The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are awarded by the Swiss Confederation's Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS) to promote international exchange and research cooperation. They support advanced postgraduate researchers and artists from around the world who wish to pursue doctoral or postdoctoral research (and, for some countries, arts master's study) at a Swiss public university or recognised institution. The research scholarship supports PhD, joint/cotutelle doctorates, and postdoctoral research; the arts scholarship supports master's study in art for students from a defined list of countries. Eligibility, available scholarship types, and quotas are set country-by-country and administered through the Swiss embassy in the applicant's home country. The award provides a monthly stipend, tuition exemption at most institutions, health insurance, and additional allowances, and is highly regarded for its rigorous, research-led selection.
Identify the scholarship type available for your country, secure a Swiss host supervisor, and apply through the Swiss embassy in your home country by its specific deadline.
Applications are submitted to the Swiss embassy in your home country, not directly to the university. Deadlines vary by country (often ~September–December).
~180 countries (types and quotas vary; see your Swiss embassy)
Applications are pre-selected by the Swiss embassy in the applicant's country and then evaluated by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS), which weighs the candidate's profile, the quality and feasibility of the research proposal, and the fit with the Swiss host. Final decisions rest with the FCS in Bern.
The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are awarded by the Swiss Confederation through the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS), under the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). They promote international exchange and research cooperation between Switzerland and other countries, administered in each country by the local Swiss embassy.
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
Scholarships from the Swiss Confederation's Federal Commission for Scholarships (FCS) for international researchers and artists to pursue doctoral/postdoctoral research (or, for some countries, an arts master's) at Swiss institutions.
International graduates selected via the Swiss embassy in their home country — typically with a master's for PhD applicants or a PhD for postdocs, within an age limit, and with a Swiss host supervisor.
A monthly stipend (~CHF 1,920 for PhD researchers, higher for postdocs), tuition exemption at most institutions, health insurance, a housing allowance, a half-fare travel card, and sometimes airfare.
Yes — for the research scholarship you normally need a letter of acceptance from a professor or supervisor at a Swiss institution before you apply. Securing a host is a key early step.
Through the Swiss embassy in your home country — not directly to the university. Each country has its own deadline and available scholarship types.
It varies by country, commonly between ~September and ~December for a start the following academic year. Check your Swiss embassy's page for the exact date.
Research scholarships (PhD, cotutelle doctorate, postdoctoral research) for most countries, and arts scholarships (master's study in art) for a defined list of countries.
Often yes — research scholarships typically require applicants to be under ~35, though the exact cut-off is set per country. Check your local rules.
Selective and research-led — embassies pre-select strong candidates and the FCS makes the final call based on profile and research-proposal quality.
The research scholarship typically funds up to ~12 months initially, renewable for the duration of a PhD in many cases, subject to satisfactory progress and FCS rules.
Swiss public universities, the federal institutes of technology (ETH Zurich, EPFL), and recognised research institutions; arts scholarships are tied to Swiss universities of the arts.
The scholarship is calculated for the individual scholar. Some allowances exist, but you should plan for family living costs separately.