📅 Last Updated: October 2026
ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship 2027 — CHF 13,500/Semester
ETH Zurich, one of the world’s top science and technology universities, funds about 60 outstanding master’s students each year through its Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP). From autumn 2027, the award rises to CHF 13,500 per semester (from CHF 12,000), plus a full tuition fee waiver, for the standard length of your master’s.
The application window is short: 1–30 November 2026, closing at 11:59 AM CET on 30 November, which is noon, not midnight. ESOP is open to the top 10% of bachelor’s graduates of any nationality, including Pakistani and South Asian students. This guide covers everything ETH requires, including the master’s thesis pre-proposal you write yourself.
| University/Organization | ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) |
| Country | Switzerland (Zurich) |
| Degree/Level | Master’s (not MAS) |
| Funding Type | CHF 13,500/semester + tuition fee waiver |
| Deadline | 30 November 2026, 11:59 AM CET (window opens 1 November) |
| Open To | International Students Worldwide |
| Pakistani Students Eligible | Yes |
| Official Link | Apply Here |
🎓 About the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship 2027
ETH Zurich is consistently ranked among the world’s leading universities in engineering, computer science, natural sciences and architecture, and is associated with many Nobel laureates. Its master’s programmes are research-intensive and taught mostly in English.
ESOP is ETH’s main merit scholarship for incoming master’s students. It covers living and study costs plus tuition for the programme’s standard length of three or four semesters. ETH expects to award about 60 scholarships for 2027/28, depending on available funds.
How it compares: EPFL’s Master Excellence Fellowship is the closest Swiss equivalent but usually pays less per semester. The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship is for PhD and postdoctoral research, not master’s study. For an international master’s student in Switzerland, ESOP is one of the most generous awards available.
💰 Benefits and Funding
- 💶 CHF 13,500 per semester for living and study costs, from autumn 2027 onwards
- 🎓 Full tuition fee waiver
- 📆 Duration: the standard length of your master’s, 3 or 4 semesters
- 🧑🔬 Can be combined with an assistantship, as long as your studies aren’t delayed
- ✍️ Continues during your master’s thesis, even if it’s written at another university, within the standard duration
How payments work: the grant is paid in instalments at the start of each semester, after you enrol, into a Swiss bank or post office account. Payments pause during an exchange semester (tuition is still waived) and usually during compulsory internships of 10 weeks or more. The award can’t be transferred to another programme.
Is it enough for Zurich? CHF 13,500 per semester is about CHF 2,250 a month. Zurich is expensive, but this covers a student budget with shared housing (approximate; verify current costs). For Pakistani readers, CHF 13,500 is roughly PKR 4.5–4.8 million per semester (approximate; check today’s rate).
✅ Eligibility Criteria
- Level: applicants for a master’s programme at ETH Zurich (not MAS)
- Academic standing: top 10% of your bachelor’s programme (grade A), based on self-assessment
- Not eligible: students already enrolled in an ETH master’s, or anyone who already holds a master’s degree
- Timing: you must apply in the first window (1–30 November). ESOP isn’t available in later windows
- Nationality: open to applicants with bachelor’s degrees from anywhere, through ETH’s international application window
- English: ETH master’s programmes generally require proof of English at around C1 level (for example, a recognised test or certificate). Check your programme’s exact requirement (verify on official website)
English test status: usually required, depending on your programme and previous education. Check the specific programme page in ETH’s master’s application section.
Pakistani students: eligible if you rank in the top 10% of your bachelor’s and don’t already hold a master’s degree. Note that Pakistani MS or MPhil holders are not eligible, because they already have a master’s.
✅ Strong Candidates
- Final-year or recent BS graduates in the top 10% of their class in engineering, computer science, physics, maths, chemistry or architecture
- Applicants with research experience, such as a final-year project, an internship or a publication
- Pakistani graduates from strong programmes with clear evidence of class rank
- Students who can write a focused, original master’s thesis pre-proposal
❌ Not the Right Fit If
- You already hold a master’s degree (MS or MPhil)
- You aren’t in the top 10% of your bachelor’s programme
- You miss the 1–30 November window
- You want an MAS, executive or continuing-education programme
On competitiveness for South Asian applicants: about 60 scholarships for applicants worldwide makes ESOP extremely selective. Pakistani candidates who succeed combine top grades with a credible research pre-proposal and strong references from professors. ETH also warns that plagiarism or misinformation leads to exclusion, so your self-assessment and your pre-proposal must be honest and your own work.
📚 Programmes and the Pre-Proposal
ESOP applies to ETH’s regular master’s programmes across engineering, computer science, data science, natural sciences, mathematics, architecture, environmental sciences, management and the social sciences. Choose the programme first, because the scholarship can’t be transferred to another one later.
