2016/2017 Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists

Application Deadline: November 30th 2015

The Swiss government, through the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS), awards various postgraduate scholarships to foreign scholars and researchers:

• University scholarships (Swiss universities, Federal Institutes of Technology, as well as Universities of Applied Sciences)
• Arts scholarships (schools of music and fine arts, only for a limited number of countries).

These scholarships provide graduates from all fields with the opportunity to pursue doctoral or postdoctoral research in Switzerland at one of the public funded university or recognised institution.

Type of Scholarships Offered:

PHD Scholarships

Swiss Government Excellence PhD Scholarships for foreign students

The scholarship is only valid for full time PhD studies in Switzerland. It is not valid for mixed PhD programs (part time in Switzerland and part time in a third country).

Target Group:

Highly qualified postgraduate students (in possession of the required degrees) from all academic fields.

Duration:

3 years maximum (starting in September)

Eligibility Requirements:

• Master degree or equivalent University degree recognized by the Swiss University.
• The applicant must not be more than 35 years old at the moment of the application.

Scholarship Worth:

• The scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of 1’920 Swiss Francs.
• Exemption of the tuition fees (except for EPFL).
• For non-EU and non-EFTA grantees only: Mandatory Swiss Health insurance paid by the FCS.
• A lump sum for air fare for non-European grantees only (provided at the end of the scholarship).
• Special 300 Swiss Francs housing allowance (paid once at the beginning of the scholarship).
• 1 year half-fare public transportation card.
• Counseling and various trips, dinners and sightseeing tours organized for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship holders.

Post Doctoral Scholarships

To enable selected applicants to undertake a postdoctoral research in one of the 10 Swiss Public Universities, the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology, the public teaching and research institutes and the Universities of Applied Sciences.

Validity:

The Scholarship is only valid for a full time postdoctoral research in Switzerland. It is not valid for mixed postdoctoral research (part time in Switzerland and part time in a third country).

Target Group:

Highly qualified postdoctoral researchers from all academic fields.

Eligibility Requirements:

• PhD degree
• There cannot be a gap of more than 5 years between the award of the PhD and the application deadline.

Duration:

12 months (starting in September) no extension possible
Grant applications for stays lasting less than 9 months will not be treated as a priority. Grant applications for stays lasting less than 6 months will be rejected.

Scholarship Worth:

• The scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of 3’500 Swiss Francs.
• Exemption of the tuition fees (except for EPFL).
• For non-EU and EFTA grantees only: Mandatory Swiss Health insurance paid by the FCS.
• A lump sum for air fare for non-European grantees only (provided at the end of the scholarship).
• Special 300 Swiss Francs housing allowance (paid once at the beginning of the scholarship).
• 1 year half-fare public transportation card.
• Counseling and various trips, dinners and sight-seeing tours organized for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship holders.

RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS:

Swiss Government Excellence Research Scholarships for foreign students

To enable selected applicants to undertake a research in the realm of their PhD or their medical specialization in one of the 10 Swiss Public Universities, the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology, the public teaching and research institutes and the Universities of Applied Sciences

ELIGIBILITY

• Master degree or equivalent University degree.
• The applicant must not be more than 35 years old at the moment of the application.

VALIDITY:

• The Scholarship is only valid for a full time Research in Switzerland. It is not valid for mixed research (part time in Switzerland and part time in a third country).

TARGET GROUP:

• Highly qualified postgraduate researchers from all academic fields as well as young Medical Doctors.

DURATION:

• 12 months maximum (starting in September) no extension possible
• Grant applications for stays lasting less than 9 months will not be treated as a priority. Grant applications for stays lasting less than 6 months will be rejected.

SCHOLARSHIP WORTH:

• The scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of 1’920 Swiss Francs.
• Exemption of the tuition fees (except for EPFL).
• For non-EU and non-EFTA grantees only: Mandatory Swiss Health insurance paid by the FCS.
• A lump sum for air fare for non-European grantees (provided at the end of the scholarship).
• Special 300 Swiss Francs housing allowance (paid once at the beginning of the scholarship).
• 1 year half-fare public transportation card.
• Counseling and various trips, dinners and sigh-seeing tours organized for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship holders.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the 2016/2017 Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists