ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP) 2027 | Switzerland
ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship 2027 (ESOP): a fully funded master’s scholarship in Switzerland that covers your living and study costs with CHF 13,500 per semester from the autumn 2027 semester, plus a tuition fee waiver for the regular three- or four-semester duration. ETH Zurich plans about 60 awards for the 2027/28 academic year. Applications open on 1 November 2026 and close on 30 November 2026 at 11:59 AM CET (3:59 PM Pakistan time, 5:59 AM US Eastern time).
If you are aiming at a world-class engineering or science master’s degree and you hate the idea of carrying the full cost yourself, the Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme is the funding route to look at first. It is ETH Zurich’s merit award for incoming master’s students, and it is aimed at people who finished near the very top of their bachelor’s cohort.
I built this guide only from ETH’s own admissions, financial aid, and immigration pages, all checked on 23 October 2026. Below you will find the funding numbers, the eligibility rules, the full document list, the November window converted into US and Pakistani time zones, visa requirements for Zurich, and the specific traps that get strong applicants rejected without a review.
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| The ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP) for the 2027/28 master’s intake |
Quick facts at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Programme | Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP) |
| University | ETH Zurich, Switzerland |
| Degree level | Master’s degree programmes only (MAS programmes excluded) |
| Funding type | Fully funded: living and study allowance plus a tuition fee waiver |
| Semester allowance | CHF 13,500 per semester from the autumn 2027 semester (CHF 12,000 before) |
| Duration | The regular length of the master’s programme: three or four semesters |
| Awards planned | Approximately 60 for academic year 2027/28, subject to available funds |
| Nationality | No country limit is published on the official ESOP page; all nationalities reach it through the November window |
| Academic bar | Top 10% of the bachelor’s degree programme (grade A, based on self-assessment) |
| Deadline | 30 November 2026, 11:59 AM CET (3:59 PM PKT, 5:59 AM ET) |
| Application fee | CHF 150 per degree programme, non-refundable and cannot be waived |
| Decision | Scholarship results communicated at the end of March 2027 |
30 November 2026 at 11:59 AM CET (about 3:59 PM Pakistan time and 5:59 AM US Eastern time on 30 November). The ESOP form lives inside the same online master application, so your complete file, including the thesis pre-proposal and references, must be paid for and submitted by that minute. Late or incomplete applications are not processed.
- Overview
- Who Can Apply
- How Winners Are Selected
- Funding and Benefits
- Required Documents
- English Language Requirements
- Costs You Should Budget
- Application Procedure
- Deadlines and Time Zones
- Visa and Residence Permit
- For Pakistani Applicants
- For US Applicants
- For Other International Applicants
- After You Receive an Offer
- Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Scholarship Scam Warning Signs
- How to Apply Safely
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Words
- Official Links
- Read More
Overview
ETH Zurich is a public research university in Zurich, Switzerland, and it runs ESOP as its merit-based award for incoming master’s students. The programme pairs money with mentorship: recipients get a scholarship, a mentor, and access to the network of the ETH Foundation, and the funding covers the full study and living cost picture for the length of the degree.
Three design choices shape everything else in this guide. First, ESOP is attached to a regular master’s application, not a separate form, so one deadline governs both. Second, it exists only in the first application window, the November round. Third, it rewards demonstrated rank, not just a decent grade, because ETH frames the academic requirement as the top 10% of your bachelor’s programme.
Who Can Apply
ETH states the ESOP conditions plainly on its scholarship page, and the general master’s prerequisites sit behind them. Treat both sets as hard filters before you pay the application fee.
- Master’s students only: ESOP supports master’s degrees, and MAS (continuing education) programmes are excluded.
- First-time master’s applicants: if you are already enrolled in a master’s programme at ETH Zurich or already hold a master’s degree, you are not eligible.
- November window only: the ESOP application must be submitted in the first application window, 1–30 November 2026.
- Academic rank: a very good bachelor’s result, described by ETH as the top 10% of the degree programme, equivalent to grade A, based on your own self-assessment.
