ESOP Excellence Scholar Filippo from Italy Shares His Journey of Securing a Fully Funded Master's at the ETH Zurich, Switzerland

My name is Filippo, born and raised in the north of Italy, in the neighborhood of Milan. I have always been fascinated by Mathematics, and during the time of high school I added competitions as the Mathematics and Physics Olympiads. After the completion of my high school studies, I did a bachelor’s degree in mathematics at the Università degli Studi di Milan. During my bachelor’s years, I decided to later move abroad for my master’s studies. ETH Zurich appeared as the most natural choice, and it was in fact the only university to which I applied for my master's. In the meantime, I developed a specific interest in the area of Probability and Statistics, which I later developed in my master’s studies.

ESOP Excellence Scholarship Details

Upon choosing ETH Zurich for my master’s studies, I was awarded the ESOP Excellence scholarship. This competitive scholarship, available to all incoming master’s students, covers full tuition fees and provides a monthly stipend of 2,000 CHF for the duration of the program. For my master’s in mathematics, which is structured as a three-semester curriculum, the scholarship was granted for 1.5 years; for four-semester programs, the support is extended accordingly.

Were You Offered Any Other Scholarships?

No, I only applied to ETH Zurich, and as far as I know, ESOP is the only scholarship offered by ETH for master’s studies. Some departments may offer additional scholarships specific to the department.

Educational Background

As already mentioned, I completed my bachelor’s in mathematics at the University of Milan, graduating with a GPA of 29.67/30, which placed me within the top 2% of my cohort. Beyond my coursework, I gained early research experience through the PolyMath REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) during the summer of my second year. This collaboration resulted in a preprint (at the time of my application, now published).

How Did You Find Information About ESOP Excellence Scholarship and ETH Zurich?

Everything is detailed on the website of ETH Zurich. I also reached out to scholars of the previous year to gain insights from them.

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them?

I only took the Cambridge CAE exam for English proficiency, which was required by ETH Zurich for master’s applications.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the ESOP Excellence Scholarship?

The scholarship application requires a research pre-proposal for the master’s thesis, designed to assess an applicant’s understanding of the research process. My suggestion is to remain concrete and realistic. Since an ETH Zurich thesis must be completed within six months, the proposal should reflect a manageable scope rather than an overly ambitious one. It is important to note that this proposal is non-binding; its purpose is to evaluate your research intuition, not to lock you into a topic. To find inspiration, I suggest reviewing the recent publications or supervised theses of 2–3 ETH professors whose work aligns with your interests. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview (typically in February) with a faculty panel. This discussion focuses on both your motivation and the technical background of your proposal. Hence, make sure to be prepared on the background of your pre-proposal!

How is Your Experience at ETH Zurich?

In fact, I decided to stay at ETH Zurich for my PhD studies.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I believe it was a combination of my grades, a very detailed pre-proposal, and the preprint I had worked out during my bachelor's. My reference letters were also very diversified, having been written by professors from Italy, the US, and Poland with whom I had worked during my Bachelor's, which I believe was very well appreciated.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

Nothing specific, I believe.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

Plan ahead. Drafting a master’s thesis pre-proposal is a time-intensive process that should not be rushed. I highly recommend beginning this work in September or October of your final undergraduate year. The ETH application window closes in December for the following September intake.