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
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Application Opens | 4 August 2025 |
| Application Window | September – December 2025 (varies by country) |
| Selection Results Released | By May 2026 |
| Scholarship Start | September 2026 |
| Scholarship Duration | 12 months (renewable up to 3 years for research); art: up to 21 months |
| Monthly Stipend | CHF 1,920 (PhD/Research); CHF 3,500 (Postdoc) |
| Eligibility Deadline | Master’s: by 31 July 2025 (30 June for ETH) |
| Requirements | Academic host letter, research proposal, CV, references |