Ashesi-ETH Zurich Master in Mechatronic Engineering Scholarship | Ashesi University (Ghana) and ETH Zurich (Switzerland) | Brilliant Scholarship
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Ashesi-ETH Zurich Master in Mechatronic Engineering Scholarship
Fully funded dual-credential Master's in Mechatronic Engineering for African engineering graduates at Ashesi University and ETH Zurich.
Ashesi University (Ghana) and ETH Zurich (Switzerland)
Overview
Africa's growing demand for advanced engineering talent has spurred a wave of innovative graduate programmes designed to keep top talent on the continent while still providing access to world-class academic input. The Ashesi-ETH Zurich Master in Mechatronic Engineering Scholarship is one of the most compelling examples of this model. Jointly developed by Ashesi University in Ghana and the globally renowned ETH Zurich in Switzerland, the programme allows engineering graduates from across Africa to pursue an advanced, dual-credential Master's degree largely on African soil, while still benefiting from the curriculum design, mentorship, and academic rigor associated with one of the world's top engineering universities. Now in its fifth cohort, having welcomed its most recent intake in February 2026, the programme has already built a substantial track record, having enrolled 137 students and produced 49 graduates. For African engineering graduates seeking to deepen their expertise in mechatronics without relocating permanently abroad, this scholarship offers a genuinely rare combination of academic prestige, comprehensive funding, and a curriculum specifically designed around the realities and opportunities of the African engineering landscape.
Scholarship Details
Where awarded, the scholarship funding is described as comprehensive, addressing nearly every major cost a graduate student would otherwise need to cover independently. This includes full tuition and fees for the duration of the programme, a laptop and other equipment needed for coursework, housing for the length of study, health insurance, one annual round-trip flight home, and a monthly stipend to cover day-to-day living expenses. Beyond the core financial package, admitted and funded students also receive structured mentorship and internship support throughout the programme, reflecting the initiative's broader goal of preparing graduates not just academically but also professionally. Graduates of the programme receive a genuinely distinctive dual credential: an MSc/MPhil in Mechatronic Engineering awarded by Ashesi University, together with a Master of Advanced Studies from ETH Zurich, giving graduates recognized qualifications from both an leading African university and one of the top-ranked technical universities in the world. It is worth noting that the exact number of scholarships awarded per cohort, and whether funding extends to every admitted student, is not publicly specified, so prospective applicants are encouraged to confirm current funding availability directly with the programme at the time of application.
Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility for the programme is built around both academic background and geographic focus. Applicants must hold a bachelor's or master's degree in mechatronics, mechanical, electrical, computer engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline; the programme is explicitly not open to applicants from non-engineering academic backgrounds. A minimum academic threshold of a Second Class Upper degree classification, or its recognized equivalent in other grading systems, is required, reflecting the competitive and technically rigorous nature of the coursework. The prior degree must generally have been obtained within the past five years, though the programme notes that relevant professional development experience may be considered as justification for applicants outside this window, offering some flexibility for candidates who have spent time working in industry before applying. Geographically, the programme is explicitly Africa-focused rather than globally open: it is intended for graduate applicants from across the African continent, and eligibility as an African student under the programme's specific criteria is a core requirement rather than an incidental preference. Finally, English proficiency is required for all applicants whose prior education was not conducted in English, since coursework and academic exchange with ETH Zurich are conducted in English; applicants meeting this criterion will need to submit a recognized English proficiency test score as part of their application package.
Fields of Study & Programs
The programme is narrowly and deliberately focused on a single discipline: mechatronic engineering, an interdisciplinary field that blends mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering principles with control systems and robotics. This focus reflects growing industrial demand across Africa and globally for engineers capable of designing and managing integrated systems that combine hardware, software, and automation. Eligible academic backgrounds for entry include mechatronics, mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering, or other closely related engineering disciplines, giving the programme a reasonably wide funnel of eligible undergraduate or master's backgrounds even though the graduate degree itself concentrates specifically on mechatronics. Applicants coming from adjacent engineering fields, such as industrial or systems engineering, should carefully review the programme's current admissions guidance to confirm whether their specific background qualifies as sufficiently related to mechatronic engineering for admission purposes.
