ETH Zurich Scholarship 2027 (ESOP): Guide for Pakistani Students

ETH Zurich's main scholarship for international master's students, the Excellence Scholarship and Opportunity Programme (ESOP), opens on 1 November 2026 and closes on 30 November 2026, for master's programmes starting in autumn 2027. It waives tuition and pays CHF 13,500 a semester from autumn 2027, and it is open to Pakistani students who are in the top 10% of their bachelor's programme.

You apply for ESOP inside the same online form as your ETH master's application, in the same November window. Everything below comes from ETH Zurich's own pages, which we read on 23 October 2026. ETH's pages are the final word, so check them again before you submit.

The dates you must plan around

Two details catch people out. First, ETH's application dates page gives the deadline as 11:59 in the morning, Central European Time, not midnight. In Pakistan that is the afternoon of 30 November, so treat 29 November as your real deadline. Second, applicants with a bachelor's from outside Switzerland, which includes every Pakistani degree, must apply in this November window. ETH says the April window is only for Swiss bachelor's holders, and late or incomplete applications are not processed.

Our deadline calendar and our ETH ESOP page track these dates with other scholarships closing this winter.

What ESOP pays

According to ETH's ESOP page:

• Tuition fee waiver for the regular length of your master's.
• CHF 12,000 a semester for living and study costs, rising to CHF 13,500 a semester from autumn semester 2027. Students starting in autumn 2027 fall under the new figure.
• The award runs for the regular length of the master's, which ETH says is three or four semesters.
• Mentoring and access to the ETH Foundation's network.

ETH expects to award about 60 scholarships for 2027-28, and says the exact number depends on the funds available. That is a small number across every master's programme, so apply knowing it is very competitive.

ESOP does not mention flights, visa costs or health insurance, and Switzerland is expensive. Use our cost calculator to see what a semester costs in Zurich before you compare offers.

Who can apply

ETH sets a short list of conditions:

• You are applying for a master's at ETH Zurich for autumn 2027. If you are already enrolled in an ETH master's, or already hold a master's degree, you are not eligible. So MS and MPhil graduates from Pakistan cannot use ESOP.
• A very good bachelor's result. ETH describes this as being in the top 10% of your programme, graded "A". It is based on your own assessment, so be honest; you will be compared with strong applicants from around the world.
• Nationality. The ESOP page sets no nationality rule, so applicants with a Pakistani bachelor's can apply on the same terms as everyone else.

Separately, your master's application has to clear ETH's normal admission bar. ETH's minimum grade page does not list Pakistan, and for countries not on its list it expects applicants to be among the best of their cohort. Our grade converter can give you a rough idea of where your CGPA sits, but ETH's assessment is what counts.

What you upload

ESOP adds two things to the normal master's documents.

1. A master's thesis pre-proposal. ETH's pre-proposal guidelines ask for your current idea for a master's thesis in no more than 500 words (references not counted), on a separate sheet. The structure is optional, but ETH suggests a title, introduction, objectives, methods, background or prior work, a timetable and references. The thesis must be doable in four to six months, depending on your programme. You must write it yourself and cite properly; ETH says any plagiarism disqualifies the scholarship application. You do not need a confirmed supervisor at this stage. Our research proposal template helps with structure, but keep to ETH's 500 words.

2. Two professors as referees. ETH's reference letter guidelines say both referees must be professors by title and position at a university, and must know you personally. You enter their email addresses in eApply, the system invites them to upload, and it is your job to make sure both letters arrive. Each letter must be on the university's letterhead and signed. ETH warns that letters not meeting these rules can lead to rejection.

Ask your professors now, not in the last week of November. Our email for requesting a recommendation gives you a polite first message, and our guide to getting strong recommendation letters explains what to send them.

The normal master's documents

ETH's how to apply page lists official transcripts from every university you attended, a valid language certificate, and, depending on the programme, a CV, motivation letter, recommendation letters, a portfolio or a GRE score. Each programme's own page says which it needs.

English test, application fee and other costs

English. ETH accepts TOEFL, IELTS, C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency, and says other certificates are not accepted. TOEFL, IELTS and C1 Advanced results must be no more than two years old. The required level is set by each master's programme. ETH exempts applicants whose bachelor's was taught entirely in English, but the confirmation must come from the university's central administration, such as the registrar, not from a teacher. ETH says an invalid or missing language certificate means the application is not evaluated, and recommends taking a test if in doubt. Our IELTS, TOEFL and Duolingo guide explains test options in Pakistan; note that Duolingo is not on ETH's list.

Application fee. ETH charges CHF 150 per master's programme, paid by Visa or MasterCard (or PostFinance card) when you submit. ETH says the fee is non-refundable and cannot be waived, and warns that some banks reject cards from certain countries. Check with your bank that your card works for international online payments before 30 November.

No agents. You apply yourself through eApply. Nobody can apply on your behalf or improve your chances for a fee.

Common questions

Is there an ETH Zurich scholarship for bachelor's or PhD students?

ESOP is for master's students only. ETH's scholarships overview lists its other awards. For a PhD in Switzerland, the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are the main government route; read our guide to the 2027-28 round, which closes on 31 October 2026.

Can I apply to two programmes?

ETH says you may apply for two different master's programmes per semester, paying the CHF 150 fee for each.

When will I hear back?

ETH says master's admission decisions normally come within two to three months of the deadline, and ESOP results at the end of March. Make sure the phone number on your CV works in February, as selection may include an interview.

Your next step

This week, pick your ETH programme, check its English and document rules, and email your two professors. Draft your 500-word pre-proposal by mid-November so you have time to revise it. Then submit in eApply well before 3:59 p.m. Pakistan time on 30 November 2026.

Our scholarships in Switzerland page lists other Swiss options. Dates and rules can change, so always confirm on ETH Zurich's ESOP page before you apply.