EPFL Master’s Excellence Scholarship 2027 in Switzerland — How to Apply

The EPFL Master Excellence Fellowship, widely searched as the EPFL Master’s excellence scholarship, is open right now for Master’s programmes starting in 2027, with the first application round closing on December 15, 2026, for external candidates. Funded directly by EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne), one of Europe’s top engineering and science universities, this award pays CHF 10,000 per semester for up to four semesters — a total of CHF 40,000 across your Master’s degree. Beyond the financial award, external candidates also receive guaranteed housing in a student residence, removing one of the most stressful parts of relocating to Switzerland. The scholarship is embedded inside the EPFL Master’s application.

Don’t Miss This: DAAD-ACEH Scholarship of Excellence in Germany — Fully Funded

There is no separate portal, which means if you are already planning to apply to an EPFL Master’s programme, you can be considered without any additional paperwork. The programme is highly competitive and open to all nationalities, but only a limited number of fellowships are awarded each year across the entire university. Academic excellence is the primary filter, but EPFL also weighs your research track record, entrepreneurship, and civic or societal contributions in equal measure.

EPFL Excellence Scholarship Summary

Three Application Tracks — Which One Applies to You

Track 1 — External candidates (Bachelor’s degree from outside EPFL):
Apply via EPFL’s online Master’s application. Check the box indicating you want your profile considered for the excellence fellowship. No additional documents beyond those required for admission are needed. Deadlines: December 15, 2026 (Round 1) or March 31, 2027 (Round 2).

Track 2 — Internal candidates continuing in the same field (Bachelor’s from EPFL, same field of study):
Submit your application directly to your section, with a copy. Do not apply through IS-Academia. Required documents: CV, motivation letter, full EPFL transcript, and two recommendation letters from professors familiar with your work. Referees must submit letters directly; you cannot submit on their behalf. Deadlines: January 31, 2027 (Round 1) or April 15, 2027 (Round 2).

Recommended Read: KAAD Scholarships in Germany — Fully Funded for Students from Developing Countries

Track 3 — Internal candidates changing field of study (Bachelor’s from EPFL, different field):
Apply via EPFL’s online Master’s application and check the excellence fellowship box. Additionally, two recommendation letters from professors must be submitted directly by referees. For Round 1, the deadline for completing recommendation letters is January 31, 2027. For Round 2, April 15, 2027. Admission application deadline: December 15, 2026 (Round 1) or March 31, 2027 (Round 2).

Eligibility Requirements

Who can apply:

• Anyone applying to a full-time Master’s programme at EPFL is eligible to be considered
• All nationalities are welcome — there are no country restrictions

Take a look: DAAD Master Studies Scholarship For All Disciplines in Germany — Fully Funded

Who cannot apply:

• Candidates who already hold a Master’s degree
• Candidates currently enrolled in an EPFL Master’s programme who want funding only for their second year — the application must be submitted at the same time as the Master’s admission application
• Students who cannot meet the renewal conditions by the end of Year 1 (see Renewal section)

There is no minimum GPA published for the application stage, but competition is extremely high. Only a small percentage of applicants receive an award — academic excellence is assessed relative to other applicants in your faculty, not against a fixed threshold.

You can apply for only one Master’s programme per year. If you are awarded the scholarship but then defer your admission, you lose the award. You can reapply the following year, but deferral is not permitted while retaining the scholarship.

Join Lucy’s Scholarship Mentorship Group

Get step-by-step guidance, live group reviews, and exclusive support to find, apply, and win global scholarships.

Join Now, Let's Waka Together →

What You Benefit from the EPFL Excellence Scholarship

Financial award:

• CHF 10,000 per semester, paid at the start of each semester into your Swiss bank or postal account
• Maximum of 4 semesters total:
  • For a 120-credit MSc programme: 3 semesters (MA1, MA2, MA3) plus 1 additional semester for the Master’s project when officially confirmed
  • For a 90-credit programme: maximum 3 semesters
  • For a double degree: only semesters spent at EPFL are covered, provided renewal requirements are met

Additional benefit:

• Guaranteed reservation of a room in a student residence — for external candidates only (students who earned their Bachelor’s degree outside EPFL)

What it does not cover:

• Tuition fees (your responsibility)
• Rent and living expenses (your responsibility)
• The award is not a full scholarship

Since the CHF 10,000 per semester payment may take time to process at the start of your first semester, bring sufficient funds to cover your first month independently. You will need a Swiss bank or postal account to receive payments — open one upon arrival.

