ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP) 2027 | Switzerland

The ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP) 2027 offers a fully funded Master's scholarship at ETH Zurich in Switzerland for outstanding students with excellent academic records and strong potential.

The programme provides a scholarship covering study and living costs, together with a tuition-fee waiver for the regular duration of the Master's programme. ESOP scholars also receive mentoring and become part of the ETH Foundation network.

For students starting their Master's programme in Autumn 2027, applications for ESOP must be submitted during ETH Zurich's international Master's application window from 1 November to 30 November 2026. The deadline is 30 November 2026 at 11:59 PM CET.

Approximately 60 ESOP scholarships are expected to be awarded for the 2027/28 academic year, although the exact number depends on available funding.

The ESOP provides comprehensive financial support during the Master's programme.

The scholarship includes:

• CHF 13,500 per semester for study and living expenses from the 2027/28 academic year
• Tuition-fee waiver
• Funding for the regular duration of the selected Master's programme
• Mentoring
• Integration into the ETH Foundation network
• Opportunity to develop and pursue individual academic and research interests

ETH Zurich states that ESOP lasts for the standard duration of the selected Master's programme, normally three or four semesters depending on the programme.

The grant is paid in three or four instalments at the beginning of each semester after the student has completed semester enrolment.

ETH Zurich describes ESOP as a scholarship covering full study and living costs, together with a tuition-fee waiver for the regular duration of the Master's programme.

For the 2027/28 academic year, the scholarship amount is CHF 13,500 per semester. The tuition-fee waiver applies for the standard duration of the selected Master's programme.

Applicants should nevertheless check ETH Zurich's current cost information because personal expenses outside the scholarship arrangements may vary.

ESOP is available to outstanding applicants admitted to eligible regular Master's programmes at ETH Zurich.

ETH Zurich offers Master's programmes across numerous academic disciplines, including areas such as:

• Architecture
• Engineering
• Computer Science
• Data Science
• Artificial Intelligence
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Environmental Sciences
• Earth Sciences
• Materials Science
• Mechanical Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Robotics
• Biotechnology
• Management, Technology and Economics
• Life Sciences
• Social sciences and related interdisciplinary fields

Applicants should check the individual ETH Zurich Master's programme because admission requirements and programme-specific conditions differ between degrees.

The ESOP is open to outstanding students regardless of whether their Bachelor's degree was obtained at ETH Zurich or another university. ETH Zurich's official ESOP information does not restrict the programme to a specific nationality.

Students with Bachelor's degrees from outside Switzerland must apply during the international application window.

For Autumn 2027, applicants with an international Bachelor's degree must apply between 1 and 30 November 2026.

Applicants for ESOP 2027 should generally:

• Apply for an eligible regular Master's programme at ETH Zurich.
• Demonstrate very strong academic performance.
• Be among the top students in their Bachelor's degree programme.
• Have achieved results equivalent to approximately the top 10% of their Bachelor's programme, corresponding to an ETH grade A under the programme's self-assessment guidance.
• Submit the ESOP application during the first Master's application window.
• Provide the required Master's application documents.
• Submit the required ESOP Master's thesis pre-proposal.
• Meet the admission requirements of the selected ETH Zurich Master's programme.

ETH Zurich states that the top-10% criterion is based on the applicant's self-assessment.

Applicants who are already enrolled in an ETH Zurich Master's programme or who already hold a Master's degree are not eligible for ESOP.

Academic Requirements

Academic excellence is one of the central requirements for ESOP.

ETH Zurich states that applicants should have achieved very good results in their Bachelor's degree programme, corresponding to the top 10% of the programme or an A grade under the ETH assessment framework.

Applicants must also satisfy the academic admission requirements of their selected Master's programme.

Because admission requirements vary between Master's programmes, applicants should carefully check the individual programme requirements before applying.

In addition to the documents required for Master's admission, ESOP applicants must provide additional scholarship materials.

The ESOP application requires:

• Master's application documents
• ESOP application information
• Pre-proposal for the Master's thesis
• Academic information
• Curriculum vitae
• Required references, where applicable

The Master's thesis pre-proposal must be developed independently by the applicant and must use established scientific citation practices. ETH Zurich explicitly warns that plagiarism or false information can result in exclusion from the admission process or withdrawal of admission and scholarship.

If the selected Master's programme does not require references, ESOP applicants must provide two professors as reference persons for the scholarship application.

Applicants should follow these steps:

Step 1: Choose an ETH Zurich Master's Programme

Select a regular Master's programme that matches your academic background and research interests.

Review the specific admission requirements of the programme before beginning the application.

Step 2: Check ESOP Eligibility

Confirm that your Bachelor's academic performance is sufficiently strong for ESOP consideration.

ETH Zurich expects ESOP candidates to be among the top 10% of their Bachelor's programme.

Step 3: Prepare the Master's Application

Prepare the documents required for admission to your selected Master's programme.

Step 4: Prepare the ESOP Thesis Pre-Proposal

Develop the required Master's thesis pre-proposal independently and follow ETH Zurich's scientific citation requirements.

Step 5: Prepare References

If your Master's programme does not already require references, provide two professors as reference persons for the ESOP application.

Step 6: Submit Through eApply

ESOP applications are submitted online through ETH Zurich's eApply system together with the Master's application.

Step 7: Submit During the First Application Window

Applicants must submit the ESOP application during the first application period.

For Autumn 2027, this is 1–30 November 2026.

Application Deadline

For the ETH Zurich ESOP 2027, the application window is:

1 November – 30 November 2026

The final deadline is:

30 November 2026 at 11:59 PM CET

Applicants with an international Bachelor's degree must use this application window. Applicants applying for ESOP must also apply during this first application period.

The second application window in April 2027 is only for applicants with Bachelor's degrees from Swiss universities and cannot be used by applicants with Bachelor's degrees obtained outside Switzerland.

Important Points

• ESOP is a Master's scholarship at ETH Zurich.
• It provides full study and living-cost support.
• The 2027/28 scholarship amount is CHF 13,500 per semester.
• A tuition-fee waiver is included.
• The scholarship lasts for the regular duration of the Master's programme.
• Approximately 60 ESOP scholarships are expected for 2027/28.
• Applicants should generally be among the top 10% of their Bachelor's programme.
• Applicants with international Bachelor's degrees must apply in November.
• ESOP applications are submitted through ETH Zurich's eApply system.
• A Master's thesis pre-proposal is required.
• Two professor references may be required when the selected Master's programme does not already require references.
• Applicants already enrolled in an ETH Master's programme are not eligible.
• Applicants who already hold a Master's degree are not eligible.
• The scholarship selection process may include an interview in February.
• Scholarship decisions are expected by the end of March 2027.
• ESOP cannot be transferred to a different Master's programme after the award.

ESOP applications are evaluated by the admissions committees of the relevant Master's programmes.

The final decision on awarding the Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme is made by the Rector of ETH Zurich.

Selection focuses particularly on academic excellence. ETH Zurich states that applicants should have achieved results corresponding to the top 10% of their Bachelor's programme.

The selection process may include an interview by telephone or video conference in February, so applicants should ensure that the telephone number provided in their CV remains reachable during the selection period.

For the 2027/28 academic year, scholarship decisions are expected to be communicated by the end of March 2027.