What makes ESOP different is the master’s thesis pre-proposal. You must develop it yourself. It shows the committee that you can identify a research question and plan how to answer it. A strong pre-proposal:
- Defines a specific, answerable research question in your programme’s area
- Briefly shows you know the current state of research
- Proposes a realistic method and timeline for a master’s thesis
- Ideally connects to the work of ETH research groups in that field
📄 Required Documents
- All documents required for your ETH master’s admission (transcripts, degree certificate, CV, motivation and so on, as set by your programme)
- A master’s thesis pre-proposal that you developed yourself
- Two professors as referees, if your programme doesn’t already require references. They upload letters after receiving an email from the system
- A CV including a phone number where you can be reached, because the process may include a phone or video interview in February
- English proficiency proof, as required by your programme
Note for Pakistani applicants: make sure your class rank or percentile is clear. A rank certificate or letter from your department supporting your top-10% self-assessment strengthens your application. Keep HEC-attested degrees ready for after admission and for your Swiss visa.
🧭 Step-by-Step Application Process
- Choose your ETH master’s programme and check its admission and English requirements.
- Write your master’s thesis pre-proposal during October, before the window opens.
- Ask two professors to act as referees, if your programme needs them for ESOP.
- Apply through ETH’s eApply portal between 1 and 30 November 2026, and select ESOP.
- Submit before 11:59 AM CET on 30 November (about 3:59 PM Pakistan time). Don’t wait until the evening.
- Be ready for a possible phone or video interview in February 2027.
- Receive your decision at the end of March 2027. Programme admissions committees evaluate applications, and ETH’s Rector makes the final scholarship decision.
Practical tip: the deadline is noon in Zurich, which is mid-afternoon in Pakistan. Many international applicants assume midnight and miss it. Aim to submit by 28 or 29 November.
📅 Important Dates
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Application window opens | 1 November 2026 |
| Application deadline | Monday 30 November 2026, 11:59 AM CET |
| Possible phone or video interview | February 2027 |
| Decision communicated | End of March 2027 |
| Master’s programme starts | Autumn semester 2027 (September) |
📌 Bookmark this page. We update deadlines as soon as changes are announced.
🌟 Why Apply
An ESOP award means a tuition-free ETH master’s with living costs covered, at one of the world’s most respected technical universities, with a CV signal that opens doors to top PhD programmes and industry. The higher rate from 2027 (CHF 13,500 per semester) makes it more realistic to live on in Zurich.
See our Switzerland PhD positions guide for the next step after your master’s, or compare top awards like Gates Cambridge. You can also browse all Scholarships, research internships in Jobs & Internships, proposal-writing guides in Guidelines & Resources, and science events in Events & Conferences.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
These questions are based on what students most commonly search about this program.
Q: Can Pakistani students apply for the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship?
Yes, if they’re in the top 10% of their bachelor’s programme and don’t already hold a master’s degree. Apply through ETH’s international window, 1–30 November 2026.
Q: How much is the ETH Excellence Scholarship in 2027?
CHF 13,500 per semester from autumn 2027 (up from CHF 12,000), plus a full tuition fee waiver, for the standard length of the master’s programme (3 or 4 semesters).
Q: When is the ETH ESOP deadline?
Monday 30 November 2026 at 11:59 AM CET. That’s noon in Zurich, not midnight. ESOP applications are only accepted in the 1–30 November window.
Q: Can I apply for ESOP if I already have an MS or MPhil?
No. ETH says applicants who already hold a master’s degree, or who are already enrolled in an ETH master’s, are not eligible.
Q: What is the ESOP pre-proposal?
A proposal for your future master’s thesis that you must develop yourself. It’s uploaded in addition to your master’s admission documents and shows your research ability.
Q: How many ESOP scholarships are awarded?
About 60 for the 2027/28 academic year, depending on available funds.
🔗 Official Source
📊 Summary Table
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scholarship | ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP) 2027 |
| University | ETH Zurich, Switzerland |
| Level | Master’s (not MAS) |
| Value | CHF 13,500/semester + tuition fee waiver |
| Duration | 3 or 4 semesters (standard programme length) |
| Awards | About 60 |
| Eligibility | Top 10% of bachelor’s; no existing master’s degree |
| Extra Requirements | Self-written master’s thesis pre-proposal + 2 professor referees |
| Window | 1–30 November 2026 (closes 11:59 AM CET) |
| Decision | End of March 2027 |
| Pakistani Students Eligible | Yes (BS graduates; not MS/MPhil holders) |
| Official Link | ethz.ch |
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