💡 Unlock Academic Opportunity with Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships

Every year, the Swiss Government awards Excellence Scholarships to exceptional international scholars and artists to foster global research & artistic collaboration. These scholarships are administered by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS) under the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI).


🎯 What It Offers

  • Fully-funded Research Scholarships (PhD & Postdoctoral level) and Art Scholarships (for master’s-level creatives)
  • Open to applicants from over 180 countries, encouraging diverse international participation
  • Host institutions include Swiss cantonal universities, universities of applied sciences, ETH Zurich, EPFL, and selected research institutes
  • Benefits such as monthly stipends (≈ CHF 1,920 for PhD/Research; ≈ CHF 3,500 for Postdocs), health insurance, transport pass, and a housing deposit stipend

🧭 Who Can Apply?

  • Research Scholarships: Master’s degree (or equivalent) completed before 31 July 2025 (ETH Zurich: 30 June 2025)
  • Art Scholarships: Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) earned before the same deadline
  • Candidates usually must not have lived in Switzerland for more than a year at application time
  • Applicants must secure a letter of support from a Swiss academic host supervisor, including their short CV

📅 Timeline & Deadlines

  • Applications open: 4 August 2025 for the 2026–2027 academic year cycle
  • Application deadlines: Vary by country, typically September to December 2025
  • Selection results: Announced by end of May 2026
  • Programme start: Scholarships begin with the Swiss academic year, in September 2026

📝 Application Essentials

Applicants must prepare:

  • Completed ESKAS application form
  • Research proposal (≤ 5 pages)
  • Motivation letter (≤ 2 pages)
  • Academic CV with publications
  • Host supervisor’s support letter + CV
  • Two confidential letters of recommendation
  • Academic transcripts and degree evidence
  • Medical certificate & passport copies, translated if required
    Submissions are paper-based, with two sets (1 original, 1 copy) sent to the Swiss diplomatic mission or scholarship office in the applicant’s country of origin

✅ Why This Scholarship Is Unique

  • Prestigious and competitive: Selected by FCS based on academic excellence, originality, and research impact
  • Full access to Switzerland’s world-class educational and research system
  • Exceptional support for personal development, networking, and international collaboration

📘 Summary Table

FeatureDetails
Application Opens4 August 2025
Application WindowSeptember – December 2025 (varies by country)
Selection Results ReleasedBy May 2026
Scholarship StartSeptember 2026
Scholarship Duration12 months (renewable up to 3 years for research); art: up to 21 months
Monthly StipendCHF 1,920 (PhD/Research); CHF 3,500 (Postdoc)
Eligibility DeadlineMaster’s: by 31 July 2025 (30 June for ETH)
RequirementsAcademic host letter, research proposal, CV, references

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