ETH Zurich ESOP Scholarship for Pakistani Students: CHF 13,500 a Semester, Apply 1 to 30 November 2026
ETH Zurich's ESOP pays a tuition waiver and CHF 13,500 a semester to about 60 master's students. Pakistanis can apply from 1 to 30 November 2026. See the rules.
Short answer: ETH Zurich's Excellence Scholarship and Opportunity Programme (ESOP) pays a full tuition waiver plus CHF 13,500 a semester to about 60 master's students starting in autumn 2027. Pakistani students can apply. The only window is 1 to 30 November 2026, through ETH's eApply master's application, and you need a bachelor's result in the top 10 per cent of your class.
ETH Zurich is Switzerland's federal technology university. We read the ESOP page on ETH's own website on 20 October 2026. This ETH Zurich scholarship is for a master's degree only, and it is one of the few in Europe that covers both fees and living costs for a full programme. The window is short, so the work has to start now.
ESOP covers tuition and CHF 13,500 a semester
ESOP gives a scholarship for living and study costs plus a tuition fee waiver. ETH lists the amount as CHF 12,000 a semester, rising to CHF 13,500 from the autumn 2027 semester, which is when this round starts. That is CHF 27,000 a year.
The award runs for the regular length of the master's programme, three or four semesters. The fee waiver lasts as long. ETH also offers ESOP holders mentoring and a network through the ETH Foundation. ETH says the scholarship "covers the full study and living costs" of the master's.
| ESOP detail | What ETH's page says |
|---|---|
| Scholarship | CHF 12,000 a semester, CHF 13,500 from autumn 2027 |
| Tuition | Full fee waiver |
| Length | Regular master's length, three or four semesters |
| Awards for 2027/28 | About 60 |
| Application window | 1 to 30 November 2026, 11.59 CET |
| Possible interview | Phone or video call in February 2027 |
| Decision | By the end of March 2027 |
You need a top 10 per cent bachelor's result
ETH asks for a very good bachelor's result, which it defines as the top 10 per cent of your bachelor's programme, or grade A. This is based on your own self-assessment. Anyone already in an ETH master's, or who already holds a master's degree, cannot apply.
That last rule matters in Pakistan. Many graduates do an MS or MPhil at home before looking abroad. If you already hold a master's degree, you are out. If you are in your final bachelor's year, you can apply now with your transcript so far.
Admission itself is separate and strict. ETH says it looks favourably on candidates from top ranked universities, and it judges your grades, your background in the subject, test scores where a programme asks for them, your motivation letter and your references. Each programme has its own requirement profile. Read yours before you start.
Apply inside the master's application, 1 to 30 November 2026
There is no separate ESOP form. You apply for the scholarship inside your master's application on ETH's eApply system, in the first window, 1 to 30 November 2026. ETH sets the cut-off at 11.59 Central European Time on 30 November.
Central European Time is four hours behind Pakistan in winter. So the window closes around 3:59 am on 1 December in Pakistan. Do not cut it that fine. Aim to submit by 29 November.
- Pick one ETH master's programme and read its requirement profile.
- Write a pre-proposal for your master's thesis, in your own words, following ETH's guidelines.
- Ask two professors to act as referees, if your programme does not already ask for references.
- Open eApply between 1 and 30 November 2026 and fill the master's application.
- Apply for ESOP within that same application and upload the pre-proposal.
- Keep the phone number on your CV working in February 2027.
The thesis pre-proposal is where most applicants stand out
ESOP asks for a pre-proposal for your master's thesis that you write yourself, with proper citations. ETH warns that plagiarism or false information means exclusion from admission, or losing the scholarship later if found after the award.
Take that warning seriously. Do not pay a consultant to write it, and do not lean on AI text you cannot defend in an interview. A clear, honest idea linked to a real research group at ETH reads better than polished filler. If your referees are abroad or slow, ask them now. ETH emails each referee to upload the letter after you name them.
Interviews come in February and decisions by the end of March
Admissions committees of each master's programme assess ESOP applications. Some candidates get a phone or video interview in February. The Rector of ETH Zurich makes the final decision, and results are sent by the end of March 2027.
About 60 scholarships are planned for 2027/28, though ETH says the exact number depends on funds. If you do not win ESOP, you may still be admitted and have to pay your own way. For research posts after a master's, the separate Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship is the next one to look at.
Before you pay any agent to "process" an ETH application, read our note on choosing a study abroad agent safely. ESOP has no agent route. You apply yourself on ETH's site.
Common questions
Can Pakistani students apply for the ETH Zurich ESOP scholarship?
Yes. ETH's ESOP page sets no nationality limit, so a Pakistani applicant who meets the grade and degree rules can apply.
What is the ESOP deadline for 2027?
The application window is 1 to 30 November 2026, closing at 11.59 Central European Time on 30 November.
How much does ESOP pay?
CHF 13,500 a semester from autumn 2027, plus a full tuition fee waiver, for three or four semesters.
Can I apply if I already have an MS or MPhil?
No. ETH says applicants who already hold a master's degree are not eligible for ESOP.
Is there a separate ESOP form?
No. You apply inside your master's application on eApply, with a thesis pre-proposal.
When will I hear back?
By the end of March 2027. Some applicants get a phone or video interview in February first.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked 20 October 2026. Every amount, rule and date comes from the Excellence Scholarship and Opportunity Programme page on ETH Zurich's website and its admissions guidance on the Master application page, both read on 20 October 2026. The yearly total and the Pakistan time of the cut-off are our own arithmetic. We could not confirm the master's application fee or the tuition amount being waived, which ETH lists on separate pages we did not read in full.
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.
