wiss Government Scholarships for International Students

Swiss Government, through the Federal Commission, offers excellence
scholarships for foreign scholars and artists in Switzerland. Scholarships are
available for pursuing Ph.D., postdoctoral, research programs and fi
ne
arts at one of the public funded universities or recognized institution.

The Swiss Government
Excellence Scholarships are aimed at young researchers from abroad who have
completed a master’s degree or Ph.D. and at foreign artists holding a
bachelor’s degree.

Each year the Swiss
Confederation awards Government Excellence Scholarships to promote
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).

Applicants from
outside the home country will often need to meet specific English
language/other language requirements in order to be able to study there.

Course
Level: Scholarships are available
for pursuing Ph.D., postdoctoral and research programs and fine arts
scholarships are for the Master program (according to the ECTS credits).

Study
Subject(s): Scholarships
are offered in diverse fields to help students in upgrading their
education.

Swiss
Government Scholarship

Scholarship
Award:
Scholarships will comprise of

PhD Scholarships

The
scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of CHF 1’920.
For
non-EU and non-EFTA grantees only: mandatory Swiss health insurance is paid
by the FCS.
There
are no family allowances.
Scholarship
holders from outside continental Europe receive a flight allowance (lump
sum) for a ticket back to their country of origin (provided at the end of
the scholarship).
Special
CHF 300 housing allowance (paid once at the beginning of the scholarship).
One-year
half-fare public transportation card.
Support
services and various trips, dinners and sightseeing tours organised for
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship holders.
PhD
scholarship holders may request a supplementary allowance for fieldwork.
For fieldtrips lasting longer than 2 months the scholarship amount will be
reduced to 50%.

Postdoctoral
scholarships:

The
scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of CHF 3’500.
For
non-EU and non-EFTA grantees only: mandatory Swiss health insurance is
paid by the FCS.
There
are no family allowances.
Scholarship
holders from outside continental Europe receive a flight allowance (lump
sum) for a ticket back to their country of origin (provided at the end of
the scholarship).
Special
CHF 300 housing allowance (paid once at the beginning of the scholarship).
One-year
half-fare public transportation card.
Support
services and various trips, dinners and sightseeing tours organised for
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship holders.

Research
scholarships

The
scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of CHF 1,920.
For
non-EU and non-EFTA grantees only: mandatory Swiss health insurance is
paid by the FCS.
There
are no family allowances.
Scholarship
holders from outside continental Europe receive a flight allowance (lump
sum) for a ticket back to their country of origin (provided at the end of
the scholarship).
Special
CHF 300 housing allowance (paid once at the beginning of the scholarship).
One-year
half-fare public transportation card.
Support
services and various trips, dinners and sightseeing tours organised for
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship holders.

Fine Arts

The
scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of CHF 1,920.
For
non-EU and non-EFTA grantees only: mandatory Swiss health insurance is
paid by the FCS.
There
are no family allowances.
Scholarship
holders from outside continental Europe receive a flight allowance (lump
sum) for a ticket back to their country of origin (provided at the end of
the scholarship).
Special
CHF 300 housing allowance (paid once at the beginning of the scholarship).
One-year
half-fare public transportation card.
Support
services and various trips, dinners and sightseeing tours organised for
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship holders.

Scholarship
can be taken in Switzerland

Eligibility:

PhD Criteria

Master’s
degree or equivalent university degree recognised by the Swiss university.
The applicant must have achieved this degree before the start of the
scholarship next September. As a proof the degree has to be submitted to
the Federal Commission for Scholarships before the start of the
scholarship.
Applicant’s
date of birth after 31 December 1982.
Applicants
who have been in Switzerland for more than one year at the beginning of
the scholarship in September are not eligible.
Applicants
must provide a letter from an academic host professor (including her/his
short CV) at the chosen Swiss university confirming why she/he is willing
to supervise and support the PhD thesis. Without such support, the
application will be rejected.
Applicants
must have a research proposal including a timeframe. This is the
centrepiece of the application. The applicant must devote all required
attention to it.
Applicants
must be in command of the necessary language skills required for the PhD
studies/ research.
Applicants
who have already benefited from a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
are not eligible to apply for a second scholarship.
Scholarship
holders are expected to move to Switzerland during their grant period.

