What the funding covers
- CHF 10,000 a semester for up to four semesters: the semesters of coursework plus the semester of your master's project.
- That is more than EPFL's semester invoice of CHF 2,240 for students who pay the tripled international fee, so the rest goes towards living costs.
What you will still pay
| Cost | Who pays |
|---|---|
| Tuition: CHF 2,190 a semester, invoiced as CHF 2,240 with other fees, for students who moved to Switzerland to study | You, out of the fellowship if you win one |
| Application fee: CHF 150 with a foreign bachelor's degree | You |
| Fellowship: CHF 10,000 a semester for up to four semesters | EPFL |
| Living costs in Lausanne | You, beyond what the fellowship leaves after tuition |
Who can apply
- Anyone applying to an EPFL master's programme; the fellowship pages set no nationality condition.
- Not open to applicants who already hold a master's degree or are enrolled in an EPFL master's.
- You may apply to only one EPFL master's programme a year.
- Awards are based on academic excellence, qualifications and motivation. EPFL's sections screen candidates first, then the Excellence Fellowships Committee decides.
Which nationalities can apply
Every nationality can apply.
Documents you will need
- Your CV.
- Copies of your university degrees, if you already have them, and complete transcripts from every university you attended.
- A statement of purpose of up to 1,000 words on your academic background and career plans.
- Contact details for three academic referees, who upload their letters themselves.
- A valid identity card or passport. TOEFL or GRE scores, publications and portfolios are optional, but architecture applicants need a portfolio and 12 months of professional experience.
How to apply
- Apply online for your EPFL master's in the first window, from mid-November to 15 December, and pay the CHF 150 application fee for a foreign bachelor's degree.
- Make sure the application is paid for and validated by 15 December: later applications, including those in the second window to 31 March, are not considered for the fellowship.
- Your three academic referees upload their letters themselves, within one week of the deadline.
- Selected candidates are notified in late March.
Before you apply: things to know
- The fellowship cannot be combined with other substantial scholarships, and you must declare every scholarship you hold.
- Since autumn 2025 EPFL charges students who move to Switzerland to study a tripled fee of CHF 2,190 a semester; only earlier residence in Switzerland for work, family reunification or refugee protection avoids it.
- EPFL does not publish how many fellowships it awards.
Common questions
How much is the EPFL Excellence Fellowship?
CHF 10,000 a semester for up to four semesters, so up to CHF 40,000 over a master's. EPFL's tuition for most international students is CHF 2,190 a semester, so the fellowship more than covers it.
When is the EPFL fellowship deadline?
Your master's application must be paid for and validated by 15 December, in the first application window, which opens in mid-November. Applications in the second window, to 31 March, are not considered for the fellowship. Reference letters are due a week after the deadline.
Can I combine it with another scholarship?
No. The fellowship cannot be combined with other substantial scholarships, and you must declare all the scholarships you hold.