ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship

What the scholarship covers

• CHF 12,000 per semester for living costs
• Full tuition waiver
• Two-year duration for the master's programme

Eligibility requirements

• Applying to an ETH Zurich master's programme
• Top 10 per cent of your bachelor's cohort
• Bachelor's degree completed before starting
• Open to applicants of any nationality

Documents you will need

• ETH master's application including the scholarship section
• Transcripts with class ranking evidence
• Two academic references
• Motivation letter and CV
• Language proficiency certificate

How to apply, step by step

1. 1

   Apply to an ETH master's programme

   The scholarship is an option inside the standard application, not a separate process.

2. 2

   Tick the scholarship box

   Easy to miss, and applications that skip it are never considered for funding.

3. 3

   Prove your class ranking

   You need documentary evidence of standing in the top 10 per cent, request it from your university early.

4. 4

   Write the motivation letter

   Connect your background to the specific ETH programme and its research groups.

5. 5

   Submit before the December deadline

   The scholarship deadline is earlier than the general admission deadline.

When to do what

Counting backwards from the deadline. Applications rushed in the final fortnight are the ones that fail.

1. 16 weeks before

   Confirm the ETH programme and its entry requirements.

2. 13 weeks before

   Request a ranking certificate from your university.

3. 10 weeks before

   Draft the motivation letter for the specific programme.

4. 8 weeks before

   Ask two academics for references.

5. 5 weeks before

   Assemble transcripts and language certificates.

6. 2 weeks before

   Submit, confirming the scholarship option is selected.

What the panel is actually looking for

• Class ranking in the top 10 per cent
• Academic excellence throughout the bachelor's degree
• Fit with the chosen ETH master's programme
• Strength of the motivation letter and references

Common mistakes to avoid

• Forgetting to select the scholarship option inside the application.
• No documentary evidence of top-10-per-cent ranking.
• Missing that the scholarship deadline precedes the admission deadline.
• A motivation letter that never mentions ETH-specific research.

Fields of study