EPFL’s Cyber-Defence Master Thesis Fellowship accepts applications on a rolling basis from eligible students at Swiss higher education institutions. The programme supports a six-month thesis project connected with the Cyber-Defence Campus and supervised within the student’s institution.
This guide focuses specifically on the master’s thesis route. Applicants should use its own eligibility and funding rules rather than assume that conditions for doctoral or postdoctoral CYD fellowships apply.
Eligibility and financial support
Applicants of any nationality may apply, with no age restriction. They must already be enrolled in a master’s programme at a Swiss university or university of applied sciences and have an eligible supervisor’s endorsement.
The programme provides CHF2,500 per month for up to six months, plus up to CHF1,500 for specific project equipment. For EPFL students, the allowance is paid as a gross salary subject to social contributions. General IT equipment is excluded from the stated research-cost support.
Research topics and selection
Applicants may choose a published Campus topic or propose their own. Areas include cybersecurity, data science, privacy and digital trust. Documents must be submitted in English through the official platform. Selection has two stages, including a prospective Campus mentor’s endorsement before the second stage.
Check how the thesis fits your degree
Speak with your academic supervisor before developing a detailed application. Confirm how the proposed project would meet your programme’s thesis requirements and fit your academic timetable. Funding and academic approval are related considerations, but one should not be assumed to replace the other.
List the milestones your institution expects, such as a proposal, progress review, written thesis or presentation. Align those with a realistic research plan. If your studies include examinations or other commitments during the proposed period, discuss how they would affect your availability.
Define a focused technical problem
A useful proposal explains the question before describing the technology. Identify the system, dataset or process you want to understand and the limitation your work addresses. Avoid promising a broad security solution when the project can only test a particular method under specific conditions.
Explain how you would evaluate the result. Depending on the project, that might involve comparing approaches, analysing errors or measuring performance against a justified baseline. Choose measures that relate to the research question rather than relying on a single impressive-looking number.
Plan responsible research
Cybersecurity research requires clear boundaries. Describe the authorised environment in which any testing would take place and the permissions needed for access to systems or data. A proposal should not depend on testing someone else’s infrastructure without approval.
Consider privacy and data handling early. Identify whether personal or confidential information is involved, what access is necessary and how results could be reported without exposing sensitive material. Discuss applicable institutional procedures with your supervisor rather than treating them as an afterthought.
Show evidence of preparation
Use your transcript, projects and experience to explain why you can undertake the proposed work. Select examples that demonstrate relevant reasoning and technical skills. If you include code or a portfolio, make sure it is accessible, understandable and free of secrets or confidential data.
Be precise about your role in collaborative projects. Explain what you implemented, analysed or evaluated, and what you learned from the result. An honest discussion of limitations can demonstrate more research maturity than an unsupported claim of complete expertise.
Prepare a manageable application plan
Rolling applications allow flexibility, but supervision, academic scheduling and project preparation still take time. Work backwards from your intended thesis period and allow space for discussions, document revisions and the selection process.
Review the current guidelines and application toolkit before submitting. Keep a copy of your documents and check that all statements about resources or supervision have been confirmed. The suggestions in this article are Opportunities Feed editorial guidance, not additional fellowship requirements.
Use the official button below to explore the master’s thesis call, available topics and application instructions. This opportunity is for students already enrolled in Switzerland, not a scholarship to enter a new Swiss master’s degree.
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