Participating Universities
The programme is delivered jointly by two very differently positioned but complementary institutions. Ashesi University, located in Berekuso, Ghana, has earned a strong reputation across West Africa as a leading liberal arts-inspired university with a particular focus on ethical leadership, entrepreneurship, and applied technical education, and serves as the primary campus where students complete the bulk of their coursework and daily academic life. ETH Zurich, based in Zurich, Switzerland, is consistently ranked among the top handful of technical universities in the world, renowned for its engineering, natural sciences, and technology research output, and contributes academic input, mentorship, and curriculum design expertise to the joint programme without requiring students to relocate to Switzerland for the bulk of their studies. This structure allows students to remain rooted in an African academic and cultural context while still gaining meaningful exposure to ETH Zurich's rigorous engineering standards and international academic network, an arrangement that reflects a broader and growing model of transcontinental graduate education designed to reduce brain drain while still connecting African students to world-class expertise.
How to Apply
Prospective applicants should begin by carefully preparing the core set of required documents: academic transcripts from all prior degrees, a current CV, a motivation letter explaining their interest in and fit for the programme, and the contact details of two academic or professional references who can speak to their suitability for advanced engineering study. Applicants whose prior education was not conducted in English must also arrange to sit an approved English proficiency test and include the resulting score in their application package, since this requirement applies uniformly regardless of the applicant's home country. All applications are submitted online through Ashesi University's official application portal, DreamApply, which serves as the centralized system for managing applications to this and other Ashesi programmes. Once submitted, applications are assessed on a combination of academic merit and fit with the programme's specific engineering focus, meaning applicants should use their motivation letter to clearly connect their prior academic and professional experience to the goals of the mechatronic engineering curriculum. Because the exact number of available scholarship slots per cohort is not published, strong applicants are encouraged to submit the most complete and compelling application possible, including well-chosen references who can speak specifically to their technical aptitude and readiness for graduate-level engineering study, rather than relying solely on academic transcripts to carry the application.
Deadlines & Important Dates
The programme's next intake application deadline is typically set around 30 June each year, though prospective applicants are strongly advised to confirm the exact current-cycle deadline directly on the official programme page before beginning their application, since specific dates can shift slightly from year to year. The programme has now reached its fifth cohort, with the most recent intake beginning in February 2026, suggesting that admitted students generally begin their studies in the early part of the calendar year following the June application deadline. Given the standard set of required materials, including reference contacts and, where applicable, an English proficiency test, prospective applicants should begin preparing their application materials several months ahead of the June deadline to allow enough time for references to respond and for test scores to be received and processed.
Life as a Scholar
Students admitted to the Ashesi-ETH Zurich Mechatronic Engineering programme spend the bulk of their studies on Ashesi University's campus in Berekuso, a peaceful, hillside setting outside Ghana's capital, Accra, known for its close-knit academic community and strong emphasis on collaborative, hands-on learning. Ashesi's broader institutional culture places significant weight on ethical leadership and entrepreneurship alongside technical rigor, meaning mechatronic engineering students are likely to encounter a curriculum and campus environment that encourages practical problem-solving with real-world, often locally relevant, applications. Where funded, the comprehensive benefits package, covering housing, a monthly stipend, and health insurance, is designed to allow students to focus fully on their studies without the financial pressures that might otherwise accompany graduate education. The programme's structured mentorship and internship components give students exposure to industry practice throughout their studies, rather than only at the end of the programme, and the annual round-trip flight home helps ensure that students, many of whom will be studying away from their home countries within Africa, are able to maintain family and community ties throughout their studies. Graduating with a dual credential from both Ashesi and ETH Zurich also opens doors to further study or employment opportunities that recognize both African and European academic standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to travel to Switzerland to complete the programme? No, students study primarily at Ashesi's campus in Ghana, with academic input and mentorship from ETH Zurich rather than a required physical relocation.
Is the programme open to non-African applicants? No, it is explicitly an Africa-focused programme intended for graduate students from across the African continent.
What degree will I graduate with? Graduates receive a dual credential: an MSc/MPhil in Mechatronic Engineering from Ashesi University and a Master of Advanced Studies from ETH Zurich.
