Government Excellence Scholarships are given out annually by the Swiss Confederation to encourage worldwide travel and research collaboration between Switzerland and more than 180 other nations. The Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS), the organization that grants the scholarships, chooses the recipients.
Young international researchers who have achieved a master’s or PhD degree, as well as foreign artists who hold a bachelor’s degree, are the target audience for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships.
Research scholarships
The research scholarship (research fellowship, PhD, Postdoc) is available to post-graduate researchers in any discipline who plan to travel to Switzerland to conduct research or further their education at the doctoral or post-doctoral level and who hold a master’s degree as the minimum qualification required.
All Swiss cantonal universities, universities of applied sciences, the two federal institutes of technology, and the four research institutes offer research scholarships for study or research. Only applicants who have been recommended by a faculty member at one of these higher education institutions will be taken into consideration.
Art scholarships
Students who want to study art and earn their first master’s degree in the arts in Switzerland are eligible for art scholarships.
Any Swiss conservatory or art university may offer art award for students. Only students from a select group of countries are eligible for this scholarship.
Deadline for Applications: Variable
How to apply
Pick your country of origin based on the information on your passport. Learn about the different kinds of scholarships that are offered, the requirements for applying, and the deadlines in your country.
Selection
The competent state authorities and/or the Swiss diplomatic representation may pre-select applications. The Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS) evaluates the applications that were shortlisted before making a final decision.
The FCS assesses scholarship applications according to three criteria:
- Candidate profile
- The caliber of the research or artistic work
- Potential for future research collaboration and synergies
Professors from Swiss public universities make up the FCS. Academic and scientific excellence is the criterion used to determine scholarship awards.
Outlook
By the end of May 2024, the FCS will choose the recipients of its scholarships for the academic year 2024–25.
For Additional Information
Visit the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2024/2025 Official Website.