- Recognised degree: a bachelor’s degree of at least three years of full-time study or 180 ECTS from a university recognised or accredited in its country, qualifying you for a consecutive master’s.
- Programme fit: your previous studies must match the requirement profile of the master’s programme you choose, including any stated minimum grades.
- Reachable by phone: ETH asks for a working telephone number in your CV because the selection process may include a phone or video interview in February.
Academic eligibility: you do not need to hold the bachelor’s degree certificate when you apply, but admitted students must present it by the start of the semester. Applicants excluded from any study programme at ETH or another university cannot be admitted at any level. If your transcript uses a CGPA instead of a percentage, convert it early with the CGPA calculator so you can see where you stand against the published minimum grade tables.
How Winners Are Selected
Admission and funding are decided in the same process, but they are not the same question, so keep the stages straight.
- Formal screening: the Admissions Office checks that the file is complete, on time, paid, and formally eligible before anyone reads it for content.
- Committee review: the applications are evaluated by the Admissions Committees of the respective master’s programmes, which look at undergraduate performance, the ranking of the university, subject background, standardised test scores where required, the motivation letter, and the reference letters.
- Interview window: ETH warns that the selection process might include a phone or video interview in February, so keep the number in your CV live and answer unknown calls during that month.
- Scholarship decision: the final decision on the Excellence Scholarship rests with the Rector of ETH Zurich, and about 60 scholarships are planned for 2027/28 depending on available funds.
- Result date: decisions are communicated at the end of March 2027.
Important: meeting the published minimums makes an application eligible for review. ETH is explicit that satisfying the prerequisites does not guarantee admission, and admission is what unlocks the scholarship.
Funding and Benefits
ETH describes ESOP as covering the full study and living costs during the master’s course. The official wording splits that into a semester allowance and a fee waiver.
Tuition fee waiver
ETH tuition and semester fees total CHF 804 per semester, and ESOP includes a tuition fee waiver for the same three or four semesters as the allowance.
Semester allowance
CHF 12,000 per semester, rising to CHF 13,500 per semester from the autumn 2027 semester onward, paid for the regular duration of the programme.
Mentorship and network
Scholars are connected with a mentor and the network of the ETH Foundation alongside the funding itself.
No travel grant listed
The official ESOP page does not mention a travel or flight allowance, so budget your journey separately instead of counting on one.
Because your intake starts in the autumn 2027 semester, the CHF 13,500 rate is the one that applies to you. Multiplied across a four-semester degree, the allowance alone comes to CHF 54,000, and a three-semester degree comes to CHF 40,500; those totals are simple arithmetic from the published per-semester figure, not a separate ETH promise.
ETH states that the exact number of scholarships each year depends on the availability of funds. The roughly 60 awards for 2027/28 is a plan, not a promise to any individual applicant, and nothing in the process substitutes for admission to the master’s programme itself.
Required Documents
The file you upload in eApply serves both the admission decision and the scholarship review, so treat the checklist as one unit. Everything must be uploaded by the deadline; nothing can be added afterwards.
Passport copy
Scan the pages showing photo, name, date of birth, and expiry date; the passport must be valid for at least six more months. EU and EFTA applicants may use a valid ID card instead.
Degree certificate
A scan in English or German. If your programme is not finished yet, upload a confirmation of completion or the provisional diploma instead.
Official transcript
An up-to-date official transcript in English or German listing every achievement to date. Printouts from a student account and screenshots are rejected.
Curriculum vitae
A chronological CV in table form, in the teaching language of your programme, with no time gaps from upper secondary school to the application date.
Letter of motivation
Each master’s programme publishes its own requirements, which appear automatically in the form; use our motivation letter word counter to stay inside the stated limit.
Language certificate
A recognised, valid certificate uploaded by the deadline, or an accepted exemption with proof. Details are in the language section below.
Beyond the standard list, the ESOP application adds two items of its own: a pre-proposal for your master’s thesis that you write yourself using established scientific citation practice, and two letters of recommendation from professors. ESOP applications always require two letters, even when your programme would not normally ask for references; if your programme collects references anyway, name two people who will then upload their letters through the system.
