- Fully FundedScholarship type
- ETH ZurichHost institution
- Master’sStudy level
- ~CHF 12,000/semesterStipend
- Any nationalityEligibility
- With admissionApplication
At a glance
full
Funding
€35k
Max amount
Dec 15, 2026
Deadline
Any country
Country
ETH Zurich
Provider
The Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP) is ETH Zurich's flagship merit scholarship for master's students. ETH Zurich is one of the world's top universities for science and technology, and ESOP supports the strongest incoming master's students of any nationality to study there. The scholarship is fully funded for the master's: it provides a living and study stipend of around CHF 12,000 per semester (about CHF 24,000 per year) plus a waiver of tuition/semester fees, for the standard duration of the master's programme (typically 2 years / 3 semesters of stipend). It is a highly selective award made to a limited number of applicants each year. Applicants apply for the ESOP scholarship as part of their ETH Zurich master's admission application, by the December deadline for programmes starting the following autumn. Selection is based on academic excellence and the strength of the overall application, assessed by ETH; there is no separate scholarship portal beyond the master's application.
What's covered
- Living & study stipend — Around CHF 12,000 per semester (≈ CHF 24,000/year) toward living and study costs.
- Tuition/semester fees — A waiver of tuition/semester fees for the master's.
- Duration — For the standard duration of the master's (typically 2 years), subject to progress.
How to apply
Apply for an ETH Zurich master's programme and the ESOP scholarship together, by the December deadline; selection is part of the admission assessment.
- Choose a master's programme — Select an eligible ETH Zurich master's programme and review its requirements.
- Note the deadline — Apply by the ESOP/master's deadline (commonly ~15 December for autumn entry).
- Prepare your application — Assemble transcripts, a CV, a motivation letter, and references.
- Apply for admission + ESOP — Submit your ETH master's application and tick/apply for the ESOP scholarship.
- Selection — ETH assesses academic excellence and the overall application.
- Award — Selected students receive the stipend and fee waiver for the master's.
Eligibility
NationalityOpen to applicants of any nationality.
DegreeAn excellent bachelor's degree (top of class) qualifying for an ETH master's.
ProgrammeApplying for an eligible ETH Zurich master's programme.
MeritOutstanding academic results and a strong overall application.
DeadlineApply for ESOP as part of the master's application by the December deadline.
There is no separate scholarship portal — you apply for ESOP within your ETH master's admission application. It is highly selective; only a limited number of awards are made.
Eligible countries
Any country
Deadlines
2027 master's entry2026-12-15
Selection
ETH Zurich selects ESOP scholars on academic excellence and the strength of the overall application, from among master's applicants of any nationality. With a limited number of awards each year, selection is highly competitive and reserved for the strongest candidates.
Verified sources
- ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship (ESOP)ethz.chofficial
About the provider
ETH Zurich (the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich) is one of the world's top universities for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Its Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP) attracts the strongest international master's students through full funding.
Frequently asked questions
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
What is the ETH ESOP scholarship?
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The Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP) is ETH Zurich's flagship merit scholarship for master's students, fully funding the strongest incoming students of any nationality.
What does it cover?
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A living and study stipend of around CHF 12,000 per semester (≈ CHF 24,000/year) plus a waiver of tuition/semester fees, for the standard duration of the master's.
Who is eligible?
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Applicants of any nationality with an excellent bachelor's degree (top of class) applying for an eligible ETH Zurich master's programme.
How do I apply?
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Apply for the ESOP scholarship as part of your ETH Zurich master's admission application — there is no separate portal — by the December deadline.
When is the deadline?
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Commonly around ~15 December for programmes starting the following autumn. Confirm the exact date on ETH Zurich's ESOP page.
Is it open to international students?
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Yes — ESOP is open to applicants of any nationality, covering the stipend and fee waiver regardless of where you are from.
How competitive is it?
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Highly — ETH Zurich is among the world's top science and technology universities, and only a limited number of ESOP awards are made each year to the strongest applicants.
Which programmes are eligible?
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Eligible ETH master's programmes across engineering, natural sciences, computer science, mathematics, architecture, and related fields.
How long does it last?
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For the standard duration of the master's (typically 2 years), subject to satisfactory academic progress.
Do I need a separate scholarship application?
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No separate portal — you apply for ESOP within your ETH master's admission application, so the two are submitted together.
What stipend will I receive?
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Around CHF 12,000 per semester (≈ CHF 24,000/year) toward living and study costs, plus the tuition/semester fee waiver.
Does it fund PhD or bachelor's study?
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No — ESOP is specifically for master's study at ETH Zurich. Doctoral candidates are funded through ETH's doctoral positions and other schemes.