Scholarships

Finding an ETH supervisor to apply for ETH4D programmes

Please note: The ETH4D Doctoral Mentorship Programme, Student Project Fellowship, and E4D Doctoral Scholarship require a a host/supervisor at ETH at the time of application. Students are responsible for securing a suitable host/supervisor before applying to any of these programs together with the ETH host/supervisor. This page provides advice for contacting potential supervisors via email, but the decision about whether to host depends on the discretion and availability of the professor.

E4D Doctoral Scholarship Programme

The Engineering for Development (E4D) doctoral scholarships promote doctoral research for the benefit of underprivileged people in low-​income countries. Find out more about E4D. 

Who can apply? Applicants should be citizens of least-developed, low-, and lower-middle-income countries according to the Oexternal page ECD DAC-2024-2025 list. Applications from least-developed and lower-income countries will be prioritized. The E4D Doctoral Scholarship requires a host/supervisor at ETH at the time of application, who provides a support letter for the application. Students are responsible for securing a suitable host/supervisor before applying. This page provides advice for contacting potential supervisors via email, but the decision about whether to host depends on the discretion and availability of the professor.

ETH4D Doctoral Mentorship Programme

The mentorship entails remote support of doctoral students in low- and lower-middle-income countries as well as a research stay of 1-3 months at ETH Zurich. Find more information on the Doctoral Mentorship Programme here. 

Who can apply? Doctoral students who are registered at a university or research institute in a least-developed, low- and lower-middle-income country according to the external page OECD/DAC 2024-2025 list. The ETH4D Doctoral Mentorship Programme requires a host/supervisor at ETH at the time of application, who provides a support letter for the application. Students are responsible for securing a suitable host/supervisor before applying. This page provides advice for contacting potential supervisors via email, but the decision about whether to host depends on the discretion and availability of the professor.

ETH4D Student Project Fellowship

The ETH4D Visiting Student Grant provides ETH professors funding to invite a Master student from a low- or middle-income country to ETH Zurich for a research stay of 3-6 months. Visiting students have the opportunity to learn new methodologies, build their networks, and develop their research projects in a new academic setting. Find more information on the ETH4D Student Project Fellowship here.

Who can apply? The invited student must be registered as a Masters (MA/MSc) student in their home institution. ETH Professors can invite a Masters student who is registered at a university or research institute in a country listed in the external page OECD/DAC list. Preference will be given to students from least developed, low- and lower-middle income countries. The Student Project Fellowship requires a a host/supervisor at ETH at the time of application. Students are responsible for securing a suitable host/supervisor before applying. This page provides advice for contacting potential supervisors via email, but the decision about whether to host depends on the discretion and availability of the professor.

The application is submitted by the ETH host professor.

Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme

The Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP) supports students with a scholarship, mentorship and a network of the ETH Foundation. The scholarship covers the full study and living costs during the Master’s degree course. Find out more about ESOP.

Who can apply? Students with a very good result in Bachelor’s degree programme (top 10% of Bachelor’s degree programme = grade A). If you are already enrolled in a Master's degree programme at ETH Zurich or hold a Master degree, you are not eligible for these scholarships.

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Sudents

The Swiss Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS) awards scholarships for postgraduate studies to foreign students with a university degree. Find more information on FCS here.

Who can apply? Foreign researchers with a Master's degree