Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027–2028

Benefits:

1. Monthly scholarship allowance of CHF 2,450.

2. The scholarship provides financial support for living expenses during the approved scholarship period in Switzerland.

3. Scholarship holders from non-EU/EFTA countries receive Swiss health and accident insurance coverage paid by the Swiss Government.

4. A one-off housing allowance of CHF 600 is available under the applicable scholarship arrangements.

5. Successful researchers gain access to Switzerland's internationally recognised universities and research institutions.

6. Scholars can develop research collaborations with Swiss academics and researchers.

7. The programme provides an opportunity to build international academic networks that may support future research and professional collaborations.

8. The scholarship is intended to support full-time research in Switzerland rather than part-time or remote study.

Scholarship Duration:

1. Research fellowships are designed as one-year research opportunities.

2. The scholarship period depends on the approved research project and applicable scholarship regulations.

3. The programme should not be confused with a full degree scholarship automatically covering an entire PhD programme in Switzerland.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

1. Switzerland has a strong international reputation for scientific research, higher education and innovation.

2. The scholarship is particularly suitable for doctoral researchers who already have a clear research direction and want to gain international research experience.

3. Researchers can work with academic supervisors and research teams at recognised Swiss institutions.

4. The programme supports research across a broad range of disciplines rather than being restricted to one academic field.

5. Successful applicants can establish international collaborations that may remain valuable after completing the scholarship.

6. The scholarship provides substantial monthly financial support while the researcher is carrying out the approved research in Switzerland.

What Applicants Should Prepare:

1. A well-developed research proposal explaining the research problem, objectives, methodology, expected contribution and proposed work plan.

2. A strong academic CV highlighting degrees, research experience, publications, conferences, awards and other academic achievements.

3. Academic certificates and transcripts.

4. Evidence of current doctoral study where required.

5. A letter or confirmation from an appropriate academic supervisor in Switzerland.

6. Recommendation letters from suitable academic referees.

7. A clear explanation of why the proposed research should be conducted in Switzerland and how it fits the expertise of the proposed host institution.

8. Applicants should also review the country-specific application requirements before submitting their application.

Application Information:

1. Applications for the 2027–2028 scholarship cycle opened on 20 August 2026.

2. The application deadline is country-specific and must be checked using the requirements for the applicant's country of origin.

3. Applicants should begin by checking the scholarship category available to them and confirming that they satisfy the country-specific eligibility requirements.

4. Research applicants must identify an appropriate academic supervisor in Switzerland.

5. Applications are prepared through the official Swiss Government scholarship system.

6. Applicants must submit their applications according to the procedure specified for their country. Applications should not be sent by ordinary email or paper mail when the online application procedure applies.

7. The FCS evaluates applications based on the candidate's academic profile, the quality of the proposed research project, and the potential for future research cooperation.

8. Scholarship decisions for the following academic year are expected to be communicated by the end of May at the latest.

Important 2027–2028 Update:

1. Postdoctoral scholarships are no longer offered from the 2027–2028 academic year.

2. The programme has increased the monthly scholarship contribution to CHF 2,450.

3. The number of funded scholarship places has been reduced, making the competition particularly important for applicants to present strong academic profiles and well-developed research proposals.