Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027-2028

Available Fields

• Natural Sciences

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027–2028 are funded by the Swiss Confederation to support international research cooperation and academic exchange. The programme is mainly aimed at early-career researchers who already hold a Master’s degree, with a separate scholarship available for selected students pursuing their first Master’s degree in an artistic field.

Opportunity

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027–2028

Type

Government Scholarship / Research Scholarship / PhD Scholarship / Art Master’s Scholarship

Funded By

Swiss Confederation

The programme is administered through the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS/ESKAS) and the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI).

Country

Switzerland

Eligible Countries

Applicants from approximately 183 countries are currently covered by the programme. Available scholarship types and deadlines differ according to the applicant’s country of origin.

Scholarship Levels

Research Fellowship
For researchers who are already pursuing a PhD in their home country and want to conduct a research project in Switzerland.

PhD Scholarship
For applicants who have completed a Master’s degree and want to pursue a PhD at an eligible Swiss institution.

Master in Arts Scholarship
For applicants wishing to pursue their first Master’s degree in an artistic field at a Swiss conservatory or university of the arts. This category is available only to applicants from selected countries.

Fields of Study

Research scholarships are available in all academic disciplines, subject to having an appropriate Swiss academic supervisor.

Art scholarships cover eligible artistic fields at Swiss universities of the arts and conservatories.

Basic Eligibility

For Research Fellowship and PhD applicants:

• Master’s degree or equivalent completed by 31 July 2027
• For ETH Zurich: by 30 June 2027
• Born after 31 December 1991
• Strong research proposal
• Academic supervisor at an eligible Swiss institution
• Letter of support from the Swiss supervisor

Scholarship Amount

CHF 2,450 per month

The amount is intended to cover basic living expenses for one person. It is a scholarship, not an employment salary.

Additional Benefits

Depending on nationality and scholarship category, benefits may include:

• Health insurance for eligible non-EU/EFTA scholars
• CHF 600 one-time rental deposit allowance
• Swiss Half-Fare Travelcard
• Organised activities and excursions
• Return-flight allowance for eligible non-EU/EFTA recipients

Tuition Fees

Important: the scholarship does not automatically cover tuition or semester fees.

Some universities may charge approximately CHF 600–2,000 per semester, which may need to be paid by the scholarship holder.

Research Fellowship Duration

6–12 months

Maximum: 12 months, with no extension.

Expected start: 1 September 2027.

PhD Scholarship Duration

Initially 12 months, renewable up to a maximum of 36 months, subject to satisfactory academic progress.

Expected start: 1 September 2027.

Main Application Documents

Typical research/PhD application components include:

• Complete CV
• Motivation letter — maximum 2 pages
• Research proposal — maximum 5 pages
• Research timeline
• Letter of support from a Swiss academic supervisor
• Supervisor’s short CV
• Two academic recommendation letters
• Academic certificates and transcripts
• Passport copy
• Residence documents if already living in Switzerland

Selection Criteria

Applications are assessed mainly on:

• Candidate’s academic profile
• Research competence and motivation
• Originality and methodological quality of the project
• Quality of academic supervision
• Potential for future research cooperation

Application Opening Date

20 August 2026

Application Deadline

There is no single worldwide deadline.

The deadline depends on the applicant’s country of origin, and Switzerland has published country-specific scholarship types and deadlines for the 2027–28 cycle.

Important Note

This should not be described as a general Bachelor’s/Master’s scholarship. The main programme targets researchers and PhD applicants who already hold a Master’s degree. Regular Master’s programmes are generally not funded, except for the specific Master in Arts scholarship available to selected nationalities.