The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship for the 2025-2026 academic year is a prestigious opportunity for international students pursuing master’s, PhD, and postdoctoral studies in Switzerland. This fully funded scholarship covers tuition fees, monthly payments (CHF 1,920), health insurance (for non-EU/EFTA grantees), airfare, and housing allowance. It is open to students and researchers from all countries who plan to study or conduct research at Swiss universities or institutes of technology.
Eligibility includes having a master’s degree by July 2024, being born after December 31, 1989, and securing an academic mentor from a Swiss university. Art students from select countries may also apply for a master’s degree. The program does not allow candidates who have been in Switzerland for over a year before the scholarship period or those who have previously received the scholarship.
To apply, students must submit a signed application form, CV, motivation letter, research proposal, and other supporting documents, including letters of recommendation and health certificates. The detailed application process is country-specific and must be submitted to the Swiss representation in the applicant’s country.
Types of Scholarships:
- Research Scholarships: Available for postgraduate researchers in all academic disciplines who hold a master’s degree. Research can be pursued at Swiss cantonal universities, universities of applied sciences, and the two federal institutes of technology.
- Art Scholarships: Available for art students pursuing an initial master’s degree in a Swiss conservatory or university of the arts. However, this is limited to students from select countries.
Scholarship Summary
Level of Study: Masters, PhD, Postdoctoral
Institution(s): Swiss Government / Swiss Universities
Study in: Switzerland
Opportunity Focus Areas: See types below.
Program Period: Depends on the chosen degree.
Deadline: Country specific. You can check from here
Scholarship Benefits:
- Monthly stipend of CHF 1,920.
- Mandatory Swiss health insurance (for non-EU/EFTA scholars).
- Return flight allowance (for non-EU/EFTA scholars).
- CHF 300 housing allowance.
- One-year half-fare public transportation card.
- Access to support services, trips, and events organized for scholars.
Eligibility Criteria for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships
To qualify for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships, candidate must fulfill all of the following requirements below:
- Required Language: English.
- Eligible Countries: All world countries.
- Master’s degree or equivalent university degree achieved before 31 July 2024 (degree certificate) recognized by the Swiss university. As a proof, the degree has to be submitted to the Federal Commission for Scholarships before the start of the scholarship.
- Applicants must be born after 31 December 1989.
- Applicants who have been in Switzerland since more than one year at the beginning of the scholarship in September are not eligible.
- Applicants must provide a letter from an academic host professor (including her/his short CV) at the chosen Swiss university confirming why she/he is willing to supervise and support the research. Without such support, the application will be rejected.
- Applicants must have a research proposal including a time frame. This is the centerpiece of the application. The applicant must devote all required attention to it.
- Applicants must be in command of the necessary language skills required for the research/studies.
- Applicants who have already benefited from a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship are not eligible to apply for a second scholarship.
- Scholarship holders are expected to move to Switzerland during their grant period.
Scholarship Coverage
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships will provide the recipient with the following benefits:
The scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of CHF 1,920.
For non-EU and non-EFTA grantees only: the FCS pays mandatory Swiss health insurance.
There are no family allowances.
Scholarship holders from non-EU and non-EFTA countries receive a flight allowance (lump sum) for a ticket back to their country of origin (provided at the end of the scholarship).
Special CHF 300 housing allowance (paid once at the beginning of the scholarship).
One-year half-fare public transportation card.
Support services and various trips, dinners and sightseeing tours organized for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship holders.
Please refer to the country-specific fact sheets for exact scholarship benefits.
Application Process:
- Prepare and sign the required documents (including a research proposal, CV, and letters of recommendation).
- Obtain the application package from the Swiss representation in your country.
- Submit two sets of application documents: one original and one copy.
How to Apply for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships?
Please follow the following application instructions to Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships:
(1) Prepare the following documents:
Signed FCS application form (typed and printed) with
A full CV with list of academic publications, awards,
A motivation letter (max. 2 pages).
A complete research proposal (max. 5 pages, signed), using exclusively the FCS research proposal
A copy of the letter from an academic host professor (including her/his short CV) at the chosen Swiss university confirming why she/he is willing to supervise and support the research.
A short CV of the academic mentor at the home institution.
Two confidential letters of recommendation from two different professors in the applicant’s field (use exclusively the FCS reference form – originals in sealed envelopes only for the 1st set). No copies for 2nd set.
Photocopies of certificates and grade sheets from previously attended universities/colleges and diplomas with grades, starting with the most recent. If not in English, French, Italian or German with attested certified translations in English. Do not submit the original certificates.
Signed medical certificate (use only the FCS health certificate form).
Two copies of the applicant’s passport (main page with personal data). Dual nationals add copies of both passports. Applicants already in Switzerland during the application procedure add a copy of the residence permit for Switzerland.
(2) The application package can be obtained Swiss representation of your country.
(3) Please submit 2 sets (=1 original + 1 copy) of application documents in exact order given below: The 1st set contains the original, signed documents plus the confidential letters of recommendation and, if applicable the attested translations in English. The other set is the copy of the 1st set except for the confidential letters of recommendation (only 1st set). No copies for 2nd set.
To learn more, you can visit the Official Website for country-specific deadlines and details.
You can also look up for more scholarship opportunities here
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