Excellence Scholarship and Opportunity Programme (ESOP)

Tuition fee waiver plus a grant for living and study costs of CHF 12,000 per semester, rising to CHF 13,500 per semester from the autumn 2027 semester onwards, for the regular length of the Master's programme (three or four semesters). Includes mentoring and access to the ETH Foundation network.

Fields: Any field

Open to most nationalities

• Applying for a full Master's degree programme at ETH Zurich (MAS continuing education programmes are excluded)
• Very strong Bachelor's results, roughly the top 10 percent of your Bachelor's programme (grade A, based on self-assessment)
• You must not already hold a Master's degree or be enrolled in an ETH Master's programme
• The official page sets no nationality restriction, so applicants from Nigeria and other African countries can apply
• You must apply in the first Master's application window (November) to be considered

For a Master's start in autumn 2027, the application window is 1 to 30 November 2026. Interviews by phone or video may take place in February, and decisions are communicated by the end of March.

Deadlines move a little every year and some close early. Confirm the date on the official page before you plan around it.

• All standard ETH Master's admission documents uploaded in eApply
• A self-written pre-proposal for your Master's thesis, following ETH's guidelines
• CV including a telephone number where you can be reached
• Two reference letters from professors, if your Master's programme does not already request references (the system emails your referees after you apply)

1. 1

   Step 1: Choose your Master's programme

   Check the admission requirements of the ETH Master's programme you want and confirm your Bachelor's results put you near the top of your class.
2. 2

   Step 2: Write the thesis pre-proposal

   Draft a short pre-proposal for a possible Master's thesis using the ETH guidelines on the ESOP page.
3. 3

   Step 3: Apply in eApply

   Submit the Master's application and the ESOP application together in eApply between 1 and 30 November.
4. 4

   Step 4: Brief your referees

   If your programme does not ask for references, two professors must submit letters; they receive an email request after you apply.
5. 5

   Step 5: Prepare for an interview

   Shortlisted applicants may be interviewed by phone or video in February, with decisions by the end of March.

• Awarded for the regular duration of the Master's programme only (three or four semesters)
• Plagiarism or intentionally false information leads to exclusion, or to the award being revoked if discovered later
• Number of awards depends on available funds (about 60 expected for 2027/28)

• Only about 60 awards are expected, so apply only if your grades are clearly near the top of your class and you can show research interest
• Spend real time on the thesis pre-proposal: it is the part that shows you can think like a researcher
• Ask your professors early and make sure they know their letter goes straight into ETH's system after you apply
• Even with ESOP, budget for visa costs and the first weeks in Zurich before payments start

Winning the award does not include the visa. Plan your application with our guide for the host country.

• Switzerland student visa

Checked against these official pages on 16 Oct 2026.

• ETH Zurich: Excellence Scholarship and Opportunity Programme (opens in a new tab)