Swiss Government 2027 – 2028 Excellence Scholarships for International Students.

Applications for the Swiss Government Scholarship open on 20 August 2026.

Each year the Swiss Confederation awards Government Excellence Scholarships to encourage 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 aka ESKAS). Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are mainly intended for talented early career researchers (ECRs) from abroad who have already completed their Master’s degree. The scholarship programme is currently open to applicants from 183 countries.

Two different Scholarships are given to international students:

• Research scholarships
• Art scholarships

Benefits

• Research fellowships, PhD scholarships and art scholarships: CHF 2,450 per month to cover basic living expenses of one person.
  Please note: This scholarship is not a salary.
  No funding is provided for fieldwork and participation in conferences
• Additional benefits:
  • Health insurance: FCS covers the premiums for compulsory health insurance for scholarship holders from non-EU/EFTA countries. Scholarship holders from EU/EFTA countries must cover these costs themselves.
  • One-time grant of CHF 600 for rental deposit.
  • Half-Fare Travelcard for public transport
  • In addition, the coordinating body organises excursions and activities for federal scholarship holders.
  • Return flight allowance:
    Scholarship holders from non-EU/EFTA countries receive a return flight allowance (amount determined by country of origin). This allowance may be used up to two months after expiry of the scholarship exclusively for the purpose of returning to the country of origin.

Costs to be paid by scholarship holders:

• Tuition fees:
  The Federal Excellence Scholarship does not cover tuition or semester fees. In some cases, universities, universities of applied sciences or federal institutes of technology require scholarship holders to pay semester fees (approx. CHF 600 to CHF 2,000 per semester) or reduced tuition fees. In some cases, PhD fees are not waived.
  Scholarship holders must cover these fees themselves.
• Conferences:
  The costs of participating in international conferences are borne by the scholarship holders.
• Field research:
  PhD scholarship holders may request to do field research for up to six months (without additional funding). All associated costs are borne by the scholarship holders.
• Travel expenses:
  Scholarship holders from EU/EFTA countries must pay their own travel expenses.

Requirements

Arts Scholarships

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent completed by 31 July 2027.
• Date of birth after 31 December 1991.
• Applicants must not yet hold a Master’s degree at the start of the scholarship.
• Admission letter or proof of application of a Swiss University of the Arts or Music. If applicable: confirmation that the application period has not yet opened.
• If the applicant already resides in Switzerland: date of entry must not be earlier than 1 August 2026 (submit a copy of the registration confirmation or residence permit).

Research Scholarships

• Master’s degree or equivalent completed by 31 July 2027 (for ETH Zurich: 30 June 2027).
• Date of birth after 31 December 1991.
• Detailed research plan with a timeline specifying key milestones and activities.
• Applicants must have a letter of support from an academic supervisor in Switzerland (including a short CV).
• If the applicant already resides in Switzerland: date of entry must not be earlier than 1 August 2026 (submit a copy of the registration confirmation or residence permit).

Research scholarships: Academic supervision required

• An academic supervisor at a Swiss university is required for all scholarship applications (research fellowships, PhD scholarships). Each applicant must find a supervisor in Switzerland to endorse the proposed research project and write a letter of support. Scholarship applications without an academic supervisor will not be considered. This also applies to graduate schools (doctoral programmes).
• It is the responsibility of each individual scholarship applicant to find a suitable academic supervisor.
• Suitable supervisors: professors and laboratory group leaders. For PhD scholarships, supervisors must be authorised to supervise doctoral theses.
• At universities of applied sciences, a doctorate requires two academic supervisors. One of them must be authorised to confer doctorates at a traditional university.

Before contacting a potential supervisor

• Academic relevance: Check whether the academic supervisor at a Swiss higher education institution is conducting research in your desired field.
• Self-assessment: Make sure that your skills and credentials meet all the requirements for the desired scientific collaboration.
• Thorough research: Be precise. For example, verify the degree requirements relevant to your intended scholarship before reaching out.
• Keep in mind: The search for an academic supervisor can take weeks or even months, as professors receive many enquiries.

Please note: The application for a PhD scholarship, including the letter of support from a host supervisor, and the application for admission to a doctoral programme at a Swiss higher education institution are two separate procedures.

Selection Process

Arts Scholarships

Applications are submitted to Swiss diplomatic representations. 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

Research Scholarships

• Academic profile, research competence, and motivation
• Originality and methodological quality of the project
• Quality of supervision and potential for future collaboration

Application Documents

Research scholarships: Key elements of the scholarship application

• Complete CV including educational background, degrees, awards, positions, publications, teaching and practical experience.
• Letter of motivation (max. 2 pages): reasons for stay in Switzerland, significance for future career and professional plans after the scholarship.
• Research proposal : detailed research plan with a timeline specifying key milestones and activities. To be submitted on FCS/ESKAS form (max. 5 pages including a summary for non-specialists). The form can be downloaded in the online application.
• Letter of support from an academic supervisor at a Swiss higher education institution.
• Short CV (max. 2 pages) from this academic supervisor.
• For research fellowships: short CV of the academic supervisor at the home university.
• For PhD scholarships at graduate schools only: confirmation of admission to graduate school (see FAQ for more details).
• E-mail addresses of two different professors in the relevant academic field must be provided during the online application. Those professors will be contacted through the application system and asked to upload a recommendation letter (FCS/ESKAS form).
• Copies of certificates and transcripts from previous universities (if not in English, French, Italian or German, with certified translations).
• For India: self-certification accepted.
• Copy of passport (dual citizen submit copies of both passports).
• Copy of residence permit or of registration confirmation if already residing in Switzerland.

Art scholarships: Key elements of the scholarship application

• Complete CV including educational background, degrees, awards, list of exhibitions, concerts, teaching and practical experience.
• Letter of motivation (max. 2 pages): reasons for stay in Switzerland, significance for future career and professional plans after the scholarship.
• E-mail addresses of two different professors in the relevant field must be provided during the online application. Those professors will be contacted through the application system and asked to upload a recommendation letter (FCS/ESKAS form).
• Copies of certificates and transcripts from previous universities (if not in English, French, Italian or German, with certified translations).
• Copy of passport (dual citizen submit copies of both passports).
• Copy of residence permit or of registration confirmation if already residing in Switzerland.
• Art Portfolio:
  Submit a PDF document that includes:
  • in the field of music: a link (e.g. YouTube) or QR code to a high quality recording of three different styles of music. Composers submit their scores.
  • in the field of visual arts: a link or QR code to a portfolio showing three pieces of artwork together with sketches (indicating the creation date and labelled with the applicant’s first and surname and country).
  • in other artistic domains (e.g., dance, acting, writing): a link or QR code to a recording of artistic performances and creations.
• Confirmation from the Swiss University of the Arts or Music showing that admission has already been granted or is currently under review.
• This can also be a conditional admission, subject to an entrance examination or other specific requirements.  
  If registration at the chosen university is not yet possible, a confirmation from the Swiss university about the start date of the admission process is sufficient (e.g., an email from the university).

Method of Application

For More Information,

Visit the Official Webpage