Scholarships

EPFL Master Excellence Fellowship 2026 — CHF 10,000/Semester Guide

Faseeh Sultan

June 29, 2026
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EPFL Master Excellence Fellowship 2026 — CHF 10,000/Semester Complete Guide

If you have ever dreamed of studying at one of the world’s top technical universities, EPFL — the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne — has a fellowship that rewards exactly the kind of student you are. The EPFL Master Excellence Fellowship offers CHF 10,000 per semester — for up to four semesters — to outstanding students beginning a Master’s program at EPFL. Open to students from any country and any university background, this is one of the most generous merit-based Master’s fellowships in Europe. This guide covers everything: the amount, eligibility, deadlines, required documents, the renewal conditions, and how to give your application the best possible chance.

Detail	Information
University	EPFL — École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Country	Switzerland
Degree / Level	Master’s (all 29 programs)
Fellowship Amount	CHF 10,000 per semester (up to 4 semesters)
Additional Benefit	Guaranteed student housing (external candidates)
Round 1 Deadline	15 December
Round 2 Deadline	31 March
Open To	All nationalities — anyone applying to a Master’s at EPFL
Official Link	EPFL Master Excellence Fellowships

🎓 About EPFL and This Fellowship

EPFL is consistently ranked among the top 15 universities in the world and sits firmly in the global top 5 for engineering and technology. Located in Lausanne, Switzerland, on the shores of Lake Geneva, it is one of Europe’s most innovation-driven research universities — home to over 350 laboratories, more than 13,000 students from 120+ countries, and a campus that feels more like a small city than a traditional university.

The Master Excellence Fellowship is EPFL’s flagship merit award for incoming Master’s students. It was created for a specific purpose: to allow brilliant students to focus entirely on their Master’s studies and career development — pursuing research opportunities, entrepreneurial projects, or artistic and civic commitments — without financial pressure dictating which internships or experiences they can afford to take.

What makes this different from most excellence scholarships is the breadth of eligibility. Any student applying to any of EPFL’s 29 Master’s programs can apply — regardless of nationality, field of study, or whether they completed their Bachelor’s at EPFL or at a university abroad. This is one of the few top-ranked European institution fellowships that genuinely does not narrow its pool by country or region of origin.

The fellowship is part of EPFL’s Student Support Program, funded through philanthropy by donors including the Basil Panzer Trust, Novartis, Alan Howard, Squarepoint Foundation, and Nexthink, among others — a sign of how seriously the university’s extended network takes this programme.

🎓 Fellowship Benefits

What the fellowship covers:

CHF 10,000 per semester — paid directly into a Swiss bank or postal account (fellowship holders are required to open a Swiss account upon arrival)
Maximum coverage: 4 semesters — covering two to three semesters of Master’s coursework plus one semester for the Master’s project, depending on the program’s duration
Guaranteed reservation of a student room in a student residence — for external candidates (those who completed their Bachelor’s degree at a university outside EPFL) only
Certificate of Excellence upon successful completion of the Master’s program

What the fellowship does NOT cover:

Tuition fees (students are responsible for paying these themselves — verify current tuition amounts on the EPFL fees page)
Rent and accommodation costs (the housing guarantee secures a room but does not pay for it)
General living expenses — students manage all daily costs independently

Important restriction: This fellowship cannot be combined with other substantial scholarships. All scholarship recipients are required to declare any other financial support received during their Master’s program.

Here is the best part when it comes to planning: CHF 10,000 per semester over four semesters equals CHF 40,000 in total — a substantial contribution toward the cost of living in Lausanne, one of Switzerland’s most beautiful but also one of its more expensive cities.

🎓 Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility rules are straightforward — and genuinely broad.

Open to: Any student applying to a Master’s program at EPFL, regardless of nationality
Not eligible: Students who already hold a Master’s degree, or students who are currently enrolled in a Master’s program at EPFL
Each student may apply for only one Master’s program per application cycle
A limited number of fellowships are awarded — selection is competitive, based on academic excellence, qualifications, and motivation
Beyond grades, EPFL considers your broader profile: research publications or prizes, patent applications, start-up creation, associative or civic activities, festival or event organisation, and other outstanding achievements

Renewal conditions (for second year): The fellowship is not automatically renewed. To receive it for the second year, students must have:

Achieved an overall average of at least 5.0 out of 6 (weighted by ECTS credits, all numerical grades from all courses count)
Earned at least 50 ECTS credits in their first Master’s year (language courses, admission courses, and courses outside the study plan do not count)

EPFL is explicit: there are no exceptions for students who fall short of either condition. This is a high-performance fellowship and the renewal bar reflects that.

