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Switzerland · Masters · Merit

EPFLUniversity

EPFL Excellence Fellowships 2027

CHF 10,000 per semester for remarkable master’s students — awarded automatically with your admission application.

51 days to go Open Updated 16 Oct 2026 By EPFL
Award
CHF 10,000/semesterUp to 4 semesters
Who can apply
Master's applicantsAny nationality
Open to
WorldwideRoughly 3% of master’s students
Deadline
15 Dec 2026Via the master’s application
Host
Lausanne, SwitzerlandNo separate form

About the fellowship

The EPFL Master Excellence Fellowships reward candidates with remarkable academic records who are beginning a master's at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, one of Europe's leading science and technology institutions. Selection is file-based: besides grades, the committee weighs research output, entrepreneurial activity and civic or societal commitment. Only a small share of master's students — roughly 3% — receive one, so the fellowship is a genuine distinction.

Eligibility

  • Applying to an EPFL master's programme (open to any nationality).
  • Hold a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in a related field from a recognised university.
  • Not already enrolled in an EPFL master's programme.

Benefits

  • CHF 10,000 per semester, for up to 4 semesters (3 for 90-credit programmes).
  • Reserved student room for “external” students joining EPFL from elsewhere.
  • Certificate of Excellence on successful completion of the master's.
  • Important limit: the fellowship does not cover tuition fees or rent — recipients remain responsible for those costs themselves.

Documents required

  1. Completed online master's application form
  2. CV, academic transcripts and bachelor's/diploma certificate
  3. Identity document or passport
  4. Statement of purpose (maximum 1,000 words)
  5. Three referee details — referees upload their letters themselves; at least two letters are needed for the file to be processed

How to apply

  1. Choose your EPFL master's programme and assemble the admission file.
  2. Complete the online master's application via IS-Academia.
  3. Tick the Excellence Fellowship consideration box on the form — there is no separate fellowship application.
  4. Make sure your referees submit their letters (their deadline falls one week after the application deadline).
  5. Validate and pay before 15 December 2026 — the later 31 March 2027 admission deadline does not qualify for the fellowship.

FAQs

Is there a separate fellowship form?

No — fellowship consideration is a checkbox inside the standard master’s application.

Is there an interview?

No — selection is entirely file-based.

Is there a minimum GPA?

None is published, but the fellowship is very competitive and only a small fraction of applicants succeed.

Can the fellowship be renewed for the second year?

Yes, provided you earn at least 50 ECTS credits with an overall average of 5.0/6. No extensions beyond the standard programme length are possible.

Verified 20 Oct 2026 against the official EPFL page (deadline 15 Dec 2026 via IS-Academia; CHF 10,000/semester; no separate application; renewal needs 50 ECTS and a 5.0/6 average; about 3% of master’s students), with background from DAADScholarship and Scholarship Helpdesk.

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