- Translations: documents in any language other than German, French, Italian, or English need an English translation from the issuing university or an authorised professional translator, and the original always goes in as well.
- File sizes: university documents are limited to 5 MB each, and portfolio PDFs to 15 MB.
- Programme extras: a portfolio is required for Architecture MSc and Landscape Architecture MSc only, and some programmes ask for an internship confirmation.
- Forms: the signed consent form and the course content form are part of the same upload set.
Every document, including the ESOP pre-proposal and the language certificate, must be uploaded and the CHF 150 fee paid by 30 November 2026 at 11:59 AM CET. ETH states that late or incomplete applications cannot be processed.
English Language Requirements
Most master’s programmes at ETH are taught in English, some combine English and German, and a small group is taught in German, with Pharmacy MSc and Architecture MSc requiring German proficiency. ETH does not publish one universal band score on its language page; the required level sits with each programme’s document list, so check your programme before you book a test.
- Accepted English certificates: TOEFL, IELTS, and Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), which must be no more than two years old, plus C2 Proficiency (CPE) and C1 Advanced with Grade A (200–210), which stay valid for up to five years.
- Reporting: order an official TOEFL report to ETH Zurich with institution code 9038, and enter your IELTS test date and Test Report Form number in the application for verification.
- Timing: the certificate must be valid and submitted by the application deadline at the latest; an invalid, insufficient, or missing certificate means the application is rejected on formal grounds.
- GRE: some programmes require it, and ETH’s GRE General Test code is 3331.
When a certificate is not required
ETH publishes a closed list of English exemptions: holders of the Swiss Matura, graduates of a bachelor’s degree from ETH Zurich or EPF Lausanne, and applicants who completed a bachelor’s degree taught entirely in English. For that third route, the language of instruction must be officially confirmed by your university’s central administration, such as the registrar’s office; confirmations from individual teachers or professors are not accepted. Degrees from Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States are exempt from that confirmation entirely.
If your academic documents already state that English was the only teaching language for the entire degree, ETH accepts them as the confirmation. If they say nothing about language of instruction, request a stamped and signed letter now, because a wrong or weak confirmation leads to direct rejection and a language certificate cannot be added after the deadline. When you are unsure, sitting the test is the safer path, and our IELTS band score calculator helps you check section scores against what your programme expects.
Note: ETH states that only the certificates on its recognised list count, and no other document or circumstance can be considered. Ask your registrar early, because central offices can take weeks to issue confirmation letters.
Costs You Should Budget
ESOP removes the two largest study costs, but you still need a plan for the fee, the visa stage, and daily life in Zurich. ETH publishes its own estimates on the financial pages.
| Cost item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition and semester fees | CHF 804 per semester, covered by the ESOP tuition fee waiver while the scholarship runs |
| Student living and study costs | CHF 20,000 to 26,000 per year, the figure ETH recommends you calculate with |
| Application fee | CHF 150 per degree programme, non-refundable and not waivable |
| Visa application at the embassy | Approximately CHF 50 to 100, not refunded if the visa is refused |
| Canton visa authorization (Zurich) | CHF 95 |
| Registration and residence permit (Zurich) | CHF 182 after arrival, made up of CHF 40 registration and CHF 142 permit document |
| Financial proof for the visa (Zurich) | CHF 21,000 shown in your own bank account, or a scholarship decision letter |
No currency conversion is printed in this guide on purpose. Exchange rates move daily, so convert the Swiss franc figures yourself on the day you build your budget rather than trusting a rate that was stale when it was written.
Application Procedure
The flowchart below shows the full route from checking your eligibility to receiving the result. Follow the steps in order, and confirm each one on the official pages before you move on.
Confirm that you are a first-time master’s applicant, that your degree fits the requirement profile, and that your rank genuinely sits near the top of your cohort.
Read the profile of requirements and the programme-specific document list first, because those two pages decide what your file must contain.
Create your account on the official ETH online master application in early November. This same account carries the ESOP option.
Scans of your degree and transcript, the CV in table form, the motivation letter, the passport copy, and the language certificate, each within the size limits.