English language requirement: EPFL does not list a universal IELTS or TOEFL score requirement for the fellowship itself. English proficiency requirements are set at the individual program level — verify directly with your chosen Master’s program before applying.

🎓 Who Should Apply — and Who Shouldn’t

✅ You are a strong candidate if:

You have an outstanding Bachelor’s degree with consistently high grades
You have achievements beyond academics — research experience, publications, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, or competitive sport
You are applying to your first Master’s program (not already enrolled in or holder of a Master’s)
You are comfortable studying in a high-performance, fast-paced research environment
You are applying to one of EPFL’s 29 Master’s programs in science, engineering, architecture, computing, life sciences, or management of technology

❌ This fellowship is not for you if:

You already hold a Master’s degree from any institution
You are currently enrolled in a Master’s program at EPFL
You are applying to more than one Master’s program this cycle (only one application per year is permitted)
You expect to combine this with another major scholarship — not permitted

🎓 Available Master’s Programs at EPFL

The fellowship is available across all 29 Master’s programs offered by EPFL’s five schools and two colleges:

School of Architecture, Civil & Environmental Engineering (ENAC): Architecture, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering & Science, Urban & Regional Planning
School of Basic Sciences (SB): Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Computational Science & Engineering
School of Engineering (STI): Electrical Engineering, Microengineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Robotics
School of Computer & Communication Sciences (IC): Computer Science, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Communication Systems
School of Life Sciences (SV): Bioengineering, Life Sciences & Technology, Neuroscience
College of Management of Technology (CDM): Financial Engineering, Management of Technology, Energy Management & Sustainability

See the full list and program details at EPFL Master’s Programs.

🎓 Required Documents

The documents required depend on your candidate type.

External candidates (Bachelor’s from a university outside EPFL):

All documents required for standard Master’s admission at EPFL (transcripts, degree certificates, motivation letter, CV — as listed in the online application requirements)
Check the fellowship consideration box on your Master’s application form — no separate application form is needed

Internal candidates — same field of study (Bachelor’s earned at EPFL, continuing in the same discipline):

CV
Motivation letter
Full transcript of all grades earned at EPFL
Two recommendation letters from professors familiar with your work — submitted directly by the referees to the fellowship committee

Internal candidates — changing field of study (EPFL Bachelor’s, applying to a different Master’s field):

All standard admission documents
Two recommendation letters from professors — submitted directly by referees
Check the fellowship consideration box on the online Master’s application

🎓 Step-by-Step Application Process

Identify your Master’s program — choose from EPFL’s 29 programs. You may apply to only one per cycle. Browse programs at EPFL Master’s Programs.
Decide your round — Round 1 (December 15 for external / January 31 for internal) gives earlier notification; Round 2 (March 31 for external / April 15 for internal) gives more preparation time.
Prepare your application file — gather transcripts, CV, motivation letter, and any evidence of research, entrepreneurial, civic, or creative achievements. Your profile beyond grades genuinely matters here.
Submit via the online Master’s application portal — external candidates use the EPFL online application. Tick the fellowship consideration box. Internal candidates (same field) submit directly to their section with a copy to the fellowship committee.
Professors submit recommendation letters directly — for internal candidates and field-changers, your two referees email their letters directly to the committee. Coordinate this early — professors are busy and late letters cannot be chased at the last minute.
Await selection notification — Round 1 candidates are notified in early April; Round 2 candidates are notified in early to mid-June.
Open a Swiss bank account upon arrival — fellowship payments are made in CHF into a Swiss bank or postal account only.

Practical tip: EPFL evaluates the whole person, not just your GPA. A motivation letter that specifically connects your extracurricular achievements — a published paper, a start-up you co-founded, a community project you led — to your research ambitions at EPFL will stand out more than one that simply restates your transcript.

