EPFL Excellence Fellowships 2023 | Apply Now

Interested and qualified individuals are invited to apply for EPFL Excellence Fellowships. Check the scholarship eligibility, requirement, and how to apply.

In order to encourage holders of a Swiss high-school maturity diploma and holders of a Swiss vocational maturity diploma undertaking the CMS in their scientific ambitions, EPFL offers excellence fellowships to talented students starting their Bachelor’s degree, regardless of the field of studies they choose.

These fellowships, worth CHF 10,000 spread over three years, along with guaranteed housing (request to be filled in the registration form), are intended for students whose results and engagement stood out throughout their pre-university curriculum, in both school and extracurricular activities.

EPFL wishes to reward candidates who are motivated to further pursue their scientific interests and undertake demanding studies, while also taking into account their involvement in the life of their school or in extracurricular activities, whether artistic, sporting, civic, or entrepreneurial.

All EPFL Excellence Fellowships programs are centered on four main axes:

• Advanced scientific and theoretical knowledge: guaranteeing a broad-based and timeless high quality education that is necessary for an innovative and interdisciplinary approach
• Practical approach: EPFL’s many laboratories, projects and internships let students apply theoretical knowledge and gain practical experience
• Direct and permanent contact with the research world: ensuring an optimal transfer of the latest skills and technical knowledge
• Flexible study programs: including a wide range of interdisciplinary minors

In addition, courses in humanities and social sciences (SHS) allow students to step back and develop critical thinking skills with regard to social, ethical and environmental implications.

Important details and information for EPFL Excellence Fellowships

Everyone who has earned a maturité gymnasiale recognized by the Swiss Confederation is admitted to EPFL, in any field of study.

However, evaluations have shown that students arriving with a “standard mathematics” education have to make additional efforts to reach the required level to succeed in the first year at first try, compared to students who arrive with a more advanced science and mathematics background.

This does not mean that you cannot undertake a scientific career if you are one of those students. EPFL offers a whole range of tools to make up for these deficiencies.

In addition, an e-book entitled Savoir-faire en mathématiques pour bien réussir à l’EPFL (sent to all new students before the start of classes, in French) and an evaluation of your mathematics level allow you to identify any deficiencies before you start. These also include proposals for how to fill in the gaps yourself.

To study at EPFL, you do need to enjoy mathematics, be determined and work diligently. But it does not mean that you need to be a genius!

• The ECTS system (European Credit Transfer System) allows to measure the level of education a student has obtained, by matching credits to courses.

One ECTS credit is proportional to the volume of work a student does, whether it is done in class, in exercises, labs, projects, or homework. ECTS is based on the principal that the full-time work done by a student during a university year corresponds to 60 credits. The work of a student registered in a full-time study program in Europe is about 1500 to 1800 hours per year, so the value of a credit is equal to about 25 to 30 hours of work (see CRUS guidelines – in French).

Credits are attributed when students satisfy evaluating conditions in terms of knowledge or skills associated with a class, projects, or labs. These evaluations are in the form of oral or written exams, presentations, reports, etc. The number of credits corresponding to courses is defined in the study plans.

This system was designed by the European Commission in order to facilitate student exchanges between universities (recognition of passed courses), in the framework of the Socrates/Erasmus Programme. This credit system is harmonized at European level and makes the validation of courses that were taken in another institution much easier.

In the context of the Bachelor/Master reforms (Bologna Accords 1999), this system was extended to all university studies. It is no longer a system for transferring credits from one university to another, but a system for accumulating credits which is shared by all universities in Europe.

Eligible student for EPFL Excellence Fellowships programs

EPFL grants a limited number of fellowships to the most deserving candidates based on their academic records. They are intended for students who have achieved remarkable results throughout their pre-university curriculum, in both school and extracurricular activities.

Application instructions:

In order to be eligible for the Bachelor Excellence Fellowship, students in their final year of high school must check the corresponding box on their Bachelor’s application form before 30 April and provide the requested application file.

In order to be eligible for the Master Excellence Fellowship, candidates should apply via the same online form than their application to a master’s program by 15 April or 15 December (there is a box to tick indicating that the candidates profile should also be considered for an excellence fellowship).

It is important to read the EPFL Bachelors Fellowship Guidelines and EPFL Masters Fellowship Guidelines and visit the official website (link found below) to access the application form and for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.

Official Scholarship Website

(Bachelor Excellence Fellowship): https://www.epfl.ch/education/bachelor/bachelor-excellence-fellowships/

(Masters Excellence Fellowship): https://www.epfl.ch/education/master/master-excellence-fellowships/

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Check and apply for other Scholarships on our website.

Conclusions

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