Is every admitted student guaranteed full funding? Not necessarily; the exact number and coverage of scholarships per cohort is not centrally published, so applicants should confirm current funding details when applying.
Can I apply if my degree is in a related but not identical engineering field? The programme accepts mechatronics, mechanical, electrical, computer, or closely related engineering disciplines; applicants outside these fields are generally not eligible.
What if my degree is older than 5 years? Relevant professional development experience may be considered as justification for applicants outside the standard 5-year window.
Final Thoughts
The Ashesi-ETH Zurich Master in Mechatronic Engineering Scholarship offers African engineering graduates a rare and valuable opportunity: advanced, internationally recognized graduate study rooted firmly on the African continent. Its comprehensive funding package, dual credential, and structured mentorship and internship support make it a genuinely strong option for engineers looking to deepen their technical expertise while remaining closely connected to the professional and cultural context they know best. Prospective applicants who prepare their documents early, secure strong references, and clearly articulate their fit with the programme's mechatronic engineering focus will be well positioned to make the most of this distinctive opportunity.
Award Amount
Full tuition and fees, laptop, housing, health insurance, one annual round-trip flight, and a monthly stipend, where awarded
Payment: Total Program
Deadline
2027-06-30
Application deadline is typically around 30 June each year; confirm the exact current-cycle date on the official programme page.
Duration
Master's-level dual-credential programme; specific duration not published, structured around Ashesi's Ghana campus with ETH Zurich academic input
Renewable
No
About This Scholarship
The Ashesi-ETH Zurich Master in Mechatronic Engineering Scholarship is a fully funded, dual-credential graduate programme jointly developed by Ashesi University in Ghana and ETH Zurich in Switzerland, aimed at engineering graduates from across Africa. Students study primarily at Ashesi's campus in Ghana with academic input and mentorship from ETH Zurich, graduating with a dual MSc/MPhil in Mechatronic Engineering from Ashesi plus a Master of Advanced Studies from ETH Zurich. Now in its fifth cohort, the programme has enrolled 137 students with 49 graduates to date. Where awarded, funding is comprehensive, covering tuition and fees, a laptop and equipment, housing, health insurance, an annual round-trip flight home, a monthly stipend, and mentorship and internship support. Eligible applicants must hold a bachelor's or master's degree in mechatronics, mechanical, electrical, computer, or a related engineering discipline, with a minimum Second Class Upper classification, obtained within the past 5 years, and be nationals of or otherwise eligible as African students. Applications are submitted via Ashesi University's DreamApply portal, with a typical annual deadline around 30 June.
Bachelor's or master's degree in mechatronics, mechanical, electrical, computer, or a closely related engineering discipline
Minimum Second Class Upper degree classification or equivalent
Degree obtained within the past 5 years, with exceptions considered for professional development experience
English proficiency test required if prior education was not conducted in English
Academic Requirements
Minimum GPA: Minimum Second Class Upper degree classification or equivalent
Test Scores:
English proficiency test required if prior education was not in English
Language Requirements:
English proficiency test required if prior education was not conducted in English
Application Process
1Prepare documents: transcripts, CV, motivation letter, and contact details for two references
2Take an English proficiency test if prior education was not conducted in English
3Apply online through Ashesi University's application portal (DreamApply)
4Await review of academic merit and fit with the programme's engineering focus
Required Documents
Academic Transcripts*Required
Official record of prior degree(s)
CV*Required
Summary of academic and professional background
Motivation Letter*Required
Statement explaining interest in the programme
Partner Universities
Ashesi University
Berekuso, Ghana
ETH Zurich
Zurich, Switzerland
Additional Benefits
Laptop and equipment for coursework
Housing for the duration of study
Health insurance
One annual round-trip flight home
Monthly stipend
Mentorship and internship support
Dual credential: MSc/MPhil (Ashesi) plus Master of Advanced Studies (ETH Zurich)
About the AuthorActive ApplicantUniversity Graduate
I'm a university graduate currently navigating the world of scholarship applications. I run this blog as an active, personal database of opportunities I'm researching — every listing here is one I've evaluated myself. My goal is to help fellow students cut through the noise and find funding that actually fits their profile.
📚 Researched & curated by a current applicant · Updated regularly
