Swiss Confederation awards Government Excellence Scholarships

• The research scholarship is available to post-graduate researchers in any discipline (who hold a master’s degree as a minimum) who are planning to come to Switzerland to pursue research or further studies at doctoral or post-doctoral level.
  Research scholarships are awarded for research or study at all Swiss cantonal universities, universities of applied sciences and the two federal institutes of technology. Only candidates nominated by an academic mentor at one of these higher education institutions will be considered.
• Art scholarships are open to art students wishing to pursue an initial master’s degree in Switzerland.
  Art scholarships are awarded for study at any Swiss conservatory or university of the arts. Only those who have already been awarded a place to study may apply. This scholarship is available to students from a limited number of countries only.

Requirements and Application:

Select your country of origin:

Countries A – L / Countries M – Z

Check the application deadline and the different types of scholarship on offer. These vary according to country. You will also find details of what to do next and where to get more information.

Research Scholarships

• Master’s degree or equivalent university degree recognised by the Swiss university. The applicant must have achieved this degree before the start of the scholarship next September. As a proof the degree has to be submitted to the Federal Commission for Scholarships before the start of the scholarship.
• Applicants must be born after 31 December 1982
• Applicants who have been in Switzerland for more than one year at the beginning of the scholarship in September are not eligible.
• Applicants must provide a letter from a professor at the Swiss host institution stating that she/he is willing to support and supervise the research. Without such support, the application will be rejected.
• Applicants must have a research proposal including a timeframe. This is the centrepiece of the application. The applicant must devote all required attention to it.
• Applicants must be in command of the necessary language skills required for the research/studies.
• Applicants who have already benefited from a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship are not eligible to apply for a second scholarship. Scholarship holders are expected to move to Switzerland during their grant period.

Benefits:

• The scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of CHF 1,920.
• For non-EU and non-EFTA grantees only: mandatory Swiss health insurance is paid by the FCS.
• There are no family allowances.
• Scholarship holders from outside continental Europe receive a flight allowance (lump sum) for a ticket back to their country of origin (provided at the end of the scholarship).
• Special CHF 300 housing allowance (paid once at the beginning of the scholarship).
• One-year half-fare public transportation card.
• Support services and various trips, dinners and sightseeing tours organised for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship holders.

PhD Scholarships

• Master’s degree or equivalent university degree recognised by the Swiss university. The applicant must have achieved this degree before the start of the scholarship next September. As a proof the degree has to be submitted to the Federal Commission for Scholarships before the start of the scholarship.
• Applicant’s date of birth after 31 December 1982.
• Applicants who have been in Switzerland for more than one year at the beginning of the scholarship in September are not eligible.
• Applicants must provide a letter from an academic host professor (including her/his short CV) at the chosen Swiss university confirming why she/he is willing to supervise and support the PhD thesis. Without such support, the application will be rejected.
• Applicants must have a research proposal including a timeframe. This is the centrepiece of the application. The applicant must devote all required attention to it.
• Applicants must be in command of the necessary language skills required for the PhD studies/ research.
• Applicants who have already benefited from a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship are not eligible to apply for a second scholarship.
• Scholarship holders are expected to move to Switzerland during their grant period.

Benefits:

• The scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of CHF 1’920.
• For non-EU and non-EFTA grantees only: mandatory Swiss health insurance is paid by the FCS.
• There are no family allowances.
• Scholarship holders from outside continental Europe receive a flight allowance (lump sum) for a ticket back to their country of origin (provided at the end of the scholarship
• Special CHF 300 housing allowance (paid once at the beginning of the scholarship).
• One-year half-fare public transportation card.
• Support services and various trips, dinners and sightseeing tours organised for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship holders.
• PhD scholarship holders may request a supplementary allowance for fieldwork. For fieldtrips lasting longer than 2 months the scholarship amount will be reduced to 50%.

Selection criteria