EPFL Excellence Fellowships
EPFL Excellence Fellowships are merit-based awards for outstanding international Master's applicants joining one of EPFL's two-year Master's programmes in engineering, computer science, mathematics, physics, life sciences, or architecture. The fellowship covers CHF 16,000 per year (two years) as a living contribution. EPFL's tuition fees are themselves modest (around CHF 1,460 per year), so the fellowship is genuinely transformational. Sri Lankan applicants must be in the top 10% of their Bachelor's class.
2026/27 entry: applications closed 15 December 2025 — 2027/28 entry round opens November 2026
EPFL (École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne)
University-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
Living Contribution
CHF 16,000/year (CHF 32,000 total)
Duration
2-Year Master's
Awards
~30 per Cycle (Highly Competitive)
info How this award actually works
Who awards it
EPFL (École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne) — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.
How you are considered
Through your admission application. Awards like this are usually assessed automatically from the application you already submit — there is typically no separate scholarship form to fill in.
What it covers
CHF 16,000–32,000 (full Master's) Living Award. This is a reduction in tuition, not a full ride. You still fund the remainder, plus living costs and the balance your visa requires you to show.
Where we come in
We make the admission application strong enough to be competitive — course choice, documents, references and deadlines. The funder makes the decision.
fact_check Eligibility Criteria
Offer / Application for EPFL Master's
You must apply for an EPFL two-year Master's programme by the standard 15 December deadline. The fellowship is automatically considered as part of your Master's application — there is no separate scholarship form.
Top 10% of Bachelor's Class
Applicants must rank in the top 10% of their Bachelor's cohort. For Sri Lankan applicants this typically means a first-class honours degree from Moratuwa, Peradeniya, Colombo, or an equivalent institution.
International Citizenship
Open to all international students. Sri Lankan citizens applying from Sri Lanka are eligible — Swiss and EU/EEA citizens are also eligible but face the same merit competition.
English Proficiency
Meet EPFL's English language requirement — typically TOEFL iBT 90+ or IELTS 7.0+. French proficiency is not required for English-taught Master's programmes (most STEM Master's are taught in English).
account_tree Application Process
Apply for an EPFL Master's
Submit your EPFL Master's application via the online portal by 15 December (for September entry the following year). Application fee is CHF 150.
Automatic Fellowship Consideration
All admitted Master's applicants are automatically considered for the Excellence Fellowship — there is no separate scholarship application or form to complete.
Receive Decision with Admission
The Excellence Fellowship outcome is communicated alongside your Master's admission decision, typically in April-May. Award is conditional on accepting the Master's offer.
Accept and Enrol
Accept your EPFL Master's offer and confirm enrolment by the published deadline. The CHF 16,000 living contribution is paid in monthly instalments throughout the academic year.
Why EPFL?
EPFL is consistently ranked among the world's top 30 universities and is the highest-ranked university in continental Europe for engineering and computer science. Located on the shores of Lake Geneva, EPFL has a strong English-medium graduate environment with around 50% international students. Tuition is modest, making EPFL an exceptional value-for-money STEM destination.
#26
QS World Ranking 2026
#1
Continental Europe (QS Engineering)
CHF 1,460
Annual Tuition (Modest)
Looking for a scholarship because of the cost?
Then start here instead. Scholarships are competitive, usually partial, and decided by someone else — they are the least reliable way to make studying abroad affordable. Your destination and course choice move the number far more, and both are entirely within your control.
Work out your real number
Tuition, living costs, visa funds and flights for your destination — so you know the gap you are actually trying to close.
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The full catalogue, cheapest tuition first. Changing course or country saves far more than most awards are worth.
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Tuition, living costs and the total first-year figure for Switzerland, in LKR as well as local currency.
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Every student visa requires you to show funds. Find out what you need before you commit to an application.
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Other curated opportunities for Sri Lankan students.
ETH Excellence Scholarship and Opportunity Programme
ETH Zürich
University of Geneva Excellence Master Fellowship
University of Geneva
Graduate Institute Geneva (IHEID) Scholarship
Geneva Graduate Institute (IHEID)