[Note from Josh: The deadlines differ by country, so please check what those are. 18 November is the latest of them]
For Foreign Scholars and Artists for the 2025-2026 Academic Year
Each year the Swiss Confederation awards Government Excellence Scholarships to promote international exchange and research cooperation between Switzerland and over 180 other countries. Recipients are selected by the awarding body, the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS).
The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are aimed at young researchers from abroad who have completed a master’s degree or PhD and at foreign artists holding a bachelor’s degree.
Information
One minute introduction to Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships
FAQs for scholarship applicants & academic supervisors (PDF, 126 kB, 26.06.2024)
Research scholarships
The research scholarship (research fellowship, PhD, Postdoc) is available to post-graduate researchers in any discipline (who hold a master’s degree is the minimum qualification required) who are planning to come to Switzerland to pursue research or further studies at doctoral or post-doctoral level.
Research scholarships are awarded for research or study at all Swiss cantonal universities, universities of applied sciences and the two federal institutes of technology, as well as the four research institutes. Only candidates nominated by an academic supervisor at one of these higher education institutions will be considered.
Research fellowship PhD scholarship Postdoctoral scholarship
Art scholarships
Art scholarships are open to art students wishing to pursue an initial arts master’s degree in Switzerland.
Art scholarships are awarded for study at any Swiss conservatory or university of the arts. This scholarship is available to students from a limited number of countries only.
Application procedure
| Release of programme for 180+ Countries | |
| Go to: www.sbfi.admin.ch/scholarships_eng | early August |
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| Call for Applications | |
| Download application documents, questions? see list of contacts | this September |
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| Prepare application | |
| Forms, research proposal, support letters, references | before the submission deadline |
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| Submission deadline at Swiss representation | |
| This date and the postal address varies from country to country | September – December |
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| Selection | |
| By the Federal Commission for Scholarships FCS | by the end of May |
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| Start of scholarships | |
| At the Swiss academic host institution | next September |
How to apply
Select your country of origin according to your passport. Find out about the types of scholarships available, eligibility criteria and application deadlines for your country. For more information and questions, please contact the address provided in the list of contacts (PDF, 299 kB, 31.07.2024).
Select your country of origin according to your passport (PDF, 299 kB, 31.07.2024)
North America (PDF, 197 kB, 31.07.2024)
South America (PDF, 205 kB, 31.07.2024)
Europe (PDF, 217 kB, 31.07.2024)
Africa (PDF, 90 kB, 31.07.2024)
Asia (PDF, 212 kB, 31.07.2024)
Australia and Ozeania (PDF, 187 kB, 31.07.2024)
Download the Application Package (ZIP, 2 MB, 31.07.2024)
Read the Application Guidelines (PDF, 789 kB, 31.07.2024) and read the instructions. Prepare your application and submit two complete copies to the relevant office in your country of origin according to the list of contacts (PDF, 299 kB, 31.07.2024) by the deadline.
Selection
Applications are subject to preliminary selection by the relevant national authorities and/or the Swiss diplomatic representation. The short-listed applications are then assessed by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS), which takes the final decision.
The FCS assesses scholarship applications according to three criteria:
- Candidate profile
- Quality of the research project or artistic work
- Synergies and potential for future research cooperation
The FCS is composed of professors from Swiss public universities. Scholarship awards are decided on the basis of academic and scientific excellence.
Awards
The FCS will announce its decisions regarding the new scholarship awards by the end of May at the latest.
Outlook
The FCS will select scholarship holders for the 2025-26 academic year by the end of May 2025. Scholarships for the 2025-26 academic year will be advertised online from August 2025.
