Each year, the Swiss Confederation awards Government Excellence Scholarships to promote international exchange and research cooperation between Switzerland and over 180 other countries. Recipients are selected by the awarding body, the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS).

• One minute introduction to Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships
• FAQs for scholarship applicants & academic supervisors (PDF, 126 kB, 19.07.2022)

The research scholarship (research fellowship, PhD, Postdoc) is available to post-graduate researchers in any discipline. Holding a master’s degree is the minimum qualification required. This scholarship is designed for those who plan to come to Switzerland to pursue research or further studies at the 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, as well as the four research institutes. Please note that only candidates nominated by an academic supervisor at one of these higher education institutions will be considered for this scholarship.

Abbreviated summary. For full details, please refer to the Guidelines for Scholarship Applicants (PDF, 753 kB, 19.07.2023).

Objectives

• To enable selected applicants to undertake research in the realm of their PhD at one of the 10 Swiss cantonal universities, the two Swiss federal institutes of technology, the public teaching and research institutes, or the universities of applied sciences.
• Valid for full-time research in Switzerland only.

Target Group

• Highly qualified postgraduate researchers from all academic fields as well as young medical doctors.
• Primarily for scholars who have not already been to Switzerland.

Eligibility Criteria

• Master’s degree or equivalent achieved before 31 July 2024 (except: ETH Zurich: 30 June 2024). Degree certificate completed.
• Applicants must be born after 31 December 1988.
• A research proposal including a timeframe.
• Mandatory letter from an academic host professor (including their short CV).

Duration

• Scholarship starts for the academic year 2024-25: 1 September 2024.
• 12 months maximum (starting in September).
• No prolongation possible.

Amount

• The scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of CHF 1’920.-
• The scholarship amount covers the living costs of one person only.
• This scholarship is not a salary.

Selection Criteria

• The candidate: academic profile, research capacity, and motivation.
• The research project: originality and methodological soundness.
• The academic context: quality and context of supervision and potential for future academic cooperation.

Contact for further questions

• See the contact address for your country of origin (PDF, 136 kB, 05.09.2023) - this is the country according to your passport.
• Check the available scholarship types for your country of origin.
• Check the opening of the call and the submission deadline. Applications submitted too late will not be considered.

To Apply

• Download the application package (ZIP, 3 MB, 18.07.2023) (application forms and templates).
• Fill out and print.

To Submit

• Note: Two paper copies of your application must be submitted.
• Click here (PDF, 136 kB, 05.09.2023) for the e-mail contact that will give you the postal address of your country of origin.

Abbreviated summary. For full details, please refer to the Guidelines for Scholarship Applicants (PDF, 753 kB, 19.07.2023).

Objectives

• To enable selected applicants to undertake a PhD at one of the 10 Swiss cantonal universities, the two Swiss federal institutes of technology or the Graduate Institute. Valid for full-time research in Switzerland only.
• Valid for full-time research in Switzerland only.

Target Group

• Highly qualified postgraduate students (possessing the required degrees to start a PhD).
• Primarily for scholars who have not already been to Switzerland.

Eligibility Criteria

• Master’s degree or equivalent university degree achieved before 31 July 2024 (except: ETH Zurich: 30 June 2024). Degree certificate completed.
• Applicants must be born after 31 December 1988.
• A research proposal including a timeframe.
• Mandatory letter from an academic host professor (including their short CV).

Duration

• Scholarship starts for the academic year 2024-25: 1 September 2024.
• 12 months (starting in September).
• Prolongable up to 36 months. The scholarship is awarded in three steps of 12 months each based on the achieved academic results.

Amount

• The scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of CHF 1’920.-
• The scholarship amount covers the living costs of one person only.
• This scholarship is not a salary.

Selection Criteria

• The candidate: academic profile, research capacity, and motivation.
• The research project: originality and methodological soundness.
• The academic context: quality and context of supervision and potential for future academic cooperation.

Contact for further questions

• See the contact address for your country of origin (PDF, 136 kB, 05.09.2023) - this is the country according to your passport.
• Check the available scholarship types for your country of origin.
• Check the opening of the call and the submission deadline. Applications submitted too late will not be considered.

To Apply

• Download the application package (ZIP, 3 MB, 18.07.2023) (application forms and templates).
• Fill out and print.

To Submit

• Note: Two paper copies of your application must be submitted.
• Click here (PDF, 136 kB, 05.09.2023) for the e-mail contact that will give you the postal address of your country of origin.

Abbreviated summary. For full details, please refer to the Guidelines for Scholarship Applicants (PDF, 753 kB, 19.07.2023).

Objectives

• To enable selected applicants to undertake a PhD at one of the 10 Swiss cantonal universities, the two Swiss federal institutes of technology or the Graduate Institute. Valid for full-time research in Switzerland only.
• Valid for full-time research in Switzerland only.

