EPFL Master Excellence Fellowships 2026

Who can apply

Beginning a Master's programme at EPFL, whether your Bachelor's was earned at EPFL or at another institution
Remarkable academic results, plus distinction in extracurricular activities such as research (publications, prizes, fellowships), entrepreneurship (patents, start-up creation), or societal commitment (civic or associative activities, event organisation)
External candidates (Bachelor's from abroad): apply via EPFL's online Master's application, checking the box for excellence-fellowship consideration; no additional documents beyond standard admission requirements
Internal candidates staying in the same field: apply directly to your EPFL section with a CV, motivation letter, EPFL transcript, and two recommendation letters sent directly by referees; internal candidates changing field use the online Master's application route instead
Not eligible if you already hold a Master's degree or are already enrolled in an EPFL Master's programme

The name promises more than the terms actually deliver

Read the coverage terms precisely, because this fellowship’s name promises more than its terms deliver. EPFL’s own page states plainly that “students are responsible for managing all living expenses, including tuition fees and rent.” Despite being called an “excellence fellowship” with a meaningful CHF 10,000-per-semester value, it is not a scholarship that pays your fees or your rent, it is cash intended to free you up to choose internships and early work experience based on your interests rather than financial necessity, on top of costs you’re still covering yourself.

Three application routes, and using the wrong one likely costs you the fellowship

There are effectively three separate application routes depending on your situation, and using the wrong one will likely cost you the fellowship even if your academic record is strong enough. External candidates apply through the standard Master’s application with a box ticked for consideration. Internal EPFL students staying in the same field apply directly to their section with a distinct set of documents, CV, motivation letter, EPFL transcript, and two recommendation letters, bypassing the general application system entirely. Internal students changing field follow the external-candidate route instead. Confirm which category you fall into before you start.

Two to three semesters covered, not the whole degree

The fellowship doesn’t cover your full Master’s degree even in years it does apply. It funds two to three semesters of coursework depending on your programme’s length, plus a separate semester specifically for the Master’s project, rather than every semester you’re enrolled. Budget your non-fellowship semesters as if the money isn’t there.

Philanthropically funded, with named donors behind it

This fellowship isn’t funded from EPFL’s general budget; it sits inside the “Attract Talent” pillar of the School’s own Student Support Program, a philanthropic initiative, with specific named donors behind it, including the Basil Panzer Trust, the Fondation Léonard Gianadda, Novartis, Incyte, Squarepoint Foundation, and several individual and corporate donors alongside others who remain anonymous. EPFL runs 29 Master’s programmes across five faculties and two colleges, and this fellowship is open to incoming students across all of them, not limited to a specific field.

The exclusivity rule, if you’re weighing another scholarship too

If you’re already receiving another substantial scholarship, check the exclusivity rule before you count on stacking funding. EPFL states this fellowship cannot be combined with other substantial scholarships, so it’s a choice between funding sources in many cases, not an addition to what you already have. If you’re weighing EPFL against Switzerland’s other major technical university, the Excellence Scholarship Opportunity Programme (ESOP) at ETH Zurich runs on a comparable premise, worth checking alongside this one.

EPFL Master Excellence Fellowships