ETH Excellence Scholarship and Opportunity Programme
The ETH Excellence Scholarship (ESOP) is one of the most prestigious Master's awards in continental Europe — a CHF 12,000 per semester living stipend plus a full tuition fee waiver, awarded to roughly the top 10% of ETH's international Master's applicants. ETH Zürich is consistently ranked among the world's top 10 universities, particularly strong in engineering, computer science, mathematics, physics, and architecture. Sri Lankan applicants with first-class engineering or science degrees and demonstrated research output are competitive for ESOP — though admission alone to ETH is the bigger filter.
ETH Zürich
University-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
Value
Full Tuition + CHF 12,000/sem
Duration
Up to 2 Years (Master's)
Awards
Around 70 per Year (ESOP)
fact_check Eligibility Criteria
Application to an ETH Master's Programme
You must be applying to a Master's programme at ETH Zürich for Autumn Semester start. The scholarship is offered alongside the regular Master's admissions application — there is no separate scholarship form, but you must tick the ESOP consideration box.
Top 10% of Applicant Pool
ESOP is awarded to the strongest 10% of international Master's applicants by academic record. Most Sri Lankan recipients have a first-class honours degree (often with multiple publications or significant research projects) from Moratuwa, Colombo, or Peradeniya, or a Bachelor's from a top global university.
Open to All Nationalities
ESOP is open to international students of any nationality, including Swiss residents who completed their Bachelor's outside Switzerland. Sri Lankan citizens applying from Sri Lanka are eligible.
English Proficiency
Most ETH Master's programmes are taught in English. The English requirement is typically C1 (CEFR) — equivalent to IELTS 7.0+ or TOEFL iBT 100+. German is required only for certain programmes (e.g. architecture).
account_tree Application Process
Apply for the Master's by 15 December
Submit your ETH Master's application via the eApply portal between 1 November and 15 December. The single application covers both admission and ESOP consideration.
Tick the ESOP consideration box
Within the application, indicate that you wish to be considered for the Excellence Scholarship. Submit two referee letters (typically from research supervisors), a 1-2 page motivation letter for the scholarship, and a research-focused CV.
Department + central review
Your application is reviewed by the academic department, which ranks applicants for both admission and ESOP. The strongest are forwarded to the central ETH Scholarships Office. Outcomes are typically released in April–May for Autumn Semester start.
Accept and arrange visa
Successful applicants accept the scholarship and arrange the Swiss D-visa (national visa for stays >90 days). The stipend is paid monthly across the 4 semesters of the Master's, contingent on satisfactory academic progress.
Why ETH Zürich?
ETH Zürich is consistently a top-10 university globally and is widely regarded as continental Europe's leading institution for engineering and the natural sciences. 22 Nobel Laureates count among its alumni and faculty, including Albert Einstein. Switzerland's high standard of living, central European location, and tightly-knit international Master's cohorts make it a top destination for ambitious Sri Lankan engineers.
#7
QS World Ranking 2026
22
Nobel Laureates
~70
ESOP Awards per Year
Similar Scholarships
Other curated opportunities for Sri Lankan students.
EPFL Excellence Fellowships
EPFL (École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne)
Karolinska Institutet Global Master's Scholarship
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KTH Scholarship for Master's Students
KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden)