EPFL Master's Excellence Fellowships 2027–2028 in Switzerland

Certificate of excellence

Recipients receive a certificate of excellence upon completion of their Master's programme.

Academic and professional development

The financial support is intended to give recipients more room to concentrate on their studies while pursuing activities that strengthen their academic and professional profiles. EPFL specifically recognises achievements in research, entrepreneurship and societal engagement as part of its assessment of outstanding candidates.

2. How much funding can a student receive?

The amount depends on the structure of the Master's programme.

• CHF 10,000 per semester.
• Up to four semesters for eligible 120-credit programmes, subject to the applicable renewal conditions.
• Up to three semesters for 90-credit programmes.
• Funding for a double-degree programme applies only to the semesters spent at EPFL, subject to the relevant conditions.

For a student receiving the maximum four-semester award, the potential total is CHF 40,000.

The fellowship is paid at the beginning of each semester into a Swiss bank or postal account. Recipients should arrange to open an eligible account after arriving in Switzerland.

It is important to budget for the initial period before the first payment arrives. EPFL advises recipients to bring enough money to cover their first month's expenses because the initial payment may take some time to process.

3. Who is eligible to apply?

The fellowship is open to applicants from all nationalities. International students, including applicants from African countries, are eligible to apply.

The main requirements include:

• Applicants must be applying for an EPFL Master's programme.
• They must demonstrate an outstanding academic profile and strong motivation.
• They must satisfy the admission requirements of their selected Master's programme.
• They must apply for only one Master's programme during the academic year.
• They must not already hold a Master's degree.
• They must not already be enrolled in a Master's programme at EPFL.

There is no fixed minimum GPA specifically for the Excellence Fellowship. However, EPFL describes the award as highly competitive and selects only a limited number of candidates.

Applicants should therefore distinguish between meeting the basic admission requirements and having a sufficiently strong profile to receive the fellowship.

4. What academic programmes are covered?

EPFL offers 29 Master's programmes across several scientific and technological disciplines.

Depending on the admission requirements of the individual programme, applicants may consider areas such as:

• Computer Science
• Data Science
• Cyber Security
• Electrical and Electronic Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Environmental Sciences and Engineering
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Materials Science and Engineering
• Life Sciences Engineering
• Bioengineering
• Architecture
• Robotics and related engineering disciplines

The exact list of programmes and their admission requirements should be checked in EPFL's official Master's programme catalogue.

Applicants should choose their programme based on their previous academic training. A strong academic record in an unrelated discipline does not automatically qualify someone for admission to every Master's programme.

5. How are fellowship recipients selected?

The Excellence Fellowship is merit-based. EPFL considers academic performance alongside other achievements that demonstrate the applicant's potential.

The university specifically identifies the following areas as relevant:

Academic excellence: Strong academic results and evidence that the applicant can succeed in a demanding graduate programme.

Research experience: Publications, research projects, prizes and previous fellowships can strengthen an application.

Entrepreneurship: Experience developing a business, creating a start-up or contributing to patent applications may demonstrate initiative and problem-solving ability.

Societal engagement: Civic involvement, associations, community projects and organising activities or events can demonstrate contributions beyond academic work.

Applications are first screened by the relevant academic sections. The Excellence Fellowships Committee then makes the final fellowship awards.

This means that applicants should not rely on grades alone. EPFL also considers achievements that demonstrate initiative, creativity, research potential and broader engagement.

6. Documents required for the application

External applicants do not need to submit a separate set of documents specifically for the Excellence Fellowship. They must complete the normal Master's admission application and indicate that they wish to be considered for the fellowship.

The general Master's application requires:

1. Curriculum vitae (CV).
2. Copies of university degree certificates, if already available.
3. Complete academic transcripts from every university attended.
4. Statement of purpose.
5. Contact details of three academic referees, where required.
6. Valid identity card or international passport.

Applicants should also note the following:

• The statement of purpose must not exceed 1,000 words.
• The statement should explain the applicant's academic background, career strategy and specific objectives for studying at EPFL.
• Recommendation letters must be submitted directly by the referees through EPFL's online system.
• At least two recommendation letters must be received for applications that require them.
• Documents in languages other than English, French, German or Italian must be accompanied by a legalised translation.

TOEFL, GRE scores, research publications and portfolios of previous work may be included as additional documents, but EPFL states that these are not compulsory for the general Master's application.

Some programmes have additional requirements. For example, Architecture applicants must submit a work portfolio and meet the programme's professional-experience requirement.

7. Application fee

Applicants holding a Bachelor's degree from a university outside Switzerland are required to pay an application processing fee of CHF 150.

The published fee structure is:

• Foreign Bachelor's degree: CHF 150.
• Bachelor's degree from a Swiss university or university of applied sciences, excluding EPFL: CHF 50.
• Bachelor's degree from EPFL: CHF 0.

The fee is not refundable if an applicant withdraws or fails to validate the application.

This application fee is separate from the fellowship award. Receiving the fellowship does not mean applicants can ignore the application payment requirement.

8. How to apply

The fellowship application is integrated into EPFL's Master's admission application. External applicants do not need to submit an entirely separate scholarship application.

Follow these steps:

Step 1: Explore the available Master's programmes

Visit EPFL's official Master's programme catalogue and identify the programme that best matches your Bachelor's degree, academic background and future career plans.

Step 2: Review the admission requirements

Check the academic prerequisites and any additional conditions for your selected programme. Some programmes have specific subject requirements, so make sure your previous education provides the necessary foundation.

Step 3: Prepare your application documents

Prepare your CV, academic transcripts, degree certificates, statement of purpose and referee contact details. Contact your academic referees early so they have enough time to submit their recommendations.

Step 4: Complete the online Master's application

Apply through EPFL's official online application system. During the application process, select the option indicating that you want your profile to be considered for an Excellence Fellowship.

Step 5: Pay and validate the application

Applicants with foreign Bachelor's degrees must pay the CHF 150 processing fee. Make sure the complete application has been paid for and validated by 15 December 2026.

Merely creating an account or saving an incomplete application does not secure fellowship consideration.

Step 6: Ensure your referees submit their recommendations

The referees must upload their recommendation letters directly to EPFL. For external applicants, the letters are due one week after the Master's application deadline. The exact date is provided in the application confirmation email.

Step 7: Await the selection decision

The relevant academic section conducts an initial screening before the Excellence Fellowships Committee makes the final selection. Selected candidates are notified according to the university's published notification schedule.

9. Important deadlines and conditions

For the 2027–2028 intake, the main deadline for external applicants is:

15 December 2026

The application must be paid for and validated by this date to qualify for Excellence Fellowship consideration.

Recommendation letters must be uploaded one week after the application deadline. Applicants should check the exact date in their confirmation email.

EPFL students continuing into a consecutive Master's programme have a separate internal application deadline of 31 January. This is not the deadline for external applicants.

Applications submitted after 15 December may still be considered for Master's admission through the later application window, but they will not qualify for the Excellence Fellowship.

10. Can the fellowship be renewed?

The fellowship may continue into the second year, but renewal is not automatic.

At the end of the first year, recipients must:

• Achieve an overall weighted academic average of at least 5.0 out of 6.0.
• Earn at least 50 ECTS credits, excluding specified credits such as language courses, admission courses and courses outside the study plan.

EPFL states that there are no exceptions for students who fail to meet the required average or credit threshold.

Students should therefore understand that maintaining strong academic performance is essential to receiving the second-year payment.

11. Practical advice for applicants

Choose your Master's programme carefully.

EPFL allows only one Master's application per academic year. You cannot submit several applications to different programmes and later choose whichever one offers admission. Research the curriculum, prerequisites and career opportunities before selecting your programme.

Make your statement of purpose specific.

EPFL asks applicants to explain their academic background and career strategy in no more than 1,000 words. Avoid using the statement to repeat your CV. Instead, explain what you have studied, what you want to specialise in, why the selected programme is relevant and what you intend to achieve after graduation.

Give your referees sufficient notice.

Your academic referees must submit their recommendations themselves. Choose professors who know your academic work and can provide detailed examples of your ability, research skills and performance. Do not wait until the final day to enter their contact details.

Show evidence of achievement beyond grades.

If you have completed research projects, published academic papers, won awards, developed a technical project, participated in entrepreneurship or contributed to a community initiative, make sure your CV explains your actual contribution.

EPFL expressly considers research, entrepreneurship and societal engagement when evaluating outstanding applicants.

Plan your finances realistically.

CHF 10,000 per semester is substantial support, but it does not make the fellowship fully funded. Tuition fees, rent, food, insurance and other living expenses remain your responsibility. Research the likely cost of living in Lausanne and identify how you will cover the difference before accepting an offer.

Apply before the deadline.

Your application must be paid for and validated by 15 December 2026. Allow enough time for document preparation, payment and referee arrangements.