University Scholarship · Masters

ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship

Q: What does the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship cover?

The ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship (ESOP) offers comprehensive financial support, covering living and study expenses with a grant of CHF 13,500 per semester (from Autumn Semester 2027 onwards), along with a full tuition fee waiver for the entire duration of your Master's program, which is typically three or four semesters.

Q: What are the main eligibility criteria for Indian students to apply for this scholarship?

The scholarship is open to excellent students from all nationalities, including India. Key eligibility criteria include achieving very good results in your Bachelor's degree program, typically placing you in the top 10% of your class (equivalent to Grade A). You must be applying for a Master's degree program at ETH Zurich and not already be enrolled in a Master's program or hold a Master's degree from ETH Zurich.

Q: How and when are scholarship funds disbursed, and what are the renewal conditions?

Scholarship funds are disbursed on a per-semester basis for the regular duration of your Master's program (three or four semesters). Continued satisfactory academic progress is expected for the scholarship to continue. The grant may be suspended during exchange semesters at another university or during compulsory internships lasting 10 weeks or more. If an assistantship leads to an extension of your studies, you will be required to self-finance the additional semester. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to Aadhaar-seeded accounts is not applicable as this is an international scholarship.

ETH Zurich · All India

Annual Award₹28.3 Lakh+

Deadline30 Nov

Scheme Name	ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship
Provided By	ETH Zurich
Eligibility Summary	Class 11-12, Graduation, Engineering (< ₹8L Income)

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About the Program

Comprehensive guide for ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship. Get eligibility details, stipend amounts, and registration instructions here.

Benefits & Financial Support

₹28.3 Lakh+

The ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship (ESOP) provides CHF 13,500 per semester (from Autumn Semester 2027 onwards) to cover living and study expenses, along with a full tuition fee waiver. The scholarship is awarded for the regular duration of the Master's programme, which is typically three or four semesters. The annual estimated amount, assuming two semesters per academic year, is approximately 3,148,740 INR (based on 1 CHF = 116.62 INR). The minimum annual amount during the scholarship tenure, representing one semester's funding, is approximately 1,574,370 INR. Funds are disbursed on a per-semester basis. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to Aadhaar-seeded accounts is not applicable as this is an international scholarship from a Swiss institution.

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Academic Excellence:Applicants must have a very good result in their Bachelor's degree programme, belonging to the top 10% of their cohort (equivalent to a Grade A or a GPA of 8.8/10 or higher for Indian students).
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Degree Level:Open to students wishing to pursue a Master's degree at ETH Zurich.
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Prior Enrollment:Not eligible if already enrolled in a Master's degree programme at ETH Zurich or if holding a Master's degree. MAS (continuing-education) programmes are also excluded.
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Nationality:Open to excellent students from ETH and other universities, both national and international (open to applicants worldwide).
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Reachability:Applicants must ensure they are reachable via the telephone number specified in their CV, as the selection process may include a phone/video call interview in February.
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Application Window:Must apply within the first application window for the chosen Master's programme.

Eligibility Criteria & Income Limit

Education Level	Masters
Course / Stream	Masters
Income Limit	No income bar
Category / Caste	General, OBC, SC, ST
Domicile State	All India

Mandatory Documents Checklist

✓Application form (same for both ESOP and Master Scholarship Programme)
✓Letter of motivation
✓Pre-proposal for Master's thesis (following specific guidelines, must be self-developed and use established scientific citation practice)
✓Letters of recommendation from two professors (if the study program does not ask for references for Master's admission)
✓Curriculum Vitae (CV) with a reachable phone number
✓All other documents required for regular Master's admission (e.g., academic transcripts, degree certificates, English proficiency certificate if applicable)

Selection Process

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Candidates are selected based on a highly competitive, merit-based process
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Applications are evaluated by the Admissions Committees of the respective Master's programmes
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The final decision for awarding scholarships rests with the Rector of ETH Zurich
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The selection criteria include outstanding academic achievement, strong references, and a convincing pre-proposal for the Master's thesis
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The process may also involve a phone or video conference interview, typically conducted in February
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Approximately 60 ESOP scholarships are assigned annually, with the exact number dependent on the availability of funds
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Decisions are communicated by the end of March following the application period.

Renewal Policy

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The ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship is awarded for the regular duration of the Master's programme, which typically spans three or four semesters
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Renewal for subsequent semesters within this duration is subject to continued satisfactory academic progress
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The grant will be suspended during exchange semesters at another university or during compulsory internships lasting 10 weeks or longer
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If a student's studies are extended due to an assistantship, the additional semester must be self-financed.

How to Apply Online

Applications are submitted online via the official portal. Complete eKYC, upload scanned documents, and submit before the closing date.

1
Access the Application Portal
Begin by accessing the ETH Zurich eApply online portal for Master's admissions. This is the integrated platform for both Master's program and scholarship applications.
2
Complete Master's Application
Fill out the Master's degree program application form with all required personal and academic details.
3
Indicate Scholarship Interest
Within the Master's application, ensure you indicate your intention to apply for the Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP).
4
Upload Required Documents
Submit all necessary documents for Master's admission, including official transcripts, language certificates, CV, and a letter of motivation.
5
Submit Master's Thesis Pre-Proposal
Additionally, you must upload a self-developed pre-proposal for your Master's thesis. This document is critical and must adhere to established scientific citation practices.
6
Provide References
If your chosen study program does not explicitly require references for admission, you must name two reference persons (professors) for your ESOP application.
7
Meet Application Deadline
Submit your complete application during the first application window, which is typically from November 1 to November 30 (11:59 PM MEZ), for the academic year starting in Autumn the following year (e.g., Nov 2026 for Autumn Semester 2027 intake).
8
Be Available for Interview
Ensure you are reachable via the telephone number specified in your CV, as the selection process may include a phone or video conference interview in February.
9
Await Decision
Scholarship decisions are usually communicated by the end of March.
10
Track Status
You can generally track your application status by logging into the eApply portal. For specific inquiries, you may contact the Financial Aid Office.

Common Questions (FAQs)

What does the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship cover?

The ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship (ESOP) offers comprehensive financial support, covering living and study expenses with a grant of CHF 13,500 per semester (from Autumn Semester 2027 onwards), along with a full tuition fee waiver for the entire duration of your Master's program, which is typically three or four semesters.

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Legal Disclaimer

IndiaScholarships.in attempts to provide accurate information manually curated from official sources. Scholarship details, timelines, and eligibility can change without notice as per the provider's discretion. Applying for a scholarship does not guarantee selection. Always verify all information on the official ETH Zurich website before final submission.