The fellowship cannot be combined with another full scholarship from an external provider. If you hold a partial external scholarship, combining may be possible. Before applying, confirm your situation. You are required to declare all scholarships during your Master’s studies.

Working in Switzerland while holding the fellowship is permitted and does not affect the amount or continuation of the award.

Read This: Erasmus Mundus WOP-P Scholarship in Europe — Fully Funded

Application Process for the EPFL Excellence Scholarship

1. Visit EPFL’s online Master’s application portal and start your application for your chosen programme
2. Check the box indicating your profile should be considered for the Master’s excellence fellowship — this is the only action needed to trigger scholarship consideration for external candidates and internal candidates changing field
3. Complete all required admission documents — no extra documents are needed for the scholarship for external candidates
4. If you are an internal candidate continuing in the same field, send your application directly to your section with a copy and ensure your two recommending professors submit their letters directly to that address before the deadline
5. Submit your application before the applicable Round 1 or Round 2 deadline
6. Wait for notification — Round 1 recipients are notified at the beginning of April 2027; Round 2 recipients are notified in early to mid-June 2027
7. Upon receiving an offer, confirm your intention to attend EPFL by the deadline specified in the email from the Registrar’s Office. If you miss the confirmation deadline, the offer passes to the next candidate on the waiting list

Don’t Miss: Makerere University Mastercard Foundation Scholarship

Renewal Requirements — How to Keep the Scholarship in Year Two

The fellowship is not automatically renewed. To keep the award for your second year of study, you must have, by the end of your first year:

• Achieved an overall average of at least 5.0 out of 6 (where 6 is maximum and 4 is the pass mark). This average is weighted by ECTS credits and includes all numerical grades from all chosen courses and exams during Year 1
• Earned at least 50 ECTS credits. Credits from language courses, admission courses, or courses outside your study plan do not count toward this total

There are no exceptions. Students who do not reach either threshold do not receive the renewal, regardless of circumstances. The scholarship can be suspended (not lost) in specific cases: illness, pregnancy, Swiss military or civil service, or personal leave — upon return, renewal resumes provided the academic requirements are met.

Application Deadlines

External candidates:

• Round 1: December 15, 2026
• Round 2: March 31, 2027

Internal candidates (same field):

• Round 1: January 31, 2027
• Round 2: April 15, 2027

Internal candidates (changing field):

• Admission application: December 15, 2026 (R1) / March 31, 2027 (R2)
• Recommendation letter deadline: January 31, 2027 (R1) / April 15, 2027 (R2)

Late applications are not considered under any circumstances. Note that creating and submitting an EPFL Master’s application can take time — build that into your planning rather than starting on the deadline day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the EPFL Master’s excellence scholarship fully funded?

No. It pays CHF 10,000 per semester for up to four semesters — CHF 40,000 total — applied as a direct payment to the student. It does not cover tuition fees, rent, or living expenses. Students are responsible for all those costs separately.

Can international students apply for the EPFL excellence scholarship?

Yes. There are no nationality restrictions. Any student applying to an EPFL Master’s programme is eligible to tick the scholarship consideration box on their application.

Is there a minimum GPA to apply?

No minimum GPA is set for the application stage. However, EPFL states the programme is very competitive and only a small percentage of applicants receive an award. A minimum average of 5.0 out of 6 is required to renew the scholarship for the second year.

Can I combine the EPFL Excellence Scholarship with another award?

Not with another full scholarship from an external provider. Combining with a partial external scholarship may be allowed — contact [email protected] before applying to discuss your specific case. You must declare all scholarships you receive during your Master’s.

See More: University of Milan European Futures Scholarships in Italy — Fully Funded

What if I defer my admission after being awarded the scholarship?

You lose the scholarship. Deferral and scholarship retention are not compatible. You can reapply through the standard process the following year.

Can I work while holding the EPFL Excellence Scholarship?

Yes. Working in Switzerland does not affect the amount or continuation of the award.

Disclaimer: All scholarship details, deadlines, award values, and eligibility criteria in this post were verified from the official EPFL website as of July 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official EPFL scholarships page before submitting your application. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with EPFL.

Official Application Portal