ETH Zurich is essentially the MIT of Europe. It consistently ranks in the global top ten universities, particularly for engineering and computer science. The Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP) is their tool for ensuring they capture the absolute brightest master's students before American Ivy Leagues snatch them up.
Quick Overview
Full Requirements & Details
Academic Requirements
- Min. CGPA
- 3.8
- Offer Degrees
- Masters
- Subjects
- Arts, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics
- Seats Available
- Varies
- Study Gap Allowed
- No Restrictions (Gap Allowed)
- Research Publication
- Optional
- Work Experience
- No
- Age Range
- No Age Limit
Language Requirements
- IELTS
- Min. 7.0
- TOEFL
- Optional
- GRE
- Not Required
- Local Language
- English
- Local Lang Test
- No
- Study Languages
- English
Financial Details
- Type
- Full
- Fund Details
- See Description
- Monthly Stipend
- CHF 12000/mo
- Tuition
- Full
- Living Costs
- Full
- Travel & Health
- No / No
- Application Fee
- 150
- Spouse Allowed
- No
What Matters Most
Required Documents
Why You Should Apply
You get a grant covering living and study expenses (CHF 12,000 per semester) as well as a tuition fee waiver. This allows you to focus entirely on your brutal coursework and research without needing a part-time job in one of the most expensive cities on earth. Furthermore, ESOP scholars get special supervision and fast-tracked networking opportunities within ETH's deep tech ecosystem.
Application Process
You apply for the master's degree program and the ESOP scholarship concurrently. In addition to your standard admissions documents, you must upload a meticulously crafted pre-proposal for your master's thesis. This is highly unusual for a master's application and is the make-or-break element of your submission.
How to Win This Scholarship
You must be in the top 10% of your bachelor's program—and usually from a globally recognized university. But the real filter is the pre-proposal. The admissions committee isn't looking for vague ideas.
They want a razor-sharp, scientifically sound mini-grant proposal that shows you already understand the literature, methodology, and expected outcomes of high-level research. Reach out to current ETH labs months in advance to ensure your proposed thesis aligns with their ongoing projects. If an ETH professor backs your proposal, your chances skyrocket.
Benefits After Completing Study
Graduating from ETH as an ESOP scholar virtually guarantees you a spot in top PhD programs globally or hands you immediate entry into high-paying tech and quantitative finance roles in Zurich.
Do not underestimate the difficulty of the coursework at ETH. Even with the funding, the academic pressure is immense, and they will pull the funding if your grades slip drastically during the master's.
Official Source
For complete details and to verify all requirements, please refer to the scholarship provider's official website.
Visit Official Source