Draft it yourself, follow ETH’s pre-proposal guidelines, and cite properly. Plagiarism or false information leads to exclusion, or to revocation if found later.
Name two professors for the ESOP letters. They receive an automatic email after submission and can upload until two weeks after the deadline.
Check every entry on the summary page, then pay the CHF 150 fee by credit card or PostFinance. The application only exists once the payment goes through.
Admission decisions normally appear in eApply within two to three months of the deadline, and ESOP results are communicated at the end of March.
Deadlines and Time Zones
The timeline covers the six dates that decide your 2027 entry. Times are shown in the official zone first, then converted, and the only hard closing minute for ESOP applicants is the November one.
| Milestone | Official time | GMT | PKT | ET | PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application window opens | 1 November 2026 (no clock time published) | — | — | — | — |
| ESOP and international deadline | 30 Nov 2026, 11:59 AM CET | 10:59 AM | 3:59 PM | 5:59 AM | 2:59 AM |
| Scholarship decisions | End of March 2027 | — | — | — | — |
| Swiss bachelor’s window closes (not available to ESOP or international degree holders) | 30 Apr 2027, 11:59 AM CEST | 9:59 AM | 2:59 PM | 4:59 AM | 1:59 AM |
ETH runs two windows for autumn 2027 entry, and only the first one concerns you: 1–30 November 2026 for everyone with a bachelor’s degree from outside Switzerland and for every ESOP candidate, then 1–30 April 2027 for Swiss bachelor’s holders alone. Applicants rejected in the first round may not re-apply to the same programme in the second round. Track the date with our scholarship deadline tracker rather than a cached post, because ETH notes that schedules can be updated.
Submit at least two days before the closing minute. Card payments fail on security grounds more often than applicants expect, and ETH warns about exactly that; an application that is not paid by 11:59 AM CET does not exist.
Visa and Residence Permit
Switzerland treats student immigration as a national visa plus a cantonal residence permit, and ETH publishes detailed guidance prepared with the Migration Office of the Canton of Zurich. Entry requirements vary by nationality, so the SEM list is the binding source for whether you need a visa at all.
- Who needs a visa: citizens of the EU and EFTA countries, plus Australia, Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK, may enter without a student visa. All other nationalities must apply for a national type D visa in person at the Swiss embassy or consulate general where they live.
- When to apply: at least three months before you plan to enter Switzerland. A tourist visa can never be converted into a residence permit, so do not enter on one.
- Financial proof: for Zurich, show CHF 21,000 in an account in your own name at a bank on the accepted list; parent support letters are not accepted for the visa stage, while a scholarship decision letter is accepted as proof.
- Core documents: the D visa application form, passport valid at least three months beyond your stay, three photographs, admission confirmation, a short statement of why you want to study at ETH, your CV with language skills, transcripts with certified translations, and your future plans.
- Fees: roughly CHF 50 to 100 at the consulate, CHF 95 for the Zurich canton authorization, and CHF 182 after arrival for registration and the permit document.
- After arrival: apply in person at the Residents’ Registration Office within 14 days of moving, then attend the biometrics appointment at the Migration Office. The B permit is normally issued for one year and extended while studies continue.
Note: the visa decision belongs to the cantonal migration office and is separate from your admission. ETH cannot influence it or speed it up, which is another reason to submit the scholarship application on the first possible day.
For Pakistani Applicants
Pakistani applicants are welcome, and a few country-specific details decide whether your file survives the formal screen instead of dying in it.
- Window: a Pakistani bachelor’s degree means the November window is mandatory for you, with the deadline at 3:59 PM Pakistan time on 30 November 2026.
- Language proof: Pakistan is not among the five countries whose degrees skip the confirmation step, so you either send a recognised IELTS, TOEFL, or Cambridge certificate, or request an official confirmation from your university’s central administration that the entire degree was taught in English.
- Accreditation: ETH requires a degree from a university recognised or accredited in its operating country, so confirm your institution’s standing with the relevant national body before you invest in the application fee.
