ETH Zurich Master’s, PhD, Postdoctoral & Scientist Opportunities

Which ETH Zurich route should you explore?

Planning advice: Begin with the relevant route and its current instructions. A master’s admission offer is not a research job offer, and a fellowship’s eligibility rules should not be applied to every ETH vacancy.

Master’s admission and ESOP for autumn 2027

Applicants with a bachelor’s degree from outside Switzerland must apply during 1–30 November 2026. The official submission deadline is 30 November 2026, 11:59 a.m. CET—just before noon. The April 2027 window is restricted to Swiss bachelor’s holders; a later Swiss master’s or PhD does not change the November requirement for an overseas undergraduate degree.

Check programme-specific academic prerequisites, language requirements and attachments. Submit the complete application through eApply.

Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme

For autumn 2027 entrants, ESOP provides CHF 13,500 per semester plus a tuition-fee waiver for the regular three or four semesters. Approximately 60 awards are planned for 2027/28, subject to funding.

ESOP targets applicants around the top 10% of their bachelor’s cohort. Existing ETH master’s students and people who already hold a master’s degree are ineligible. Apply in the first window and include a self-developed master’s thesis pre-proposal. If the programme does not request references, name two professors to provide letters.

Preparation advice: Read the pre-proposal instructions before drafting. Develop a focused question, feasible method and properly cited rationale. Keep admission requirements and the extra scholarship documents on separate checklists.

How doctoral recruitment works

ETH mainly offers individual doctorates rather than recruitment through one overarching doctoral school. An ETH professor must be willing to supervise the dissertation. Most doctorates are linked to employment at ETH or within the ETH Domain.

ETH recommends approaching a relevant professorship directly; doctoral positions are also advertised on its Job Portal. The Doctoral Administration does not arrange positions or match applicants with supervisors.

Outreach advice: Read the group’s recent work and identify a specific connection to your own training. Write a concise enquiry explaining your research interests and relevant methods, with an accurate academic CV. Where an advertised vacancy prescribes an online application, use that route.

Postdoctoral fellowships and scientific employment

ETH Postdoctoral Fellowships: ETH Fellows

This two-year scheme requires an ETH professor’s support and an independently developed project. At submission, the PhD must normally be no more than two years old, or completed within the following six months. Applicants also need a peer-reviewed publication or doctoral-thesis prize.

Mobility restrictions include no more than 12 months’ residence or main activity in Switzerland, and no more than six months’ main activity at the specified ETH Domain institutions or University of Zurich, during the preceding three years. Check the full guidelines.

The scheme funds salary and CHF 12,000 annually for research expenses. Its standing deadlines are 1 March and 1 September, 17:00 Swiss local time, with a next-Monday rule for weekends. Both 2026 dates have passed. Detailed 2027 scheduling remains to be updated. Two external references are due ten days before submission; apply through eResearch.

Other postdoctoral and scientist roles

Use the Job Portal to search by topic and role. Read the actual duties before deciding whether a postdoctoral, scientist, research engineer or other scientific appointment fits your experience.

Offer-review advice: Confirm the employment percentage, fixed term, salary basis, expected teaching or service and extension conditions. Ask what resources and supervision will support the proposed research.

Selected current opportunities and deadlines

Contract distinctions: RobotX advertises an initial one-year contract, typically extended. NOMIS–ETH provides three years with a possible fourth year subject to review and host funding; up to one new fellow is planned for the 2027 start.

Recently closed: ETH AI Center’s 2027 doctoral and postdoctoral fellowship applications closed on 27 October 2026 at 16:00 CET. References are due on 2 November, 23:59 CET, for submitted applications; that is not a new applicant deadline.

This is a selected snapshot, not a complete vacancy count. Search the exact title on the official portal and confirm availability before preparing an application.

Prepare the right application package

The following is CareerAidHub editorial guidance. The programme or vacancy instructions determine the required documents.

1. Record the route and deadline. Note the time zone and any earlier host or referee deadline.
2. Check qualifications first. Compare degree content, methods, experience and language evidence with the actual requirements.
3. Use the correct system. Master’s/ESOP uses eApply; ETH Fellows uses eResearch; the selected research vacancies use the ETH Job Portal.
4. Tailor the research narrative. Explain the question, your relevant contribution and the work you propose to undertake. Keep claims supported.
5. Review the file order and limits. Each call may prescribe different documents. Save a copy and confirm final submission.

For example, RobotX requests one merged PDF with a cover letter, CV/publications, transcripts and doctoral completion evidence, three referee contacts and one or two representative publications. Design++ instead specifies a research statement, motivation, transcripts and reference letters. Do not reuse one package without checking.

Career Accelerator Program support

CareerAidHub’s Career Accelerator Program offers profile review, opportunity mapping, tailored academic CV feedback, motivation-letter and research-statement support, outreach planning and one-to-one mentorship.

CareerAidHub is independent of ETH Zurich. Services do not guarantee admission, scholarships or employment.