EPFL Excellence Fellowships 2026 in Switzerland | Study in Europe

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Switzerland offers top research schools and high life quality. The École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Lausanne leads in science and tech. For 2026-2027, the EPFL Excellence Fellowships help the best new Master’s students. Limited spots go to those with strong grades and extra activities.

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The fellowship gives CHF 10,000 per semester plus room help for outsiders. It is very hard to win – only about 3% of Master’s students get it. No big language test needed; English runs most programs.

From my years helping students apply to Swiss schools, EPFL looks at the full picture: grades, research, start-ups, sports, or community work. One applicant with good but not perfect GPA won because of strong research prizes. Another with top marks lost out without extras. Tools like Numbeo show Lausanne costs about CHF 2,000-2,500 per month. The fellowship covers part; plan for the rest.

Also apply for Human Frontier Science Program Postdoctoral Fellowships.

What Is the Fellowship?

EPFL gives limited fellowships to top new Master’s students. Open to all nationalities, including EPFL Bachelor’s grads or outsiders.

Key facts:

  • CHF 10,000 per semester (up to 4 semesters max).
  • Room reservation in student housing for external winners.
  • Excellence certificate at end.
  • Renewal needs good progress (50 ECTS credits, average 5.0/6 first year).
  • Cannot mix with other big scholarships – declare all.

Very competitive: sections screen first, then committee picks.

Lausanne sits by Lake Geneva. Modern campus with great views and labs.

Eligibility Criteria

You can apply if:

  • Starting first Master’s (no second ones).
  • Strong academic record.
  • Stand out in extras: research, entrepreneurship, sports, arts, civic work.
  • From any country.
  • Bachelor in related field.

No IELTS or TOEFL required – extra docs welcome but not needed.

Opinion: Holistic view helps diverse winners. Pure grades not enough; show impact.

Fellowship Benefits

Partial but strong support.

  • CHF 10,000 per semester (CHF 40,000 for 2-year program).
  • Guaranteed student room (external only).
  • Excellence certificate.
  • Networking in top research world.

Table: Coverage Example

ItemCovered by FellowshipYou Pay
StipendCHF 10,000/semester–
HousingReservationRent (CHF 600-900/month)
Tuition–CHF 820/semester
Living (food, etc)PartialRest (CHF 1,000+/month)

Helps a lot but not full ride. Recent no changes; amounts stable.

Programs You Can Pick

29 Master’s, most in English:

  • Computer Science
  • Data Science
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Life Sciences
  • Architecture
  • Physics
  • Mathematics
  • Cybersecurity
  • Energy

Full list on epfl.ch/education/master/programs.

Required Documents

For external (main way with fellowship):

  • Standard Master’s docs: transcripts, CV, motivation letter, 2 recommendations.
  • Tick fellowship box – no extra docs needed.

Internal (EPFL Bachelor): may need more; contact section.

How to Apply for EPFL Excellence Fellowships?

  1. Apply online for Master’s at epfl.ch/education/admission.
  2. Pick program.
  3. Upload docs.
  4. Tick “consider for excellence fellowship” box.
  5. Submit by deadline.

Deadlines for 2026 start:

  • Round 1: December 15 (early).
  • Round 2: March 31.

Decisions 2-3 months later.

Tip: Early round better for fellowship chances. Use strong motivation and recs.

Apply Now

Official Site

Why Study at EPFL?

World top for engineering/science. Cutting labs. 120+ nationalities. Links to industry/NGOs.

Lausanne lively, lake/mountains. Safe, good transport.

Contrarian: High costs and competition. But fellowship eases money; extras make you stand out. Better than pure merit scholarships elsewhere.

Other Funding Choices

Tools I Recommend

  • epfl.ch/education/master/master-excellence-fellowships – Official, complete.
  • epfl.ch/education/master/how-to-apply – Application guide, clear.
  • epfl.ch/education/master/programs – Programs list, filters good.
  • numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Lausanne – Costs accurate (CHF 2,200 single).
  • scholarshipportal.com – More Swiss, some old.
  • studyinswitzerland.plus – Visa/living.
  • fastweb.com – General lists, ads.
  • goingmerry.com – Clean, Europe focus.

Application Checklist

  • Strong transcripts.
  • CV with extras.
  • Motivation letter (why EPFL, impact).
  • 2 strong recs.
  • Tick fellowship box.
  • Submit early.
  • Declare other aid.
  • Plan budget.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Forget box (no fellowship consider). Weak extras proof. Late submit. Think full funding (partial). No progress check for renewal.

PAA: Acceptance rate? ~3%. IELTS? No. Amount? CHF 10,000/semester.

Living Costs in Lausanne

Single: CHF 1,700-2,500/month (Numbeo Jan 2026). Rent CHF 800 shared. Food CHF 500. Fellowship helps but save or work part-time.

Numbeo honest: High but quality matches.

Strong opinion: EPFL top for innovation impact. Fellowship signals excellence to jobs. Apply if you stand out beyond grades.

Questions? Comment. Check epfl.ch/master/excellence now.

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