ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP)

ETH Zurich supports excellent Master’s students (no MAS) with the Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP). ESOP supports students with a scholarship, mentorship, and a network of the ETH Foundation. The scholarship covers the full study and living costs during the Master’s degree course.

ESOP is for students applying for a consecutive Master programme (including ETH Bachelor students for a consecutive Master programme). If a student is already enrolled in a Master’s degree programme at ETH Zurich or holds a Master degree, they are not eligible for ESOP. ESOP applications are supplied via eApply (online Master application).

Selection is based on a very good result in the Bachelor’s degree programme (top 10% of the Bachelor’s degree programme = grade A; based on self-assessment). The selection process might include a phone/VC interview; applicants must be reachable under the telephone number specified in the CV, and if they are not available they should inform the study programme coordinator. Applications are evaluated by the Admissions Committees of the respective Master’s programmes, and the final decision for awarding scholarships rests with the Rector of ETH Zurich.

ESOP is awarded for the regular duration of the Master’s programme (three or four semesters) and the tuition fee waiver also applies for this regular duration. The scholarship consists of living and study expenses (CHF 12,000 per semester, and CHF 13,500 per semester) and a tuition fee waiver. Approximately 60 ESOP scholarships are assigned for the start in the academic year mentioned by ETH Zurich, with decisions communicated by end of March.

• Level: Master’s students (no MAS)Academic performance: very good result in the Bachelor’s degree programme; top 10% of the Bachelor’s degree programme = grade A (based on self-assessment)Application timing: apply within the first application windowApplication channel: ESOP applications are submitted via eApply (online Master application)Enrollment/degree status exclusion: if already enrolled in a Master’s degree programme at ETH Zurich, or if holding a Master degree, the applicant is not eligible for ESOPAvailability for selection: applicant must be reachable under the telephone number specified in the CV; if not available during the selection timeframe, the applicant must inform the study programme coordinatorConsecutive Master: the programme states it also applies for ETH Bachelor students for a consecutive Master programmeMaster thesis pre-proposal: applicant must upload a pre-proposal for the Master thesis developed by themselves using established scientific citation practice; plagiarism or negligent or intentional misinformation leads to exclusion from the admission process or, if discovered later, revocation of admission and any scholarshipReferences: if the study programme does not ask for references, the applicant must name two reference persons (professors) for the ESOP application, and these persons upload a reference letter after an email from the systemOnly ETH Bachelor students may start the ESOP with a leave of absence

• Scholarship, mentorship, and an ETH Foundation networkFull study and living costs during the Master’s degree courseLiving and study expenses: CHF 12,000 per semester and CHF 13,500 per semesterTuition fee waiverDuration: regular duration of the Master’s programme (three or four semesters); tuition fee waiver applies for the same regular duration

1. Submit the Master application and ESOP application via eApply (online Master application).Apply within the first application window.In addition to the documents for the Master admission, upload a pre-proposal for your Master thesis (follow the download guidelines provided by ETH Zurich).Ensure you are reachable under the telephone number specified in your CV because the selection process might include a phone/VC interview; if you are not available during that time, inform the study programme coordinator.If your study programme does not ask for references, provide two reference persons (professors) for your ESOP application; these persons upload a reference letter after receiving an email from the system.

• Documents for Master admissionPre-proposal for the Master thesis (upload as part of ESOP application)If the study programme does not ask for references: two reference persons (professors), whose reference letters are uploaded after an email from the system