Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Students

Brief description: 

Each year, the Swiss Confederation awards Government Excellence Scholarships to promote international exchange and research cooperation between Switzerland and over 180 other countries.

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.

Host Institution(s):

One of the 10 Swiss cantonal universities, the two Swiss federal institutes of technology or public teaching and research institutes.

Level/Field of study:

Doctoral or Postdoctoral Studies or Research in any discipline

Target group:

International students from more than 180 countries.  See the official website for complete list of eligible countries.

Scholarship inclusions:

The scholarship covers CHF 2,450 per month to cover basic living expenses for one person and some additional benefits such as: health insurance, one time grant of CHF 600 for rental deposit, half-fare travel card, return flight allowance (from non-EU/EFTA countries). The scholarship does not cover tuition or semester fees. In some cases, universities, universities of applied sciences or federal institutes of technology require scholarship holders to pay semester fees (approx. CHF 600 to CHF 2,000 per semester) or reduced tuition fees. In some cases, PhD fees are not waived.

• Scholarship holders must cover these fees themselves.

The scholarship duration is 12 months with extension possible up to a maximum of 21 months, depending on the chosen Master’s degree programme and the required ECTS credits.

Eligibility Criteria:

• • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent completed by 31 July 2027.
• • Date of birth after 31 December 1991.
• • Applicants must not yet hold a Master’s degree at the start of the scholarship.
• • Admission letter or proof of application of a Swiss University of the Arts or Music. If applicable: confirmation that the application period has not yet opened.
• • If the applicant already resides in Switzerland: date of entry must not be earlier than 1 August 2026 (submit a copy of the registration confirmation or residence permit).

Application instructions:

Applications open 20 August 2026.

Please see the country-specific fact sheets for eligibility criteria, application procedure, deadlines, and contact information specific to your country.  If you fulfill the eligibility requirements, contact the Swiss diplomatic representation in your country of origin. The diplomatic representation will provide you with all the necessary information regarding the procedure including application forms and a list of required documentation.

The application deadline falls between September-December 2026, depending on the Swiss Embassy to which the applications have to be submitted.

It is important to visit the official website (link found below) for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.

Website:

Official Scholarship Website: https://www.sbfi.admin.ch/en/swiss-government-excellence-scholarships-at-a-glance

Related Scholarships: List of Switzerland Scholarships