOP.
Documents for ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship 2026
In addition to the documents for the Master admission you will need to upload a pre-proposal for your master thesis (Downloadguidelines_preproposal (PDF, 86 KB)).
- The pre-proposal for the Master’s thesis must be developed by yourself and use established scientific citation practice.
- Plagiarism, negligent or intentional misinformation will lead to exclusion from the admission process or – if discovered later – to the revocation of the admission and of any scholarship.
If your study programme does not ask for references you must name two reference persons (professors) for your ESOP application. These persons should upload (after an email from the system) a reference letter.
Selection process
For the start in the academic year 2025/26 there will be assigned approximately 60 ESOP scholarships. The decision is communicated at the end of March.
The applications are evaluated by the Admissions Committees of the respective Master’s programmes. The final decision for awarding scholarships in the Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme rests with the Rector of ETH Zurich. The exact number of annual scholarships depends on the availability of funds. The decisions are communicated by end of March.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship 2026 & Opportunity Programme offers financial support and mentorship to exceptional Master’s students. Covering full tuition and living expenses, it requires top academic performance and a comprehensive application, including a thesis pre-proposal.
What is the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP)?
The ESOP is a merit-based scholarship for outstanding Master’s students at ETH Zurich. It provides full coverage of study and living expenses, including a tuition fee waiver, for the regular duration of the Master’s programme, which is typically three or four semesters.
Who is eligible to apply for the ESOP?
Eligibility requires a Bachelor’s degree with excellent academic results, typically within the top 10% of the class (grade A). Applicants must be applying for a Master’s programme at ETH Zurich and should not already be enrolled in a Master’s programme or hold a Master’s degree.
When is the application period for the ESOP 2026?
The application window for the ESOP 2026 opens on November 1, 2025, and closes on November 30, 2025, at 11:59 PM Central European Time. Applications must be submitted within this timeframe to be considered.
How do I apply for the ESOP?
Applications are submitted online via the eApply portal during the Master’s programme application process. In addition to standard admission documents, applicants must upload a pre-proposal for their Master’s thesis and may need to provide references if not required by the study programme.
What should be included in the Master’s thesis pre-proposal?
The pre-proposal must be independently developed by the applicant and adhere to established scientific citation practices. Plagiarism or misinformation can lead to exclusion from the admission process or revocation of admission and any awarded scholarship.
Are reference letters required for the ESOP application?
If the Master’s programme does not require references, applicants must name two professors as reference persons. These individuals will receive an email from the system to upload their reference letters directly.
What does the ESOP scholarship cover financially?
The ESOP provides a scholarship of CHF 12,000 per semester to cover living and study expenses. Additionally, it includes a full tuition fee waiver for the regular duration of the Master’s programme, which is typically three or four semesters.
How many ESOP scholarships are awarded annually?
Approximately 60 ESOP scholarships are awarded each year, depending on the availability of funds. The final decision on awarding scholarships rests with the Rector of ETH Zurich and is communicated by the end of March.
Can current ETH Zurich Master’s students apply for the ESOP?
No, students who are already enrolled in a Master’s degree programme at ETH Zurich or who already hold a Master’s degree are not eligible to apply for the ESOP. The scholarship is intended for new Master’s students only.
Is it possible to start the ESOP with a leave of absence?
Only ETH Zurich Bachelor’s students transitioning directly into a consecutive Master’s programme may start the ESOP with a leave of absence. This exception does not apply to external applicants or those not continuing directly from a Bachelor’s programme at ETH Zurich.
⚠️ Disclaimer
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