Duration of the Master's program (3 or 4 semesters)
Deadline
December 15 (Annual)
Level
Master's Degree (MSc)
Acceptance
Estimated < 3% of total Master's applicants
Difficulty
Very High
Quick Summary
Aimed at international and domestic students, ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP) is a fully funded scholarship for study in Switzerland. The award covers The ESOP consists of a scholarship covering living and study expenses (CHF 12,000 per semester) and a tuition fee waiver. and is open to master's degree (msc) students studying all master's degree programs offered by eth zurich (stem, architecture, management, social sciences). The scholarship runs for duration of the master's program (3 or 4 semesters) and may be renewed annually based on academic performance. Eligibility is generally based on open to national and international students with outstanding academic records who are applying for a Master's degree at ETH Zurich. The application deadline is December 15 (Annual), with an acceptance rate of approximately Estimated < 3% of total Master's applicants. Competition for this scholarship varies year to year, so early preparation of required documents is recommended.
✨ Should I Apply for ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP)?
Instant AI-powered application intelligence
60%
Eligibility Match
6%
Win Probability
7/10
Difficulty
10/10
Reward Score
30-45 hrs
Time Required
Low (Highly competitive)
Competition
🌍 Overview
💰
Award Amount
CHF 12,000 per semester
⏳
Duration
Duration of the Master's program (3 or 4 semesters)
📅
Deadline
December 15 (Annual)
🔬
Fields
All Master's degree programs offered by ETH Zurich (STEM, Architecture, Management, Social Sciences)
🏆
Awards/Year
Approximately 60 awards per year
🌏
Study Country
Switzerland
🏛️
Provider
ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)
📊
Acceptance
Estimated < 3% of total Master's applicants
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.
👥 Who Should Apply
Open to national and international students with outstanding academic records who are applying for a Master's degree at ETH Zurich.
🏛️ Host University
ETH Zurich
🤝 Sponsor
ETH Foundation and ETH Zurich
🔬 Fields of Study
All Master's degree programs offered by ETH Zurich (STEM, Architecture, Management, Social Sciences)
✨ Key Benefits
The ESOP consists of a scholarship covering living and study expenses (CHF 12,000 per semester) and a tuition fee waiver.
🎯 Target Students
International and Domestic Students
🏷 Tags
MasterSwitzerlandSTEMFull FundingResearchMerit
📊 Statistics & Competitiveness
Varies (Approximately 2,000+ applicants annually)
Applicants Last Year
60
Winners
Estimated < 3% of total Master's applicants
Acceptance Rate
Low (Highly competitive)
Competition Level
Win Probability
6%
Match Score
60%
Competition
95%
💸 Funding Breakdown
Tuition
Yes (Full tuition fee waiver)
Living Stipend
Yes (Stipend intended to cover living and study costs)
Total Award
CHF 12,000 per semester
✈️ Travel: Varies (Often included within the general stipend)🏠 Accommodation: No (Paid by student using the provided stipend)💊 Health Insurance: No (Must be covered by the student from the stipend)🔄 Renewable: Yes💳 App Fee: CHF 150 (Standard Master's application fee)
🎓 Tuition Coverage
Yes (Full tuition fee waiver)
🏠 Living Stipend
Yes (Stipend intended to cover living and study costs)
🏡 Accommodation
No (Paid by student using the provided stipend)
✈️ Travel Allowance
Varies (Often included within the general stipend)
💊 Health Insurance
No (Must be covered by the student from the stipend)
🎁 Other Benefits
Special coaching, mentorship, and networking opportunities through the ETH Foundation
🔄 Renewable
Yes
📋 Renewal Conditions
Continuation depends on satisfactory academic performance and progress in the Master's program
✅ Eligibility Requirements
🌍 Eligible Nationalities
Excellent Bachelor's degree results (top 10% of the class/Grade A), valid contact number, and admission to an ETH Master's program
🎓 Academic Level
Master's Degree (MSc)
📊 Minimum GPA
Top 10% of undergraduate cohort
🗣️ English Requirement
Varies by program (usually IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL iBT 100)
💼 Work Experience
Not required
🏆 Leadership
Not mandatory, but academic leadership and potential are considered
💰 Financial Need
No (Selection is purely based on merit)
🎯 Target Students
International and Domestic Students
📝 Application Requirements
Essay / SOP
Yes (Pre-proposal for Master's thesis)
Rec Letters
Yes (Two reference letters from professors)
Interview
Varies (Some departments may conduct interviews)
Application Fee
CHF 150 (Standard Master's application fee)
Documents Required
Academic Transcripts
Passport / National ID
Yes (Two reference letters from professors) Recommendation Letters
CV / Resume
Personal Statement / Essays
Varies by program (usually IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL iBT 100)
Interview: Varies (Some departments may conduct interviews)
Min GPA: Top 10% of undergraduate cohort
📋 Application Process
Focus heavily on the quality and originality of your Master's thesis pre-proposal. Ensure you clearly state your rank in your graduating class.
💡 Insider Tip: Choose referees who can specifically comment on your research potential and academic excellence.
🗾️ Application Roadmap
1
Research eligibility and gather requirements
Start Early
2
Collect all required documents
Start Early
3
Request recommendation letters early
4
Write compelling essays and personal statement
⚠ High Risk Stage
5
Submit complete application before deadline
6
Await shortlisting and attend interview if required
⚠ High Risk Stage
📅 Key Dates & Timeline
📅 Opens
November 1 (Annual)
⏰ Deadline
December 15 (Annual)
🎤 Interview
Varies (Some departments may conduct interviews)
🎓 Study Starts
September (Autumn Semester)
November 1 (Annual)
Applications Open
Gather documents and begin essays
December 15 (Annual)
Application Deadline
Submit complete application - no late entries
Varies (Some departments may conduct interviews)
Shortlisting and Interview
Selected candidates invited for interview
After results
Award Announced
Successful applicants notified
September (Autumn Semester)
Studies Begin
Commence degree at host institution
⚖️ Selection Process
📋 Selection Criteria
Quality of the pre-proposal, previous academic performance (GPA/Class Rank), and overall potential.
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Open to national and international students with outstanding academic records who are applying for a Master's degree at ETH Zurich.
This scholarship covers: The ESOP consists of a scholarship covering living and study expenses (CHF 12,000 per semester) and a tuition fee waiver.. It is a fully funded scholarship.
The deadline is December 15 (Annual). Always verify with the official website as dates may change annually.
Competition level: Low (Highly competitive). Acceptance rate: Estimated < 3% of total Master's applicants. Strong academic record and clear motivation are essential.
Yes
Typically required: academic transcripts, passport, Varies by program (usually IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL iBT 100), Yes (Two reference letters from professors) recommendation letters, CV, personal statement/motivation letter. Check official website for the complete list.