ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme in Switzerland 2026

Eligibility

• Open to students from all nationalities.
• Must be applying for a Master’s degree at ETH Zurich (any field offered).
• Must have an outstanding academic record, usually in the top 10% of your Bachelor’s class (equivalent to a grade A).
• Not eligible if you are already enrolled in a Master’s program at ETH Zurich.
• Applications and documents must be in English or German (language requirements depend on the chosen program).
• A valid Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) must be completed or nearly completed at the time of application.
• Must submit all required documents, including a pre‑proposal for your Master’s thesis and two reference letters.

Program Date/Location

• Application opens: November 1, 2025
• Application deadline: November 30, 2025 (11:59 CET)
• Interview period (if shortlisted): February 2026
• Result announcement: End of March 2026
• Program start: Autumn semester 2026 (generally Mid-September)
• Location: Zurich, Switzerland in ETH Zurich (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich)

Program Benefits

• Full tuition fee coverage – you do not pay tuition for your entire Master’s program.
• Living and study allowance: CHF 12,000 per semester to cover accommodation, food, transport, and study materials.
• Mentorship and support: access to special support programs and academic guidance.
• Networking opportunities: be part of a community of high‑achieving students and connect with ETH Zurich alumni and industry professionals.

Required Documents

General Documents

• Official Transcripts of Records
  • Issued by authorized university office (e.g., Registrar’s or Examination Office) with stamp/signature
  • Must show completed courses, grades per semester, credits, study program, qualification level, grading system
  • Often includes student ID, enrollment status, GPA, final award, and degree conferral date
  • Upload the most recent transcripts from all universities attended at all academic levels (including exchange, joint, double degrees, discontinued studies)
  • Transcripts from both teaching and awarding institutions required for transnational programs
  • Accepted formats: scanned official transcripts with stamp/signature, digitally signed with verifiable source, write-protected certified electronic transcripts
  • Not accepted: self-made, screenshots, personal attestations, third-party certified, or unverified transcripts
• Confirmation of Matriculation/Enrollment (if studies in progress)
  • Shows personal data, study start/end dates, program, and expected degree
• Degree Certificate (Diploma) (if studies completed)
  • Official document specifying degree awarded and conferral date
  • If not issued yet, provide provisional certificate or graduation confirmation
• Diploma Supplement / HEAR Report (for degrees from European Higher Education Area)
  • Describes knowledge, skills, and competences from studies
  • Issued along with diploma for Bologna Process countries
• Language Certificate
  • Proof of meeting language requirements of chosen Master’s program
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Detailed chronological history of education and work, without gaps
  • Should include scholarships if awarded
  • Written in the language of the Master’s program instruction
• Matriculation Certificate
  • E.g., High School Diploma, Abitur, IB Diploma
• Passport or ID
  • Scan of valid passport page with photo, name, DOB, expiry date
  • EU/EFTA citizens may upload valid ID copy if no passport
• Declaration of Consent
  • Fill, sign, and upload the official consent form during application
• Additional Program-Specific Documents
  • Check and provide any extra documents required by your specific Master’s program
• In addition to the Master’s admission documents, you must upload a pre-proposal for your Master’s thesis( guideline for the pre-proposal).
  • The pre-proposal must be your own work and follow scientific citation standards.
  • Plagiarism or misinformation will result in exclusion from the admission process or revocation of admission and scholarship if discovered later.
  • If your study program does not require references, you must provide the names of two reference persons (professors) for your ESOP application.
  • These referees will receive an email from the system and must upload a reference letter.

Note: Accepted translations should be supplied by the university which issued the corresponding document, or translations made by an authorised professional translator. Translations never replace the original documents. You must always submit both the translation and the original document.

Programme-specific documents

• You can find the specific documents required for your field of interest in the provided link.

Application Process

• Step 1: Choose your Master’s program
  Visit the ETH Zurich website and select the Master’s degree you want to apply for. Check the specific admission requirements for that program.
• Step 2: Prepare your documents
  Gather all required documents (official transcripts, CV, motivation letter, language certificates, diploma, pre-proposal for thesis if applying for ESOP, references, passport, declaration of consent, etc.).
• Step 3: Submit your application online
  Apply through ETH Zurich’s eApply portal for both admission and the ESOP scholarship (if interested). Upload all documents as PDFs.
• Step 4: Wait for admission decision
  ETH Zurich reviews applications and notifies you of admission results.
• Step 5: ESOP scholarship evaluation
  If you applied for the ESOP scholarship, your application will be reviewed further. Shortlisted candidates may be invited for a phone or video interview (usually in February).
• Step 6: Receive scholarship decision
  Scholarship results are usually announced by the end of March.
• Step 7: Enrollment and preparation
  Once admitted (with or without scholarship), complete enrollment formalities and prepare for your arrival in Zurich.

Note: Please fill out the online application using the applicant portal eApply and submit the application including the required documents as listed below within the application deadline.

For more detailed information please check out the ETH Zurich Link.