ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP) 2027 | Fully Funded

ETH Zurich consistently ranks among the top universities in the world for science and technology, and the Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme is its flagship route for bringing in exceptional Master’s students who might otherwise be priced out of studying there. The application window for the 2027/28 intake hasn’t opened yet; it runs from 1st to 30th November 2026, so this is very much a live opportunity to prepare for, not one you’ve missed.

Must-Read: Top Fully Funded Master’s Scholarships in Europe

What makes ESOP worth planning around well in advance is a detail a lot of applicants discover too late: you can only apply for it during this single first application window each year. Apply to ETH in a later round, even successfully, and ESOP simply isn’t on the table anymore for that intake. This guide covers exactly what the scholarship offers, who typically wins it, and what to do with the months between now and November.

Don’t Miss: Top Fully Funded Scholarships for International Students 2026

About the Programme

ESOP is run by the ETH Zurich Foundation and exists specifically to recruit top academic talent into ETH’s Master’s programmes, regardless of where in the world they’re coming from or what their financial circumstances look like. It isn’t a small top-up scholarship, it fully covers both tuition and living costs for the entire standard duration of your Master’s degree, and pairs that funding with mentorship and access to the Foundation’s broader academic and professional network, which is part of what makes it genuinely competitive rather than just generous.

Around 60 scholarships are awarded each year, though that number depends on available funding and can shift slightly year to year. Applications go through the Admissions Committees of each Master’s programme first, with final sign-off resting with the Rector of ETH Zurich, so your success depends both on your academic profile and on how competitive the applicant pool is within your specific programme that year.

ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme Summary

What the Programme Covers

• A full tuition fee waiver for the entire standard duration of your Master’s programme, three or four semesters, depending on your course.
• A living allowance of CHF 12,000 per semester (roughly CHF 24,000 a year), paid out in instalments at the start of each semester directly to your bank account.
• Mentorship support connecting you with experienced professionals through the ETH Foundation.
• Access to the ETH Foundation’s broader academic and professional network, extending well beyond your immediate programme.
• Funding is paused, though your tuition waiver continues, during exchange semesters or compulsory internships lasting ten weeks or more. For voluntary internships, you can choose whether to pause or continue your grant.
• ESOP is compatible with taking on a research or teaching assistantship, provided it doesn’t extend your studies beyond the standard duration if it does, you’d need to self-fund the additional semester.

The stipend is paid per semester rather than as a lump sum, which matters for budgeting. You’ll want to plan your first-semester costs (deposit, visa fees, initial housing) against your own savings until the first payment lands.

What Qualifies You For the Programme

• You must have an excellent Bachelor’s academic record, in the top 10% of your graduating class, or the equivalent of an “A” grade, based on self-assessment.
• You must be applying fresh to a Master’s programme at ETH Zurich for the 2027/28 academic year, current ETH Bachelor’s students moving into a consecutive Master’s programme are also eligible.
• You must not already be enrolled in a Master’s programme at ETH Zurich, and you must not already hold a Master’s degree.
• You need to be reachable at the phone number listed on your CV, since shortlisted candidates may be invited to a phone or video interview in February.
• Critically, you must apply during the first application window specifically; applications submitted in a later Master’s admission round are not eligible for ESOP consideration, even if your admission itself is successful.
• Only current ETH Bachelor’s students are permitted to begin ESOP while on a leave of absence; this option isn’t available to applicants coming from other institutions.

Don’t Forget To Read: Top Scholarships in Germany for International Students

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 →

Required Documents

• All standard documents required for ETH Zurich’s Master’s admission.
• A pre-proposal for your Master’s thesis, which you must write yourself using proper scientific citation practices. This isn’t a formality, and plagiarism or misinformation here can lead to disqualification or revocation of the scholarship if discovered later.
• Contact details for two academic referees (professors), who will be prompted by email to upload a reference letter, required only if your specific Master’s programme doesn’t already ask for references as part of standard admission.

A practical warning: your referees only get contacted after you submit their details, and reference letters can take two to three weeks to come in once requested. Line up your referees and confirm they’re willing to write for you well before November 30; a late letter can knock your entire application out of the cycle.

How to Prepare Before the November Window Opens

Since the application window won’t open until 1st November 2026, the months ahead are genuinely useful preparation time rather than a waiting period:

1. Draft your thesis pre-proposal well in advance. This is the document most applicants underestimate — writing a genuinely original, properly cited research proposal takes real time, and rushing it in the final week of November tends to show.
2. Approach your prospective referees early, even though the formal reference request only goes out once your application is underway. Giving professors advance notice that you’ll be naming them increases the chance they respond promptly once the system emails them.
3. Confirm your Bachelor’s ranking now. Since ESOP eligibility hinges on being in the top 10% of your class or equivalent, get clarity on where you stand and, if you’re still finishing your degree, use the remaining months to solidify that position.
4. Research your specific Master’s programme’s admission requirements separately from ESOP’s criteria, since your scholarship application is evaluated by that programme’s own Admissions Committee.
5. Set up your ETH eApply portal access ahead of time if you haven’t already, so you’re not troubleshooting account setup issues in the final days of a tight one-month window.
6. Mark your calendar for 1st November 2026 specifically, since ESOP is only available during this single window each year, missing it means waiting an entire additional year, not just moving to a later round.

For readers in Nigeria and other West African time zones: ETH Zurich runs on Central European Time (CET), one hour ahead of WAT. Build that into your submission planning, especially if you’re finalizing documents close to the deadline.

Application Deadline

The application window opens 1st November 2026 and closes 30th November 2026 at 11:59pm CET, for Master’s study beginning in the 2027/28 academic year. Shortlisted candidates may be interviewed by phone or video in February 2027, with final decisions communicated by the end of March 2027.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the ETH Zurich ESOP scholarship open for applications right now?

Not yet. The application window opens 1st November 2026 and closes 30th November 2026. Use the months before then to prepare your thesis pre-proposal and confirm your academic standing.

Can Nigerian or other African students apply for the ESOP scholarship?

Yes. The scholarship is open to students of any nationality, provided you meet the academic ranking requirement and are applying fresh to an ETH Zurich Master’s programme.

Can I still get ESOP if I apply to ETH Zurich in a later admission round?

No. ESOP consideration is only available if you apply during the first application window, 1–30 November. Applying successfully in a later round gets you admission, but not ESOP eligibility for that intake.

How many scholarships are awarded each year?

Approximately 60, though the exact number depends on available funding and can vary slightly from year to year.

Can I combine ESOP with a teaching or research assistantship?

Yes, as long as the assistantship doesn’t extend your studies beyond the standard duration of your Master’s programme. If it does end up extending your studies, you’d need to cover the additional semester’s costs yourself.

Disclaimer: All scholarship details, deadlines, and eligibility criteria in this post were verified from official sources as of July 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme page before submitting your application. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with ETH Zurich.

Official Application Portal