With the aim to promote international relations between Switzerland and other countries, the Swiss Confederation, since 1961, has been awarding the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships to high-achieving international students who are pursuing master’s or Ph.D. degrees. Every year, the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students, or FCS, evaluates thousands of applications coming from students across the globe. And only a handful of students are given the opportunity to become recipients of the said scholarship awards.
Types of Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships
There are two types of scholarships granted by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) which finances these scholarships.
Research Scholarships
Research Scholarships are aimed at postgraduate researchers of any field who hold at least a master’s degree and wish to pursue Ph.D. or PostDoctoral studies in Swiss universities. Only candidates who are nominated by an academic advisor (a supervisor from any of the affiliated Swiss universities) are eligible to apply for these three scholarships, namely, Research Fellowship, Ph.D. Scholarship, and Postdoctoral Scholarship.
Art Scholarships
These scholarships are offered to any art students who hold at least a bachelor’s degree and who wish to pursue a master’s degree at any Swiss Conservatory or University of Arts.
Scholarship Coverage
The scholarship coverage will vary per award granted. Here’s a list of coverage as per the award:
| Scholarship Name |
Scholarship Coverage |
| Research Fellowship |
– monthly payment of CHF 1,920
– living costs of one person |
| Ph.D. Scholarship |
– monthly payment of CHF 1,920
– living costs of one person |
| Postdoctoral Scholarship |
– monthly payment of CHF 3,500
– living costs of one person |
| Art Scholarship |
– monthly payment of CHF 1,920
– living costs of one person |
Eligibility Criteria
Here is a quick rundown of the eligibility criteria per scholarship, however, the eligibility may still differ per country. We recommend getting in contact with the official diplomatic representatives in your home country.
| Scholarship Name |
Eligibility Criteria |
| Research Fellowship |
– must hold a master’s degree or equivalent
– prospective applicants must be born after December 31, 1988
– have a research proposal with a set time frame
– must have a detailed short CV with a mandatory letter from the academic host professor |
| Ph.D. Scholarship |
– must hold a master’s degree or equivalent
– prospective applicants must be born after December 31, 1988
– have a research proposal with a set time frame
– must have a detailed short CV with a mandatory letter from the academic host professor |
| Postdoctoral Scholarship |
– completed Ph.D. degree after December 30, 2020, and before July 31, 2024
– must have a research proposal with a set time frame
– must have a detailed short CV with a mandatory letter from the academic host professor |
| Art Scholarship |
– bachelor’s degree or equivalent
– prospective applicants must be born after December 31, 1988 |
List of Eligible Countries
There are over 180 countries eligible for this scholarship. The scholarship amount, eligibility, and application deadline vary by country, so please check the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships official page to view the specific requirements for your country.
Application Dates and Deadlines
The application procedures are usually announced every August with application deadlines closing around September to December depending on the applicant’s country.
Application Procedures
- Each country and scholarship has a different set of requirements. We advise you to visit the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships page and select your country of origin to check the different requirements for your country.
- Review the eligibility criteria and application procedure for your specific country.
- Prepare the necessary documents that are outlined in the document.
- Submit the necessary documents and the application forms by the deadline set by your country.
The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are just one of the scholarship opportunities in Switzerland you can apply to. Aside from these awards, you can also check this list of university and privately funded scholarships in the country for more study options!
We hope this article has helped you understand the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships. For more articles about studying in Switzerland, visit our Switzerland Page and Available Programs in Europe.
