ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP)
Organization: ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)
Host country: Switzerland
Degree level: Masters
Funding: Fully Funded
Deadline: November 30, 2026
Fields of study: Engineering, Natural Sciences, Mathematics, Architecture, Management
The Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP) 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. It is designed for outstanding students who are among the top 10% of their Bachelor's program. In addition to financial support, ESOP provides a unique supervision framework involving a specific professor (mentor) to guide the student's development.
Benefits
Grant covering living and study expenses (CHF 12,000 per semester)
Full tuition fee waiver
Special supervision and mentorship
Access to the ETH Foundation network
Eligibility
Must be among the top 10% of students in your Bachelor's degree program (Grade A equivalent)
Must not be already enrolled in a Master's degree at ETH Zurich
Must meet the specific admission requirements of the chosen Master's programme
Must be available for a phone/video interview in February
Requirements
Pre-proposal for your Master's thesis (must be developed by yourself)
Two reference letters from professors
Official Academic Transcripts
Curriculum Vitae (CV) with valid phone number
Required Documents
Thesis Pre-proposal
Reference Letters
Transcripts
CV
Programs of Study
MSc Architecture
MSc Civil Engineering
MSc Computer Science
MSc Physics
MSc Environmental Sciences
Application Process
Apply for a Master's degree via the eApply portal
Select the option for the ESOP scholarship within the application
Upload the specific ESOP documents (thesis pre-proposal)
Submit the application within the strict November window
How to Apply
Visit the ETH Zurich eApply portal during November
Complete the Master's admission application
Ensure the 'ESOP' checkbox is selected and the pre-proposal is uploaded
Selection Process
Evaluation by the Admissions Committees of the respective Master's programmes
Review of the thesis pre-proposal and academic excellence
Interview (phone/video) for shortlisted candidates in February
Final decision by the Rector of ETH Zurich in March