Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027 – 2028

These scholarships are awarded every year by the Swiss Confederation to support international exchange and research cooperation between Switzerland and more than 180 other countries. The Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS, also known as ESKAS) selects the recipients. You can check out more Internships, BS, MS, PhD and postdoc positions here.

What It Is All About:

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are mainly for talented early career researchers from abroad who have already completed their Master’s degree. The programme is open to applicants from 183 countries.

The maximum age limit is 35 years. The monthly funding is CHF 2,450 to cover basic living expenses for one person. This is not a salary and must not be treated as regular remuneration, either financially or legally.

Scholarship Types Overview:

Research Scholarships:

Objective

• The scholarship enables selected applicants to carry out a one-year research project as part of their doctoral studies at a Swiss higher education institution or recognised research institute.
• It is valid only for full-time research in Switzerland.

Target Group

• Highly qualified early-career researchers from all academic fields who are pursuing a PhD in their home country, including young medical doctors. Priority is given to individuals who have not previously studied or conducted research in Switzerland.

Eligibility Criteria

• 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
• Letter of support from an academic supervisor in Switzerland (including a short CV)
• If already residing in Switzerland: date of entry must not be earlier than 1 August 2026

Selection Criteria

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

Duration

• Maximum of 12 months (minimum of 6 months) No extensions possible Start date: 1 September 2027

Scholarship Amount

• CHF 2,450 per month for basic living expenses for one person

Academic Supervision Required

• Every application needs a letter of support from an academic supervisor at a Swiss university.
• The supervisor must be a professor or laboratory group leader (for PhD scholarships, authorised to supervise doctoral theses).
• Finding a supervisor can take weeks or months. It is your responsibility to contact them.
• This step is separate from applying for admission to a doctoral programme.

Key Application Documents

• Complete CV (including educational background, degrees, awards, positions, publications, teaching and practical experience)
• Letter of motivation (maximum 2 pages): reasons for staying in Switzerland, significance for your future career and plans after the scholarship
• Research proposal (detailed plan with timeline on the FCS/ESKAS form, maximum 5 pages including a summary for non-specialists)
• Letter of support from the Swiss academic supervisor (including short CV)
• Short CV of your academic supervisor at the home university
• E-mail addresses of two different professors in your field (they will be contacted through the system for recommendation letters)
• Copies of certificates and transcripts from previous universities (with certified translations if needed)
• Copy of passport (dual citizens must submit copies of both passports)
• Copy of residence permit or registration confirmation if already in Switzerland

Exclusion Criteria

• Incomplete application or formal errors
• Multiple applications for several host universities or scholarship types
• Living, studying or working in Switzerland since before 1 August 2026
• Already received a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
• Fourth application after three unsuccessful attempts
• No academic supervisor indicated
• No letter of support from the Swiss supervisor
• More than one research project proposal

Also Check: Paid Research internships at the Max Planck Institutes ,Germeny

PhD Scholarships:

Objective

• This scholarship supports selected applicants in pursuing a PhD at a Swiss university or recognised research institute. It is valid only for full-time research in Switzerland.

Target Group

• Highly qualified researchers who have completed a Master’s degree in any academic field.
• Priority is given to individuals who have not previously studied or conducted research in Switzerland.

Eligibility Criteria

• 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
• Letter of support from an academic supervisor in Switzerland (including a short CV)
• If already residing in Switzerland: date of entry must not be earlier than 1 August 2026

Selection Criteria

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

Duration

• 12 months, renewable up to twice for a total of 36 months (subject to academic progress in the first year) Start date: 1 September 2027

Scholarship Amount

• CHF 2,450 per month for basic living expenses for one person

Academic Supervision Required

• Same rules as Research Scholarships you must have a suitable supervisor in Switzerland.

Key Application Documents

• Same as for Research Scholarships (the only difference is that PhD scholarships at graduate schools also need official confirmation of admission to the graduate school).

Exclusion Criteria

Same as Research Scholarships, plus:

• Missing official confirmation of admission to the graduate school (if applying through one)
• Cotutelle de thèse projects (joint Swiss-foreign doctoral agreement) – these only qualify for the 12-month Research Fellowship, not full PhD scholarships.

Also Check: Paid Research internships at the Max Planck Institutes ,Germeny

Art Scholarships:

These are available only to a limited number of countries. They help talented young artists obtain their first Master’s degree in Switzerland.

Objective

• The scholarship enables selected applicants to pursue their first Master’s degree at a Swiss art school or conservatory. It is valid only for full-time studies in Switzerland.

Target Group

• Highly talented young artists who do not already hold a Master’s degree or equivalent qualification.
• Priority is given to individuals who have not previously studied or conducted research in Switzerland.

Eligibility Criteria

• 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 from a Swiss University of the Arts or Music (if the application period has not yet opened)
• If already residing in Switzerland: date of entry must not be earlier than 1 August 2026

Selection Criteria

• Artistic profile, qualifications and motivation
• Submitted portfolio showing artistic maturity and potential
• Enrolment availability at the chosen university

Duration

• 12 months Extension possible up to a maximum of 21 months (depending on the programme and required ECTS credits) Start date: 1 September 2027

Scholarship Amount

• CHF 2,450 per month for basic living expenses for one person

Key Application Documents

• Complete CV (including educational background, degrees, awards, list of exhibitions, concerts, teaching and practical experience)
• Letter of motivation (maximum 2 pages)
• E-mail addresses of two different professors in your field
• Copies of certificates and transcripts from previous universities (with certified translations if needed)
• Copy of passport (dual citizens must submit copies of both passports)
• Copy of residence permit or registration confirmation if already in Switzerland

Art Portfolio Requirements

Submit a PDF document with:

• In music: a link (e.g. YouTube) or QR code to a high-quality recording of three different styles of music (composers submit scores)
• In visual arts: a link or QR code to a portfolio showing three pieces of artwork together with sketches (with creation date and labelled with your first and surname plus country)
• In other artistic domains (dance, acting, writing): a link or QR code to recordings 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 conditional admission subject to an entrance examination)

Also Check: Remote UNDP Digital, AI & Innovation Internship programme 2026

Applying for a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship:

Applications open on 20 August 2026. Information on deadlines and scholarships available by country of origin will be published in August 2026.

Applications are submitted only through the online system at the Swiss diplomatic representations. Do not send applications by email or in paper form.

Selection Process

The Federal Commission for Scholarships assesses each application according to three main criteria:

• Candidate profile
• Quality of the research project or artistic work
• Synergies and potential for future research cooperation

Decisions are announced by the end of May at the latest

Key Steps to Apply

1. Check that you meet the eligibility requirements for your chosen scholarship type
2. Register in Grants Online (GO ESKAS)
3. Prepare and submit your application through the system
4. If applying for a research or PhD scholarship, identify and contact an academic supervisor in Switzerland

Also Check: Remote UNDP Digital, AI & Innovation Internship programme 2026