Target Group

• Highly qualified early career scientists on postdoctoral level.
• Primarily for scholars who have not already been to Switzerland.

Eligibility Criteria

• PhD degree achieved after 31 December 2020 and before 31 July 2024 (except: ETH Zurich: 30 June 2024). PhD degree certificate completed.
• A research proposal including a timeframe.
• Mandatory letter from an academic host professor (including their short CV).

Duration

• Scholarship starts for the academic year 2024-25: 1 September 2024.
• 12 months (starting in September).
• No prolongation possible.

Amount

• The scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of CHF 3'500.-
• The scholarship amount covers the living costs of one person only.
• This scholarship is not a salary.

Selection Criteria

• The candidate: academic profile, research capacity, and motivation.
• The research project: originality and methodological soundness.
• The academic context: quality and context of supervision and potential for future academic cooperation.

Contact for further questions

• See the contact address for your country of origin (PDF, 136 kB, 05.09.2023) - this is the country according to your passport.
• Check the available scholarship types for your country of origin.
• Check the opening of the call and the submission deadline. Applications submitted too late will not be considered.

To Apply

• Download the application package (ZIP, 3 MB, 18.07.2023) (application forms and templates).
• Fill out and print.

To Submit

• Note: Two paper copies of your application must be submitted.
• Click here (PDF, 136 kB, 05.09.2023) for the e-mail contact that will give you the postal address of your country of origin.

Abbreviated summary. For full details, please refer to the Guidelines for Scholarship Applicants (PDF, 753 kB, 19.07.2023).

Objectives

• To enable selected applicants to undertake initial Master’s studies in Switzerland at any Swiss conservatory or university of the arts.
• Valid for full-time research in Switzerland only.

Target Group

• Highly qualified young artists without a Master's degree.
• Art scholarships only available to citizens of countries with which Switzerland has a reciprocity agreement for art scholarships.

Eligibility Criteria

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent achieved before 31 July 2024. Degree certificate completed.
• Applicants must be born after 31 December 1988.
• Invalid: All applications for a second master’s degree.

Duration

• Scholarship starts for the academic year 2024-25: 1 September 2024.
• 12 months (starting in September).
• Prolongable up to 21 months at most depending on the Master programme chosen and the necessary ECTS credits.

Amount

• The scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of CHF 1'920.-
• The scholarship amount covers the living costs of one person only.

Selection Criteria

• The candidate: artistic profile, qualification, and motivation.
• The submitted portfolio: artistic maturity and potential.
• The host institute: available study places.

Contact for further questions

• See the contact address for your country of origin (PDF, 136 kB, 05.09.2023) - this is the country according to your passport.
• Check the available scholarship types for your country of origin.
• Check the opening of the call and the submission deadline. Applications submitted too late will not be considered.

To Apply

• Download the application package (ZIP, 3 MB, 18.07.2023) (application forms and templates).
• Fill out and print.

To Submit

• Note: Two paper copies of your application must be submitted.
• Click here (PDF, 136 kB, 05.09.2023) for the e-mail contact that will give you the postal address of your country of origin.

Release of the program for 180+ countries: www.sbfi.admin.ch/scholarships_eng (early August)

Call for Applications

• Download application documents (this September).
• If you have questions, refer to the list of contacts.

Prepare Application

• Fill out the required forms, including a research proposal.
• Collect support letters and references.
• Ensure all documents are ready (before the submission deadline.)

Submission Deadline at Swiss Representation

• The submission deadline and postal address vary from country to country.
• Refer to this list of contacts for specific information (September - December).

Selection

• Applications are reviewed by the Federal Commission for Scholarships (FCS).
• Notification of results is expected (by the end of May.)

Start of Scholarships

• Scholarship recipients will start their programs at the Swiss academic host institution in the following (September.)

Select your country of origin according to your passport. Find out about the types of scholarships available, eligibility criteria, and application deadlines for your country.

For more information and questions, please contact the address provided in the list of contacts.

Select your country of origin according to your passport

Download the Application Package (ZIP, 3 MB, 18.07.2023)

Read the Application Guidelines (PDF, 753 kB, 19.07.2023) and follow the instructions.

Prepare your application and submit two complete copies to the relevant office in your country of origin according to the list of contacts (PDF, 136 kB, 05.09.2023) by the deadline.

Applications are subject to preliminary selection by the relevant national authorities and/or the Swiss diplomatic representation. The short-listed applications are then assessed by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS), which takes the final decision.

The FCS assesses scholarship applications according to three criteria:

1. Candidate profile
2. Quality of the research project or artistic work
3. Synergies and potential for future research cooperation

The FCS is composed of professors from Swiss public universities. Scholarship awards are decided on the basis of academic and scientific excellence.

The FCS will announce its decisions regarding the new scholarship awards by the end of May at the latest.

The FCS will select scholarship holders for the 2024-25 academic year by the end of May 2024. Scholarships for the 2025-26 academic year will be advertised online from August 2024.