ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme

3 min read

ETH Zurich is one of the world’s leading science and technology universities known for its cutting-edge research and innovation. It was established in 1855 as the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School, and a century and a half later, the university can count 22 Nobel laureates, 2 Fields Medalists, 3 Pritzker Prize winners, and 1 Turing Award winner as alumni, including the great Albert Einstein himself.

Table of Contents

scholar_hat
Find out your ideal university
0%

Which country do you want to study in?

Please select an option
UK flag UK
USA flag USA
Germany flag Germany
Australia flag Australia
Ireland flag Ireland
New Zealand
Canada flag Canada
Other country Other

Do you have a valid passport?

Please select an option
Yes
Applied
No

When do you want to study abroad?

Please select an option
May 2025
Sep 2025 (recommended)
2026 Intake

What's your preferred program?

Please select an option
PG Diploma
Master's
Bachelor's
MBA
PhD
Not decided

What's your highest level of education?

Please select an option
10th Grade
12th Grade
Bachelor's
Master's
MBBS / MD

What is your IELTS/PTE/Duolingo Status?

Please select an option
Not decided
Already given
Booked my exam
Planning
Please Enter Your Name
Please Enter a Valid Number

How Leap will help you

ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme

Personalised University Shortlist

ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme

Express Applications with Quicker Admits

ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme

End-to-End Application Support

The Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP) at ETH Zurich 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.

  • University - ETH Zurich
  • Country - Switzerland
  • Level - Eligible Masters Degree Programme offered by the University
  • Deadline - The application window is open between Nov 1 - Dec 15 2023.

Scholarship amount and duration

  • ESOP consists of a scholarship covering living and study expenses (CHF 12000 or INR 11,31,390 per semester) and a tuition fee waiver.
  • ESOP is awarded for the regular duration of the Master’s programme (three or four semesters). This also applies to the tuition fee waiver.

Eligibility/Prerequisites

  1. Very good result in Bachelor’s degree programme (top 10% of Bachelor’s degree programme = grade A).
  1. The selection process might include a phone/VC interview in February.
     
  2. If you are already enrolled in a Master's degree programme at ETH Zurich or hold a Master's degree, you are not eligible for ESOP.
ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme
ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme

Application documents

  • To be considered for the scholarship, you must apply for a Master’s degree programme at ETH Zurich. 
  • In addition to the documents for the Master's admission, you must upload a pre-proposal for your master's thesis. Check the guidelines here
  • The pre-proposal for the Master's thesis must be developed by yourself using established scientific citation practices.
    Plagiarism and negligent or intentional misinformation will lead to exclusion from the admission process or - if discovered later - to the revocation of the admission and any scholarship.
  • If your study programme does not require references, you must name two reference persons (professors) for your ESOP application.

Selection process

For the start of the academic year 2023/24, approximately 60 ESOP scholarships will be assigned.
The applications are evaluated by the Admissions Committees of the respective Master’s programmes. The final decision for awarding scholarships in the Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme rests with the Rector of ETH Zurich. The exact number of annual scholarships depends on the availability of funds. The decisions will be communicated by the end of March.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. What is the Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP) at ETH Zurich?

ESOP supports students with a comprehensive scholarship, mentorship, and access to the ETH Foundation network. The scholarship covers full study and living costs throughout the Master’s degree course.

Q. What is the scholarship amount and duration?

ESOP includes a scholarship covering living and study expenses (CHF 12,000 or INR 11,31,390 per semester) and a tuition fee waiver. It is awarded for the regular duration of the Master’s programme (three or four semesters).

Q. When is the grant paid out?

The grant is paid out in three or four instalments. Each individual instalment is issued at the beginning of the semester. You must have completed your semester enrolment to receive these payments.

Q. Will I continue to receive the grant during my exchange semester at another university?

No, the grant will be suspended. However, your tuition fees will continue to be waived. If your semester on exchange prolongs the duration of your studies, the grant will be based on the standard number of semesters required to complete your study programme. If your semester on exchange does not affect the duration of your studies, you will not be entitled to receive any further grant instalments.

Q. When can I apply for ESOP?

They accept applications for the academic year due to begin in the following year (autumn semester) during the international application window (November to mid-​December). Applications must be submitted via eApply. Applications for the spring semester are reserved for ETH Zurich students only.

30+ Universities for Study Abroad
Education counselling
Avatar photo
Saket Kohli

An International Higher Ed professional with 7+ years of experience studying, working, and living across three geographies, currently on a mission to share his journey as an International Student.

Articles: 849

Crack IELTS with

7+ Bands in 4 weeks

Get Guidance to reach your

Dream University