Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027-2028 for Foreign Scholars & Artists

Overview

Each year the Swiss Confederation awards Government Excellence Scholarships to encourage international exchange and research cooperation between Switzerland and more than 180 other countries. Recipients are selected by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students. The scholarships are mainly intended for talented early career researchers from abroad who have already completed a master's degree, and the 2027-2028 programme is open to applicants from 183 countries.

Who can apply

Three scholarship types exist. Research scholarships last 12 months and are open to postgraduate researchers in any discipline from 183 countries. They require a master's degree and a Swiss academic supervisor willing to guide the proposed research, at a cantonal university, a university of applied sciences, ETHZ, EPFL or one of the four ETH Domain research institutes: PSI, WSL, Empa and Eawag. PhD scholarships last 36 months, are open to PhD students from 183 countries and also require a master's degree and a supervisor. Art scholarships last 21 months and are for students pursuing an initial master's degree in an artistic field in Switzerland. They are open to candidates from only 26 countries and require a bachelor's degree plus admission or proof of application.

What you get

Research, PhD and art scholarship holders receive CHF 2,450 per month to cover basic living costs for one person, which is not a salary. No funding is provided for fieldwork or conferences. Additional benefits include health insurance premiums for holders from non-EU/EFTA countries, a one-time CHF 600 grant for a rental deposit, a Half-Fare Travelcard and excursions organised by the coordinating body. Holders from non-EU/EFTA countries also receive a return flight allowance that depends on the country of origin.

Scholarship holders pay their own tuition and semester fees, which can be roughly CHF 600 to CHF 2,000 per semester, plus conference costs and any field research costs. EU/EFTA holders also cover their own health insurance and travel.

How to apply

Applications are submitted to Swiss diplomatic representations, and deadlines and available scholarships depend on the country of origin. Applications are assessed on the candidate profile, the quality of the research project or artistic work, and synergies and potential for future research cooperation. Decisions for the following academic year are announced by the end of May at the latest.