- Rank: the top 10% requirement is about cohort position, and many Pakistani universities publish a roll number or position certificate that supports your self-assessment.
- Card payment: the CHF 150 fee is paid online, and ETH explicitly warns that cards from some countries get declined on security grounds; tell your bank beforehand and keep a backup card ready.
- Visa file: book the Swiss representation appointment early, and prepare the CHF 21,000 statement in your own account, because the Zurich office is strict about this point.
Tip: start the language test and the registrar confirmation letter in September or October. Both queues lengthen sharply once November begins, and a certificate that arrives on 1 December is worthless.
For US Applicants
US applicants have the smoothest language route in this process, but the clock is still unforgiving.
- Language: bachelor’s degrees from the United States are exempt from the confirmation requirement, so a US degree taught in English means no test certificate at all.
- Window: a US bachelor’s degree also makes the November window mandatory; the April round is for Swiss degrees only.
- Timing: the deadline lands at 5:59 AM Eastern and 2:59 AM Pacific on 30 November 2026, so treat the evening of 29 November as your real cut-off.
- Fee: CHF 150 per programme on a credit card, with the same advice to alert your bank to an international charge before you submit.
- Visa: US citizens are not on ETH’s visa-free list, so you will need the national type D visa applied for at least three months ahead of entry.
- Documents: official English transcripts and an English degree certificate go straight in without translation, which removes the most common delay other applicants face.
For Other International Applicants
Applicants from the rest of the world fall into a few different situations, and your category decides your entry route, your language paperwork, and your visa path.
- Every non-Swiss degree: whatever your passport, a bachelor’s degree from outside Switzerland means the November window, and ESOP lives only inside it.
- EU and EFTA citizens: no entry visa is needed, but you must register at the Residents’ Registration Office within 14 days of arrival and apply for the residence permit there.
- Visa-free nationalities: Australia, Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK enter without a student visa, then still register and apply for the permit after arrival.
- English-medium degrees elsewhere: graduates of fully English-taught programmes outside the five auto-confirmed countries need the official registrar confirmation described in the language section.
- Second window: the April 2027 round cannot be used by international degree holders, and a first-round rejection blocks the same programme in round two.
- Same fee, same portal: every nationality pays CHF 150 per programme and files through eApply; only the immigration paperwork differs.
After You Receive an Offer
An admission decision is the start of a checklist, not the end of the process. Work through these steps in order.
- Download your decision in eApply. Admission decisions are normally issued within two to three months of the deadline, and the ESOP result follows at the end of March.
- Send your graduation documents. Enrolment requires the real degree certificates, and any discrepancy with the uploads can lead to rejection or withdrawal of the offer.
- Start the visa file. From around mid-May, eApply provides the confirmation of registration and matriculation documents that the visa office wants; the admission letter alone is not enough.
- Enter and register. Apply for the residence permit in person within 14 days of arrival, keep the ESOP decision letter with your financial proofs, and enrol for the semester.
Note: keep every decision letter, payment receipt, and migration appointment confirmation in one folder. You will need them for the permit extension and for any later scholarship correspondence.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying in April: the second window excludes international degrees and all ESOP candidates, so waiting for it ends the application before it starts.
- Missing the language certificate deadline: an invalid, insufficient, or missing certificate means a formal rejection, and no certificate can be added after 30 November.
- Screenshots instead of transcripts: printouts from student portals and screenshots are not accepted; order an official document.
- Weak translations: only the issuing university or an authorised translator is accepted, and the original must be uploaded alongside the translation.
- A borrowed pre-proposal: plagiarism or false information in the thesis pre-proposal leads to exclusion, or to revocation of admission and scholarship if discovered later.
- Unpaid fee: applications are only submitted once the CHF 150 payment clears, and ETH notes that some card transactions are declined.
- Unreachable phone: a number in the CV that nobody answers in February can cost you the interview stage.
Scholarship Scam Warning Signs
- Guaranteed admission or a guaranteed award: the Rector decides scholarships and committees decide admission; nobody outside ETH can promise either.
