Applications are being received for the EPFL Master Excellence Fellowships. EPFL offers a limited number of excellence fellowships, along with guaranteed housing, to candidates beginning master’s studies who have remarkable academic results and distinguish themselves in extracurricular activities, whether sporting, artistic, civic, or entrepreneurial. The fellowship is worth CHF 10,000 per semester. Selection is competitive.
The fellowship is open to students who earned a bachelor’s degree at EPFL and to those who began university studies at another institution. It gives recipients room to concentrate on master’s studies and choose internships and early work experiences according to scientific interest and ambition, not just financial need. The award also includes reservation of a student room in a student residence for external candidates and a certificate of excellence upon completion.
Applicants must submit within the first application window for a master’s program. For applications submitted via IS-Academia, the deadline is December 15. EPFL students applying for a consecutive master’s degree have until January 31. Only applications paid for and validated by December 15 will be considered for the Excellence Fellowship. Reference letters must be uploaded one week after the application deadline. The exact date appears in the confirmation email you receive once your application is validated.
Program Details
- Host Institution: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland.
- Eligible programs: 29 Master’s programs across five faculties and two colleges. See the full list below.
- Number of awards: Not specified. A limited number are awarded to the most deserving candidates.
- Duration: Maximum 4 semesters. Coverage runs two to three semesters of the Master’s cycle, depending on program duration, plus one semester for the Master’s project.
- Target group: Open to anyone applying to an EPFL master’s program, except candidates who already hold a master’s degree or are currently enrolled in a master’s program at EPFL.
Also Check : Belgium Government Scholarship (ARES), 2027-2028
EPFL Master Excellence Fellowship Benefits
Winners of this university scholarship will have the following benefits:
- CHF 10,000 per semester, with a maximum coverage of 4 semesters.
- Reservation of a student room in a student residence for external candidates only.
- A certificate of excellence at the end of the master’s program.
Fellowship holders are responsible for managing all living expenses, including tuition fees and rent. Payments go into a Swiss bank or postal account. Fellowship holders should open their own Swiss bank or postal account upon arrival in Switzerland. The first payment may take time to process, so recipients should bring sufficient funds to cover their first month’s expenses.
The fellowship cannot be combined with other substantial scholarships. Candidates must declare all scholarships received during their master’s program. Each case is reviewed individually.
Renewal and payment for a second year of studies depend on excellent academic performance. At the end of the first year, the fellowship is renewed if the holder has reached at least an average of 5.0 on a 6-point scale and earned at least 50 credits for branches other than the internship. Credits for language courses, admission courses, or courses outside the study plan do not count. There are no exceptions for students who do not reach the required average or number of credits.
Eligible Programs for the EPFL Master Excellence Fellowship
Below is a list of master’s degree programs at the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne.
- School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- School of Engineering
- School of Computer and Communication Sciences
- School of Basic Sciences
- School of Life Sciences: Life Sciences Engineering
- College of Management of Technology
- College of Humanities: Digital Humanities
- Cross-School Master’s programs
Other Opportunities
EPFL Master Excellence Fellowship Eligibility
Anyone applying to an EPFL master’s program is eligible. EPFL grants a limited number of fellowships to the most deserving candidates based on academic excellence, qualifications, and motivation. There is no minimal GPA score, but the program is very competitive, and only a small percentage of applicants are awarded the fellowship. For renewal in the second year, students need to maintain a GPA of at least 5.0 on a 6-point scale.
Candidates who already hold a Master’s degree or are currently enrolled in a Master’s program at EPFL are not eligible. Each student may apply for only one Master’s program per year. The scholarship application must be submitted at the same time as the Master’s application. It is not possible to apply for the second year only. If you defer or postpone admission, you lose the scholarship. You may reapply the following year through the standard application process.
Extra documents, such as TOEFL or GRE scores, are welcome but not compulsory and have no influence on evaluation for the MSc Excellence Scholarship.
How to Apply for the EPFL Master Excellence Fellowship
To apply for this Europe scholarship, external candidates with a Bachelor’s degree from a university abroad should apply for a Master’s program via EPFL’s Master online application form. Check the box indicating that your profile should also be considered for an excellence fellowship. No additional documents are needed beyond those required for admission.
Deadline: December 15. Only applications paid for and validated by December 15 will be considered for the Excellence Fellowship. Reference letters must be uploaded one week after the application deadline. Applications paid for and validated after December 15 will be reviewed as part of the Master’s admission process but will not be eligible for the Excellence Fellowship.
EPFL students applying for a consecutive Master’s degree in the same field of study should submit the application directly to the section, with a copy to the fellowship office. No need to apply via IS-Academia. Documents: CV, motivation letter, transcript of all grades earned at EPFL, and two recommendation letters from professors familiar with your work. These must be submitted directly by the referees. Deadline: January 31 for application and recommendation letters.
For the general application route, use EPFL’s Master online application form. Check the fellowship box. Documents: the same documents required for admission, plus two recommendation letters from professors familiar with your work and achievements. These must be submitted directly by the referees. Deadlines: December 15 for the application. Deadline for completing the recommendation letters: January 31.
Required Documents for Admission
- Your resume or curriculum vitae.
- Copy of your university degree or degrees, if already available.
- Complete transcripts from each university you have attended.
- Your identity card or passport.
- A statement of purpose. It should not exceed 1000 words. Describe your academic background and your career strategy. Be precise about the objectives you wish to reach through your studies at EPFL.
- The contact details of three academic referees, who will each be asked to produce a recommendation letter for you. This does not apply to holders of an EPFL Bachelor’s degree, or those who hold a Bachelor’s degree from ETH Zürich or a Swiss university or FHS/HES and are applying for a Master’s program in the same field of study.
- For Architecture: a work portfolio is also required and must be uploaded to a dedicated web server. You will receive access details by email after you have completed and paid for the online application. Candidates for Architecture must also have twelve months of professional experience. Upload work certificates in the online application form if already available.
Note: Extra documents, such as TOEFL or GRE scores, research publications, or other portfolios of your previous work, are welcome but not compulsory. Only documents uploaded to your online application form will be considered. All documents should be in English, French, German, or Italian. Include a legalized translation of all documents in other languages. There is a fee you need to pay to EPFL for your application processing.
Renewal and Conditions
The fellowship covers two to three semesters of the Master’s cycle, depending on program duration, plus one semester for the Master’s project. For a 120 credit MSc program, the first 3 semesters of the Master’s cycle plus 1 additional semester for the Master’s project are covered. For a 90 credit program, the maximum is 3 semesters. In a double degree, the fellowship covers only the semesters spent at EPFL, if renewal requirements are met. For the final instalment, students must provide proof of official enrolment in their Master’s project.
The fellowship can be suspended in specific situations. These include sickness or pregnancy, military or civil service for Swiss citizens, personal reasons, or an extended Master’s cycle. Payments resume upon return if renewal requirements are met. The scholarship covers a maximum of 4 semesters, including 1 semester for the MSc project. Working in Switzerland does not affect the amount or continuation of the Excellence Fellowship. Additional funding may be allowed, but applicants must declare any scholarships they have already received or expect to receive.
For further information on the MSc Excellence Fellowship Program, contact EPFL Student Services. For course related questions, contact your program deputies or secretaries. For inability to study, email the relevant EPFL office. For Excellence Fellowship questions, use the contact listed on the official EPFL master’s fellowship page.
The next application deadline is for applications submitted via IS-Academia. EPFL students applying for a consecutive Master’s degree have until . Please visit the official page for more details on the EPFL Master Excellence Fellowship.
Hello i am hamet sara coulibaly i would like to join your master programme thank you