About the Switzerland Government Scholarship
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). The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are aimed at young researchers from abroad who have completed a master’s degree or Ph.D. and at foreign artists holding a bachelor’s degree.
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Categories of the Switzerland Government Scholarship Award
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, as well as the four research institutes. Only candidates nominated by an academic mentor at one of these higher education institutions will be considered.
The 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. This scholarship is available to students from a limited number of countries only.
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Eligibility for the Switzerland Government Scholarship
Each category of the Switzerland Government Scholarship has different eligibility requirements. Detailed requirements can be found on the official call. Meanwhile, the summary of the eligibility requirement for each category is stated below:
Ph.D. Scholarship
- Master’s degree or equivalent university degree achieved before 31 July 2023 (except ETH Zurich: 30 June 2023) (degree certificate completed)
- Applicants must be born after 31 December 1987.
- A research proposal including a timeframe.
- Mandatory letter from an academic host professor (including her/his short CV).
Research Fellowship
- Applicants must be born after 31 December 1987.
- A research proposal including a timeframe.
- Mandatory letter from an academic host professor (including her/his short CV)
Postdoctoral Fellowship
- PhD degree achieved after 31 December 2019 and before 31 July 2023 (except ETH Zurich: 30 June 2023)
- PhD degree certificate completed.
- A research proposal including a timeframe.
- Mandatory letter from an academic host professor (including her/his short CV)
Art Scholarship
- Applicants must be born after 31 December 1987.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent achieved before 31 July 2023 (degree certificate). –
- All applications for a second master’s degree are not allowed.
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Value of the Switzerland Government Scholarship
The Swizz government scholarship award will cover the full tuition of the program of choice. Along with the tuition fee, a monthly living stipend of:
Ph.D. Scholarship
The scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of CHF 1’920
Research Fellowship
The scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of CHF 1’920.
Postdoctoral Fellowship
The scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of CHF 3’500
Art Scholarship
The scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of CHF 1’920
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How to apply for the Switzerland Government Scholarship
The application for the scholarship is entirely online. You can access the application portal.
Selection Criteria for the Switzerland Government Scholarship
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:
- Candidate profile
- Quality of the research project or artistic work
- Synergies and potential for future research cooperation
- The FCS is composed of professors from all Swiss public universities. Scholarship awards are decided on the basis of academic and scientific excellence.
Application Deadline
The application deadline varies with country
For further details, see the official announcement
