EPFL Excellence Fellowship for Pakistani Students: CHF 10,000 a Semester, Apply by 15 December 2026
EPFL's Master Excellence Fellowship pays CHF 10,000 a semester for up to 4 semesters. Pakistanis can apply by 15 December 2026. See what it does not cover.
Short answer: EPFL, the Swiss federal technology institute in Lausanne, pays its Master Excellence Fellowship at CHF 10,000 a semester for up to four semesters, with guaranteed housing. Pakistani graduates can apply. Tick the fellowship box in your EPFL master's application and pay and validate it by 15 December 2026. Tuition and rent are still yours to pay.
We read EPFL's fellowship page, its "Application and deadlines" page and its FAQ on 20 October 2026. EPFL flags 15 December as a "new deadline for the 2027 EPFL Master Excellence Fellowship". The EPFL scholarship is not a full ride like some others, so read the money section before you plan on it.
The fellowship pays CHF 10,000 a semester for up to four semesters
EPFL pays CHF 10,000 a semester, up to four semesters, which is CHF 40,000 across a full master's. It covers two or three teaching semesters plus one semester for the master's project. EPFL also offers guaranteed housing to fellows.
The fellowship is not a tuition waiver. EPFL says students "are responsible for managing all living expenses, including tuition fees and rent". Money is paid at the start of each semester into a Swiss bank or postal account you open on arrival. EPFL advises having enough for your first month, as the first payment can take time.
| Fellowship detail | What EPFL's pages say |
|---|---|
| Amount | CHF 10,000 a semester |
| Length | Up to 4 semesters, including 1 for the project |
| Housing | Guaranteed, rent paid by you |
| Tuition | Not covered |
| Deadline for foreign degrees | Paid and validated by 15 December 2026 |
| Reference letters | Uploaded within a week after the deadline |
| Renewal for year two | 50 ECTS credits and a 5.0 out of 6 average |
Anyone applying to an EPFL master's can be considered
EPFL says anyone applying to one of its master's programmes is eligible, and its FAQ confirms international students can apply. You cannot apply if you already hold a master's degree. You may apply to only one master's programme a year.
So a Pakistani with a completed MS or MPhil is out, the same rule ETH Zurich uses. A final year bachelor's student is in. EPFL sets no minimum GPA for the fellowship, but says "only a small percentage of applicants" win it. It also looks at research, start-ups, patents and civic work, not just grades.
TOEFL and GRE scores are "welcome but not compulsory" for the fellowship, the FAQ says, and do not change the evaluation. Your master's programme may still have its own language rules, so check the programme page. If it asks for a test, budget for the IELTS fee in Pakistan early.
Tick the fellowship box and pay by 15 December 2026
There is no separate fellowship form for applicants with foreign degrees. You apply through EPFL's online master's application and tick the box asking to be considered for an excellence fellowship. The application must be paid for and validated by 15 December 2026.
Applications validated after 15 December are still reviewed for admission but not for the fellowship. EPFL's page does not say a time of day, so treat 14 December in Pakistan as your real deadline. Pay early, so a failed card payment does not cost you the fellowship.
- Choose one EPFL master's programme and check its admission rules.
- Prepare your CV, transcripts and motivation letter.
- Line up two referees who can upload letters quickly.
- Fill EPFL's online master's application and tick the excellence fellowship box.
- Pay the application fee and validate the application by 15 December 2026.
- Make sure reference letters are uploaded within one week after the deadline.
EPFL's own pages differ on results and other scholarships
EPFL's pages give two answers on when results come. The application page says selected candidates hear in late March. The FAQ says early April for the first round and early to mid-June for a second round. Expect news between late March and June 2027.
They also differ on combining awards. The application page says the fellowship "cannot be combined with other substantial scholarships". The FAQ says extra funding may be allowed and each case is reviewed. Either way, you must declare every scholarship you hold. If you also apply for ETH Zurich's ESOP scholarship, be ready to choose.
Keep a 5.0 average or lose year two
The fellowship renews for the second year only if you earn at least 50 ECTS credits and keep an overall average of 5.0 out of 6. Deferring your admission also cancels the award, though you can reapply the next year.
On the plus side, you can work in Switzerland without any cut to the fellowship, the FAQ says. Payments pause during illness, approved leave or service, and restart when you return. If you transfer programmes, the fellowship may not continue. For postdoctoral or research study after the master's, look at the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship.
Common questions
Can Pakistani students apply for the EPFL Excellence Fellowship?
Yes. EPFL's FAQ says international students can apply, as long as they meet the master's admission rules.
What is the EPFL fellowship deadline for 2027?
15 December 2026 for applicants with a bachelor's from outside EPFL. The application must be paid and validated by then.
Does the EPFL fellowship cover tuition?
No. It pays CHF 10,000 a semester, and EPFL says students pay their own tuition fees and rent.
Is there a minimum GPA?
No minimum for applying, but renewal for year two needs a 5.0 out of 6 average and 50 ECTS credits.
Do I need IELTS, TOEFL or GRE for the fellowship?
Not for the fellowship itself. EPFL calls them welcome but not compulsory. Check your programme's own rules.
When are winners told?
Late March on one EPFL page, early April and mid-June on another. Watch your email from March 2027.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked 20 October 2026. The amount, length, housing, renewal rule, eligibility and deadline come from EPFL's Master excellence fellowships page, its application and deadlines page and its FAQ, all read on 20 October 2026. The CHF 40,000 total is our arithmetic. EPFL's pages disagree on the results date and on combining scholarships, and we report both. We could not read EPFL's application fee or tuition amount on these pages.
About the author
Global Affairs & Political Economy Writer
Muhammad Hatim is a book lover who started writing because he enjoys it. At Pakistan Era he writes about international relations, geopolitics and the global economy, with a particular interest in South Asia and the forces behind current events.