🎓 Important Dates

Event	Deadline
Round 1 — External candidates	15 December
Round 1 — Internal candidates (same field)	31 January
Round 1 — Recommendation letters (internal/field-changers)	31 January
Round 2 — External candidates	31 March
Round 2 — Internal candidates (same field)	15 April
Round 2 — Recommendation letters (internal/field-changers)	15 April
Round 1 selection notifications	Early April
Round 2 selection notifications	Early to mid-June

Bookmark this page and check back for updates — EPFL confirms deadlines annually and minor adjustments occasionally occur.

🎓 Why Apply — Why EPFL, Why Lausanne

EPFL’s reputation in engineering, computer science, and life sciences is not theoretical — it is built on a track record. The university has produced some of Europe’s most successful deep-tech startups, and its campus sits within Switzerland’s innovation corridor connecting Lausanne and Geneva, home to major international organisations, biotech companies, and tech multinationals.

For fellowship holders specifically, the financial support opens doors that are otherwise closed. Students who do not need to chase high-paying internships for survival can instead pursue research positions in EPFL’s 350+ labs, competitive international fellowships, or entrepreneurial ventures through the university’s startup ecosystem. That is precisely why the fellowship was designed the way it was.

Lausanne itself deserves mention. Sitting on Lake Geneva with the Alps visible from campus, it offers a quality of life that consistently places it among Europe’s most liveable cities. Public transport is efficient, the university is walkable, and the Half-Fare Travelcard available to Swiss residents makes exploring Switzerland affordable. The guaranteed student housing for external fellowship holders removes one of the most stressful aspects of moving to a new country — securing accommodation before you arrive.

This is one of the few prestigious European Master’s fellowships where being outstanding in sport, the arts, or civic leadership genuinely adds to your application — not just your grades. That is a rare and deliberate design choice by EPFL, and it reflects the kind of students they want building their community.

🎓 FAQ

Q: Is the EPFL Master Excellence Fellowship open to all nationalities? A: Yes. Any student applying to a Master’s program at EPFL is eligible to be considered for the fellowship, regardless of nationality or the country where they completed their Bachelor’s degree.

Q: Do I need to submit a separate application for the fellowship? A: No — for external candidates and field-changers, you simply tick the fellowship consideration box on your standard EPFL Master’s application. Internal candidates continuing in the same field submit directly to their section with a copy to the committee.

Q: How many fellowships are awarded? A: EPFL awards a limited number of fellowships — the exact number is not published. Selection is competitive, based on academic excellence and broader achievements.

Q: What happens if my grades drop during the first year? A: The fellowship will not be renewed for the second year if you fall below an average of 5.0/6 or fail to earn at least 50 ECTS credits. EPFL states explicitly that there are no exceptions.

Q: Can I hold the EPFL fellowship alongside the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship? A: The fellowship cannot be combined with other substantial scholarships. Candidates must declare all financial support received. If you hold or apply for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship simultaneously, you would need to clarify with both programmes which can be held concurrently. Contact master.excellence@epfl.ch for guidance.

Q: Is housing guaranteed for all fellowship holders? A: Guaranteed housing reservation is available for external candidates only — those who completed their Bachelor’s degree at a university outside EPFL. Internal candidates are not included in this benefit.

🎓 Official Source

Programme overview: EPFL Master Excellence Fellowships
Application details and deadlines: Application & Deadlines
FAQ: EPFL Excellence Fellowship FAQ
Online Master’s application portal: Apply Here
Contact: master.excellence@epfl.ch
Address: EPFL AVP-E SPE, Centre Midi – CM2 348, Station 10, CH–1015 Lausanne

🎓 Summary Table

Detail	Information
University	EPFL — École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Country	Switzerland
Degree Level	Master’s
Programs Covered	All 29 Master’s programs
Fellowship Amount	CHF 10,000 per semester
Maximum Total	CHF 40,000 (4 semesters)
Additional Benefits	Guaranteed student housing (external candidates); Certificate of Excellence
Open To	All nationalities
Tuition Covered	No — students pay tuition separately
Living Costs Covered	No — students manage all living expenses
Round 1 Deadline (External)	15 December
Round 2 Deadline (External)	31 March
Round 1 Deadline (Internal)	31 January
Round 2 Deadline (Internal)	15 April
Renewal Requirement	Average ≥ 5.0/6 + ≥ 50 ECTS credits in Year 1
Official Link	EPFL Master Excellence Fellowships