Deadline: Varies

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 PhD and at foreign artists holding a bachelor’s degree.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIP

1. The research scholarship (research fellowship, PhD, Postdoc) is available to post-graduate researchers in any discipline (who hold a master’s degree is the minimum qualification required) who are planning to come to Switzerland to pursue research or further studies at doctoral or post-doctoral level.
2. 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 supervisor at one of these higher education institutions will be considered.

ART SCHOLARSHIP

1. Art scholarships are open to art students wishing to pursue an initial arts master’s degree in Switzerland.
2. 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.

BENEFITS

1. The scholarship covers a monthly payment, exemption of tuition fees, health insurance, air fare, housing allowance, etc., as applicable. 
2. Please refer to the country-specific fact sheets for exact scholarship benefits.

SELECTION CRITERIA

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

APPLICATION

1. 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.
2. For more information and questions, please contact the address provided in the list of contacts (PDF, 136 kB, 02.08.2023)

OFFICIAL LINK