📅 Application deadline:

Two calls are organized each academic year: Autumn Call and Spring Call. 

• Autumn Call: the next one is October 6, 2025 (23h59 CET)

• Spring Call: the next one is April 6, 2026 (23h59 CET)

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

🔔 Important

To be eligible, your Master’s project must not be completed by the deadline of the call you are applying to.
Projects already underway are eligible, as long as they are still ongoing on the deadline date.

🔹 For example: if your project starts in February 2026, you can apply to the Autumn Call (deadline: October 6, 2025) or the Spring Call (deadline: April 6, 2026) — as long as your project is not yet finished by the deadline you choose.

📌 Eligibility

To be eligible, you must:

• Be enrolled in a Master’s program at EPFL.

• Plan to complete your Master’s project abroad

• Have not completed your Master’s project by the time of submission

• Fellowships are awarded subject to EPFL’s authorization of the Master’s project abroad.

• Payment will be made only once confirmation is received that the recipient has started her project.

✅ Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Academic performance: an average Master’s grade of 5.0 or higher.
• Quality and relevance of the host institution and project: the academic or research environment and the project’s potential impact.
• Motivation and career objectives: how clearly your goals are defined and how the project supports them
• Creativity and clarity of the video presentation: engagement, and how well the project is communicated.
• Recommendation letters: strong endorsements from previous supervisors, including at least one from an EPFL faculty member.

📁 Required Documents

Please submit each of the following documents (in English) as a separate PDF file. The video should be sent as a separate file. They can be sent via a cloud (dropbox, Switchdrive etc). 

1. Motivation Letter with a short career plan 

2. A letter of Confirmation from your host institution indicating the project description and timeline

3. Academic Transcript (Bachelor + Master)

4. Financial Plan: If you have applied for and/or received other grants, you will provide a financial plan outlining your estimated expenses and anticipated funding sources.

5. Two Recommendation Letters, including at least one from an EPFL member

6. Short Presentation Video (max. 2 minutes): introduce your project, your motivations, and why you chose your host institution

💸 Financial Support

The EPFL-WISH Master’s Thesis Abroad Fellowship is highly competitive and awarded only to the most outstanding applications.

The grant amount depends on the location and duration of your project and the Foundation’s available funds.
In general, the maximum support awarded is CHF 5,000.

This fellowship is complementary:  you may apply even if you receive or apply for other funding. Please disclose all other sources in your financial plan.

📩 How to Apply

Send all your documents by email to: info.wish@epfl.ch

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❓Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

🕓 Which call should I apply to?

Key rule: your project must still be ongoing on the deadline date of the call you apply to.

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💰 What is meant by “financial plan”?

The financial plan should outline:

• Your estimated expenses (travel, housing, insurance, materials, etc.)

• Any scholarships or funding already obtained or requested

You don’t have to provide a financial plan if no other funding has been requested.

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📨 How do I submit recommendation letters?

You must provide two recommendation letters, with at least one from an EPFL member.

You can either:

• Include both letters in your application files, or

• Have your referees email them directly to info.wish@epfl.ch before the deadline.

🗓 Can I apply if my project has already started?

Yes, as long as it is not completed by the call deadline you are applying to.

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🔁 Can I apply more than once?

No. Each student may submit only one application for the same Master’s project. Repeat applications for the same project will not be considered.

Laureates

Althea Araya, Tunvez Boulic, Rayane Zahreddine, Nawal  Kinany, Selin Anil, Laurène Donati, Brigitte Greenwood, Coralie Spahn, Arushi Varshney, Marine Bouduban, Solène Oberli, Akshara Rai,  Roxane Besse, Désirée Gréver, Nina Zargari, Lamia Kasmi, Aureline Grange, Nadine Besse, Raccaud Mahé, Tina Saberi Safaei, Léa Maillat, Manon, Hammerli, Mélanie Antille, Benedetta Flebus, Djenet Bousbaine, Stephanie Kayser, Shima Karimi, Eloise Marteau, Laetitia Vionnet, Diane Ansermet, Helena Reymond, Lada Georgieva, Anu Kodiyan, Gabriela Pregernig, Nadine Grädel, Audrey Cally, Inès Azaiez, Laetitia Bettex, Antonina Hafner (Lagovitina), Diane Haakonsen (Baer), Lise Castella, Deborah Studer, Carole Estoppey (Desobry), Anna Kounina, Theresa Christian, Emilie Peres, Diane Ledroit, Cécile Piot, Arabelle de Saussure, Anna Vybornova, Clara-Léa Bonzel, Victoire Brault, Inès Castarede, Magali Cattin, Alexandra Karpilow, Julie Laurent, Eloise Masquelier, Eliane Roosli, Julia Vincentini, Eléonore Wild (Auckland U.), Niu Yanan, Marion Claudet, Olivia Courbot, Virgine de Mestral, Soumya Sheeram, Aurélie Ducrot, Alix Nepveux, Anna Diop, Célia Benquet, Emma Roussel, Eva Debette, Laura Cabizzosu, Marjolaine Boulingre Mariam Ait Oumelloul, Manon Bouzereau, Yongyi Luo, Chloé Carrière, Camille Pescatore, Charlyne Burki, Eugénie Chabenat, Fanny Borza, Joëlle Piot, Laure Coquoz, Mihaela Diana Zanoaga, Alexia Duriez, Chiara Ongaro, Constance Gontier, Tifanny Pereira Portela, Léa Dreyfus, Margot Plassard, Anna Chamot, Auriane Debache, Iris Kremer, Louisa Rinaldi, Rachel Monney, Sophie Straessle Zuniga, Annika Wegner-repke, L’emira-emma Chehab, Nerea-isabel Carbonell-munoz, Amélie Rajon, Emeline Debalme, Farah Birki, Juliette Hars, Victoria Rivet. Chléa Schiff, Iolène Bouzdine, Izabella Pomykalska, Jade Therras et Noa Steerenberg.