Postdoctoral
Criteria

PhD
degree
No more
than five years may have passed between the award of the Ph.D. and the
application deadline.
Applicants
who are in Switzerland for more than one year at the beginning of the
scholarship in September are not eligible.
Applicants
must provide a letter (or email) from a professor at the Swiss host
institution stating that they are willing and entitled to supervise the
postdoctoral research. Without such confirmation, the application will be
rejected.
Applicants
must have a research proposal including a timeframe (this is the
centrepiece of the application. The applicant must devote all required
attention to it).
Applicants
must be in command of the necessary language skills required for the
postdoctoral research.
Applicants
who have already benefited from a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
are not eligible to apply for a second scholarship.

Research Criteria

Master’s
degree or equivalent university degree recognised by the Swiss university.
The applicant must have achieved this degree before the start of the
scholarship next September. As a proof the degree has to be submitted to
the Federal Commission for Scholarships before the start of the
scholarship.
Applicants
must be born after 31 December 1982
Applicants
who have been in Switzerland for more than one year at the beginning of
the scholarship in September are not eligible.
Applicants
must provide a letter from a professor at the Swiss host institution
stating that she/he is willing to support and supervise the research.
Without such support, the application will be rejected.
Applicants
must have a research proposal including a timeframe. This is the
centrepiece of the application. The applicant must devote all required
attention to it.
Applicants
must be in command of the necessary language skills required for the
research/studies.
Applicants
who have already benefited from a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
are not eligible to apply for a second scholarship. Scholarship holders
are expected to move to Switzerland during their grant period.

Fine Arts Criteria

Bachelor’s
degree or equivalent.
Applicants
must be born after 31 December 1982.
Applicants
should start their scholarship no later than three years after graduating
with their Bachelor’s degree.
Applicants
who have been in Switzerland for more than one year at the beginning of
the scholarship in September are not eligible.
Applicants
must be in command of the necessary language skills required for the
Master’s programme.
Applicants
who have already benefited from a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
are not eligible to apply for a second scholarship.
Scholarship holders are expected to move to Switzerland during their grant
period.

Nationality:
International
applicants are eligible to apply.

College
Admission Requirement

Entrance
Requirement: Applicants
must have their previous degree.

Test
Requirement: No

English
Language Requirements: Applicants
from outside the home country will often need to meet specific English
language/other language requirements in order to be able to study there.

How to
Apply:
The application package can be obtained by e-mail from the Swiss Embassy.
Please submit 3 sets (=1 original + 2 copies) of application documents in exact
order given below: The 1st set contains the original, signed documents plus the
confidential letters of recommendation and if applicable the attested
translations. The other two sets are the copies of the 1st set except for the
confidential letters of recommendation (only 1st set).

Signed
FCS application form (typed and printed) with photo.
A full
CV with list of academic publications.
A
motivation letter (max. 2 pages).
A
complete research proposal (max. 5 pages, signed), using exclusively the
FCS research proposal form.
A copy
of the letter from an academic host professor (including her/his short CV)
at the chosen Swiss university confirming why she/he is willing to
supervise and support the PhD thesis.
For PhD
scholarships at doctoral schools*: A proof that the applicant is being
considered for admission. Except: EPFL: accepted admission required.
*A support letter from a host professor is required in any case
additionally.
Two
confidential letters of recommendation from two different professors in
the applicant’s field (use exclusively the FCS reference form – originals
in sealed envelopes only for the 1st set).
Photocopies
of certificates and grade sheets from previously attended
universities/colleges and diplomas with grades, starting with the most
recent. If not in English, French, Italian or German with attested
certified translations.
Signed
medical certificate (use only the FCS health certificate form).
Two
copies of the applicant’s passport (main page with personal data). Dual
nationals add copies of both passports.
Please
do not put the documents into plastic folders or binders.