- Extra fees to agents: the only official payment in this process is the CHF 150 application fee paid inside eApply.
- Personal bank accounts: ETH never asks for a transfer to a private individual, and no third party can pay your fee for you in a legitimate way.
- Free mail domains: official contact comes from ETH’s own domain, not from a generic mail provider.
- Fake urgency: the real deadline is published on the dates page, and no message can move it.
How to Apply Safely
Use two addresses and nothing else: the ETH eApply portal for the application itself, and ethz.ch for every rule, fee, and deadline. Check the sender domain before opening any attachment, and never upload a passport scan or bank statement to a personal contact who approached you first.
Important: nobody can buy a scholarship place, a faster decision, or a waiver of the CHF 150 fee. If payment is requested outside eApply, stop and verify on the official page before you respond.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ETH Zurich ESOP open to Pakistani students?
Yes. The official ESOP page sets no nationality limit, so Pakistani master’s applicants can be considered, and a degree from outside Switzerland already requires them to use the November 2026 window. What matters is meeting the academic rule, the top 10% of the bachelor’s programme, and the document rules, including a language certificate or a valid English-medium confirmation, since Pakistan is not on ETH’s list of countries exempt from that confirmation. Checked against the official pages on 23 October 2026.
What is the deadline for the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship 2027?
The deadline is 30 November 2026 at 11:59 AM Central European Time, which is 10:59 AM GMT, 3:59 PM Pakistan time, 5:59 AM US Eastern time, and 2:59 AM US Pacific time on the same day. ESOP applications are accepted only in this first window, and late or incomplete applications cannot be processed.
Is an English test always required?
Not always. ETH accepts an exemption if you hold the Swiss Matura, graduated from ETH Zurich or EPF Lausanne, or completed a bachelor’s degree taught entirely in English with an official confirmation from your university’s central administration; degrees from Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States need no confirmation at all. Everyone else must upload a recognised certificate, such as IELTS, TOEFL, or Cambridge C1 Advanced, that is no more than two years old by the application deadline.
Can I apply without an agent?
Yes, and it is the normal route. You create your own account on the official ETH eApply portal, upload your own documents, and pay the CHF 150 fee directly to the university by credit card or PostFinance; the process is designed around your own submissions, including a thesis pre-proposal that must be your own work. No agent is required at any stage, and any private individual asking for payment for access is a warning sign.
Final Words
Three actions decide how this process goes for you. Check your rank, your requirement profile, and your language route against the official pages before you pay anything. Build the whole file, including the pre-proposal and referee list, during October rather than the last week of November. Then submit early, pay the fee, and stay reachable by phone in February.
If a figure in this guide has changed since 23 October 2026, the official ETH Zurich pages win. I refresh these tables when the university opens a new cycle, so check the verification date at the top before you rely on a number.
Official Links
ESOP scholarship page: Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme at ETH Zurich
Application dates: Application dates for autumn semester 2027
How to apply: Master’s application guide for international bachelor’s degrees
Admission prerequisites: Admission prerequisites for international applicants
Language requirements: Recognised language certificates and exemptions
Document list: Required application documents
Costs: Tuition, fees, and living cost estimates
Immigration: Immigration to Switzerland overview
Visa guidance: Immigration with a student visa
Application portal: ETH Zurich eApply online application
Read More
- Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
- How to Write a Winning Motivation Letter
- GEM Erasmus Mundus Scholarship 2027
Ready to Apply for the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship 2027?
Read the official ESOP page and the dates page, then submit your complete file through eApply during the November 2026 window.
Apply at eApply Official ESOP Page Subscribe on YouTube Join WhatsApp Channel Follow on LinkedInEditorial note: Scholarship amounts, eligibility rules, and admissions dates in this guide were checked against official ETH Zurich pages on 23 October 2026. ETH notes that scholarship numbers depend on available funds and that immigration rules can change, so confirm anything time-sensitive before you submit.
Published: 23 October 2026
Last verified: 23 October 2026
Published by: Study Abroad with Arbaz
Disclosure: This guide is independent. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, ETH Zurich.
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