Last updated: October 17, 2026 | Category: Europe Scholarships | Study Tribune Team
Quick answer: The ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship is the Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP). It gives outstanding master’s students a tuition fee waiver and a living allowance of CHF 12,000 per semester, rising to CHF 13,500 from the autumn semester 2027. You need a bachelor’s result in the top 10% and must apply in the November window, which closes on 30 November 2026. About 60 awards are planned for 2027/28.
This guide reports what ETH Zurich’s own pages state, flags figures that conflict across pages, and notes what ETH does not publish, such as the acceptance rate. Several third-party sites still quote old amounts and deadlines, so we rely on ETH’s pages and say where they disagree.
ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Scholarship | Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP) |
| University | ETH Zurich, Switzerland |
| Level | Master’s programmes (not MAS) |
| Funding | Tuition fee waiver plus living and study allowance |
| Allowance | CHF 12,000 per semester, rising to CHF 13,500 from the autumn semester 2027 |
| Duration | Regular length of the programme: three or four semesters |
| Awards | About 60 for the 2027/28 start |
| Academic bar | Bachelor’s result in the top 10% (grade A) |
| Deadline | 30 November 2026 (window 1 to 30 November) |
| Selection | Admissions committees, then final decision by the Rector |
| Decision | End of March 2027, with possible interviews in February |
| Master’s application fee | CHF 150 per degree programme |
Table of Contents
What Is the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship (ESOP)?
ESOP supports excellent master’s students with a scholarship, mentorship and the network of the ETH Foundation. Awards do not depend on financial need. The scholarship is attached to a regular ETH master’s programme, so you cannot hold it without being admitted to one.
How Much the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship Pays
According to ETH’s official page, the scholarship covers living and study expenses of CHF 12,000 per semester, rising to CHF 13,500 per semester from the autumn semester 2027 onwards. A tuition fee waiver is included for the same period, though ETH does not state the tuition amount. Over a four-semester master’s, the allowance alone is CHF 54,000 at the higher rate, which is our own arithmetic from the stated figure.
Conflicting figures: Some ETH pages and third-party sites quote CHF 11,000 or CHF 12,000 per semester, and an old application form describes a CHF 24,000 yearly award. These look outdated. Use ETH’s current page and confirm the exact amount in your offer letter.
How the grant is paid
The grant is paid in three or four instalments at the start of each semester, after you complete your enrolment. Payments go to a personal bank or post office account in Switzerland. The grant cannot be transferred to a different programme.
Exchange, internships and assistantships
During an exchange semester the grant is suspended but tuition stays waived. For a compulsory internship of 10 weeks or more, no grant is paid as a rule. A voluntary internship leaves the choice to you. You can combine ESOP with an assistantship if your studies are not compromised, and a thesis written at another university keeps the grant running within the standard duration.
ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship Eligibility
To be considered for ESOP you must:
- Be entering a master’s programme, not a MAS
- Have a very good bachelor’s result, in the top 10% of your cohort (grade A), based on self-assessment
- Meet the admission requirements of your chosen programme, including language
ETH bachelor’s students may apply for a consecutive master’s. Students already enrolled in an ETH master’s, and holders of a master’s degree, are not eligible. Only ETH bachelor’s students may begin ESOP with a leave of absence. Nationality is not a restriction.
ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship Deadline and Timeline for 2027
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 November 2026 | International application window opens |
| 30 November 2026 | Deadline for ESOP and international bachelor’s applicants |
| February 2027 | Possible phone or video interview |
| End of March 2027 | Decisions communicated |
| Autumn semester 2027 | Studies begin |
ETH’s dates page lists the deadline as 11:59 CET, while the scholarship page shows both 11.59h and 12.59 CET. Treat the earlier time as the safe one and submit well before it. The good news is that applicants with a bachelor’s degree from outside Switzerland must apply in this window anyway, so applying for ESOP does not move your date forward. Late or incomplete applications cannot be processed, and spring entry is not possible. Applicants rejected in the first round may not reapply to the same programme in the second round, which is for Swiss bachelor’s holders.
ESOP Application Documents
You apply through eApply, ETH’s online master’s application. Submit:
- The standard master’s admission documents: official transcripts from every university attended and a valid language certificate
- Programme-specific documents such as a CV, motivation letter or GRE, where required
- A self-written pre-proposal for your master’s thesis, following ETH’s guidelines PDF
- Two professors named as reference persons, if your programme does not ask for references
Documents not in German, English, French or Italian need an official translation. An older ESOP form set a pre-proposal limit of 500 words, but that form dates from 2020, so follow the current guidelines PDF.
English Requirements
ETH accepts TOEFL, IELTS, C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency, and says other certificates are not accepted. Minimum scores are set by each programme. TOEFL, IELTS and C1 Advanced certificates must be no more than two years old, and C2 Proficiency no more than five. For TOEFL, designate ETH Zurich with institution code 9038. You are exempt if your entire bachelor’s was taught in English and your university’s central administration confirms it, or if you hold an ETH or EPFL bachelor’s or a Swiss Matura. An inadequate confirmation leads to direct rejection, so take a test if you have any doubt.
How to Apply for the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship, Step by Step
- Choose your master’s programme. Pick a regular ETH master’s programme, not a MAS, and check its admission requirements and minimum grade, which are listed on a separate page.
- Confirm you are in the top 10%. Check that your bachelor’s result puts you in the top 10% of your cohort, equivalent to grade A, since ETH bases this on your own assessment.
