ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship 2027: Fully Funded Master’s in Switzerland

The ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship 2027 is one of the most generous fully funded Master’s scholarships in Europe, and it could cover your full study and living costs at one of the world’s leading universities for science and technology. ETH Zurich, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, is known around the world for research in engineering, natural sciences, mathematics and architecture. For many international students, the cost of studying in Switzerland is the main barrier, and this award removes that barrier in a single grant.

The ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship 2027 is officially known as the Excellence Scholarship and Opportunity Programme, or ESOP. It is designed for excellent students from outside Switzerland who want to study for a Master’s degree at ETH Zurich starting in the autumn semester of 2027. There are approximately 60 scholarships available for the 2027/28 academic year, so competition is strong.

If you are planning to apply for the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship 2027, timing matters more than anything else. The application window is open now and closes on 30 November 2026 at 11:59 CET — and that is 11:59 in the morning, not midnight. This guide explains exactly what the award covers, who can apply, how to apply through ETH’s eApply system, and what happens after you submit. Before you start, it is also worth reading our guide to fully funded scholarships so you can compare this opportunity with other programmes closing around the same time.

What the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship 2027 Covers

Under the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship 2027, successful applicants receive a scholarship of CHF 12,000 per semester, rising to CHF 13,500 per semester from the autumn semester 2027 (HS27). The grant is intended to cover living costs in Zurich, one of the more expensive cities in Europe, and it is paid alongside a full waiver of tuition fees. Together, the grant and the waiver mean that a scholarship holder does not pay tuition and receives regular financial support throughout the Master’s programme.

The award also includes mentorship and access to the ETH Foundation network. Mentorship means that scholarship holders are connected with experienced people who can advise on study choices, research directions and career planning, while the ETH Foundation network opens doors to contacts in industry, research and public life in Switzerland and beyond. A strong network can also lead to internships and jobs after graduation.

The ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship 2027 supports Master’s degrees at ETH Zurich, not MAS programmes. MAS stands for Master of Advanced Studies, which is a different type of programme, and ESOP does not cover it. If you are applying for a regular consecutive Master’s degree at ETH Zurich, this is the scholarship to aim for. Check the official ETH page before you pay the application fee, because the fee is non-refundable.

Who Can Apply for the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship 2027

The ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship 2027 is open only to applicants who hold a Bachelor’s degree from outside Switzerland in this application window. The first application window, from 1 to 30 November 2026, is the only window in which ESOP is offered. There is a second window from 1 to 30 April 2027, but that window is only for applicants who hold a Swiss Bachelor’s degree, and ESOP is not offered there. If you hold a Bachelor’s degree from outside Switzerland, you must apply in November. There is no second chance for ESOP in April.

There are two further exclusions to note. You are not eligible if you already hold a Master’s degree, and you are not eligible if you are already enrolled in an ETH Master’s programme. The programme is intended for excellent new Master’s students who are beginning their studies at ETH Zurich. Strong academic results are expected, and selection looks at the quality of your Bachelor’s degree, your application documents and your motivation for the chosen Master’s programme. Choose a programme that matches your Bachelor’s background and your longer-term plans, and read its admission requirements on the official ETH website before you start.

The Deadline: Why 11:59 CET on 30 November 2026 Matters

The deadline for the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship 2027 is 30 November 2026 at 11:59 CET. That time is 11:59 in the morning, Central European Time — not 11:59 at night. This is the single most important detail in this guide, because many applicants read “11:59” and assume they have until just before midnight. In this case, they do not. If you plan to submit on the evening of 30 November, you will already be too late, and late or incomplete applications are not processed.

The application window runs from 1 to 30 November 2026, which gives you a full month, but you should not treat the whole month as spare time. Gathering documents, writing a thesis pre-proposal, arranging references and completing the online application all take longer than most students expect. References in particular can cause delays, so ask early. Aim to submit at least several days before the deadline so that you have time to fix any problem, such as a missing document or a technical issue with the online system.

The ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship 2027 is one of several awards closing around now, so plan your applications in order of deadline. Check the time difference between your country and Central European Time, because 11:59 CET may fall at a very different hour where you live. Convert the deadline into your local time as soon as you start your application, and treat your own personal deadline as 28 or 29 November. For a wider view of what else is closing soon, see our list of scholarships closing in December 2026.

How to Apply Step by Step

Applying for the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship 2027 is straightforward, but it must be done in the right order and in the right window. There is no separate scholarship form, and you indicate your interest in ESOP inside the Master’s application itself. Follow the steps below carefully.

First, choose your Master’s programme at ETH Zurich and check that you meet its admission requirements. Read the programme page, look at the required Bachelor’s background, and make sure your degree is a good match.

Second, prepare your documents. A thesis pre-proposal and references are part of the application, so give both serious attention. Your thesis pre-proposal should show that you can think like a researcher: choose a topic connected to your chosen programme, explain why it matters, and outline how you would approach it. Keep it clear and focused. For references, ask people who know your academic work well, and ask them early.

Third, create an account on eApply, ETH’s online Master’s application system, and complete the application during the first application window, from 1 to 30 November 2026. Inside the application, you will be asked whether you wish to be considered for the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship 2027. Make sure you indicate your interest there. Because there is no separate scholarship form, missing that step means you will not be considered for ESOP, even if the rest of your application is excellent.

Fourth, pay the application fee. The fee is CHF 150 per degree programme, and it is non-refundable. Keep a record of your payment. If you apply for more than one programme, the fee applies per programme, so plan your choices and your budget accordingly.

Fifth, review everything before you submit. Check that every required document is uploaded, that your pre-proposal is the final version, that your references have been submitted, and that your personal details are correct. Late or incomplete applications are not processed, so a missing document can end your chances even if everything else is strong. Submit well before 11:59 CET on 30 November 2026.

If you are also considering other leading universities, you may find our guide to the Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027 useful for comparison, since it is another fully funded opportunity for excellent international students, with its own deadlines and requirements.

What Happens After You Apply

Once the application window closes on 30 November 2026, ETH Zurich will assess the applications. Decisions are communicated at the end of March 2027, so there is a waiting period of about four months between the deadline and the outcome. During that time, you do not need to take further action unless ETH contacts you, but keep an eye on the email address you used in your application, including your spam folder.

The ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship 2027 programme starts in the autumn semester 2027. If you are selected, you will receive the scholarship of CHF 13,500 per semester from that point, together with the tuition-fee waiver, mentorship and access to the ETH Foundation network. If you are not selected for the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship 2027, you may still be admitted to the Master’s programme itself, depending on the outcome of the admission decision, but you would need to arrange funding separately. That is why it is sensible to apply for other scholarships at the same time rather than relying on a single award.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you are comparing fully funded options, our guide to the Oxford Weidenfeld Hoffmann Scholarship 2027 is another one to read.

For another fully funded postgraduate option, see our guide to the Nanyang President’s Graduate Scholarship 2027.

The ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship 2027 is one of the most generous fully funded Master’s scholarships in Europe. If the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship 2027 is on your shortlist, start your application early and aim to submit several days before the deadline.