- Prepare your language proof. Order a TOEFL or IELTS report or arrange an official English-instruction confirmation if you are exempt, and make sure it is valid by the deadline.
- Write your thesis pre-proposal. Write the pre-proposal yourself, following ETH’s guidelines PDF, because plagiarism or misinformation leads to exclusion or revocation.
- Line up two professors as referees. If your programme does not require recommendation letters, name two professors who will upload a letter when the system emails them.
- Apply through eApply in November. Complete the online form between 1 and 30 November 2026, upload your documents, pay the CHF 150 fee and keep the confirmation email.
- Stay reachable for February. Keep the phone number in your CV active in case you are invited to a phone or video interview, and expect decisions at the end of March.
Application Fee
The ESOP page lists no separate fee. Your master’s application, however, carries a fee of CHF 150 per degree programme, which is non-refundable and cannot be waived. Pay by Visa, MasterCard or a PostFinance card, and ask your bank first, because some banks reject cards from certain countries. You may apply for two different programmes per semester.
What ETH Does Not Publish
ETH does not publish the acceptance rate, the weighting of selection criteria or the tuition amount on the scholarship page. The minimum grade for each programme is on a separate ETH page. We therefore cannot tell you what grade or interview performance guarantees an award, and nobody can, since ETH says it cannot assess your chances of admission in advance.
Mistakes That Cost Applicants the Scholarship
- Missing the November window. ESOP applications are accepted only then.
- Overstating your ranking. The top 10% rule is self-assessed, but misinformation can lead to exclusion or revocation.
- Copying the pre-proposal. Plagiarism leads to exclusion.
- Weak English-instruction proof. The wrong office or an unclear letter means direct rejection.
- Ignoring February. Stay reachable by the phone number in your CV, or tell the programme coordinator you are unavailable.
Frequently Asked Questions About the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship (ESOP)
What is the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship?
The ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship is the Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP), a merit-based award for students entering an ETH Zurich master’s programme. It combines a tuition fee waiver, a living and study allowance, mentorship and the ETH Foundation network.
How much does the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship pay?
ETH’s official page lists CHF 12,000 per semester for living and study expenses, rising to CHF 13,500 per semester from the autumn semester 2027 onwards, plus a tuition fee waiver. The page does not give a tuition amount. Older pages quote CHF 11,000 or CHF 12,000, so confirm the figure in your offer.
Is ESOP fully funded?
It covers tuition through a fee waiver and gives a living and study allowance, which ETH describes as covering full study and living costs during the master’s. It is paid for the regular length of your programme, which is three or four semesters. Your total living costs in Zurich depend on your own spending.
What is the deadline for the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship 2027?
ESOP applicants must apply in the international window, which runs from 1 to 30 November 2026 for the autumn semester 2027. ETH’s dates page gives the deadline as 30 November 2026 at 11:59 CET, while the scholarship page shows both 11.59h and 12.59 CET, so check the exact time in eApply and submit early.
Who is eligible for ESOP?
You must be entering a master’s programme, not a MAS, and have a very good bachelor’s result in the top 10% of your cohort, which ETH describes as grade A and based on self-assessment. You also need to meet the admission requirements of your master’s programme. Students already enrolled in an ETH master’s, and holders of a master’s degree, are not eligible.
Do I apply separately for ESOP?
You apply through eApply, the same online system as your master’s application, and submit the standard admission documents plus a self-written pre-proposal for your master’s thesis. You must apply in the November window to be considered for ESOP.
How many ESOP awards are given?
ETH states that about 60 scholarships are planned for the 2027/28 start. The exact number depends on available funds, and ETH does not publish an acceptance rate.
Is there an application fee for ESOP?
The ESOP page lists no separate fee, but your master’s application carries a fee of CHF 150 per degree programme. It is non-refundable and cannot be waived. You may apply to two different programmes per semester.
What English test do I need for ESOP?
ETH accepts TOEFL, IELTS, C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency, and no other certificates. Required scores are set by each programme, and TOEFL, IELTS and C1 Advanced certificates must be no more than two years old. You are exempt if your whole bachelor’s was taught in English and the university confirms it, or if you hold an ETH or EPFL bachelor’s or a Swiss Matura.
Do I need recommendation letters for ESOP?
If your programme does not ask for references, you must name two professors as reference persons. They receive a system email and upload a reference letter following ETH’s guidelines. If your programme already requires letters, those are used.
When are ESOP decisions announced?
The admissions committees of each programme evaluate applications and the Rector of ETH Zurich makes the final decision. Selection may include a phone or video interview in February, and decisions are communicated at the end of March.
Can I combine ESOP with a job or exchange?
ESOP can be combined with an assistantship as long as your studies are not compromised. During an exchange semester the grant is suspended but tuition stays waived, and for a compulsory internship of 10 weeks or more no grant is paid as a rule. Tell the ESOP office about your plans.
How is the ESOP grant paid?
The grant is paid in three or four instalments at the start of each semester, after you complete your semester enrolment. Payments go to a personal bank or post office account in Switzerland, and the grant cannot be moved to a different programme.
Official Sources
- ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme
- ESOP payment and conditions FAQ
- Master’s application dates, autumn semester 2027
- How to apply for a master’s (international bachelor’s)
- Master’s language requirements
- eApply portal
Related Guides
How to write a personal statement for a scholarship. Scholarship recommendation letter samples. Scholarships without IELTS. Scholarships in Europe. 50+ fully funded scholarships guide.
Amounts, deadlines and rules change every year. Always confirm them on the ETH Zurich website and in eApply before applying.