Full funding · Study in Switzerland
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships
Monthly stipend of around CHF 1,920, tuition waivers at most institutions, health insurance and housing support
- Funder
- Swiss Confederation (FCS)
- Level
- Postgraduate · Doctoral
- Coverage
- Full
About this scholarship
The Swiss Confederation annually awards Excellence Scholarships for research stays, PhDs and postdoctoral work at any of Switzerland's ten cantonal universities, both federal institutes of technology (ETH Zurich and EPFL) and other eligible institutions.
Candidates apply through the Swiss embassy in their home country, and the package covers a research career start in one of Europe's strongest — and best paid — research systems.
🗓️ Deadline
Managed by Swiss embassies in each country — deadlines typically fall between September and December, a year ahead
Award cycles shift year to year. Confirm the current deadline on the official site before you plan around it.
Eligibility
- Citizen of an eligible country — over 180 countries participate, including Sri Lanka and India
- A master's degree (for PhD awards) completed before the start of the scholarship
- A concrete research proposal and a confirmed academic host supervisor in Switzerland
- Typically under 35 years of age — check your country's specific rules
- Research and doctoral awards only — taught master's degrees are not covered
How to apply
- Contact a Swiss professor willing to supervise and support your research plan
- Obtain the application pack from the Swiss embassy in your country
- Submit the full dossier — proposal, references, host letter — by your national deadline
- Shortlisted candidates may be interviewed by the embassy
- The Federal Scholarship Commission confirms awards the following spring
Studying in Switzerland
Elite universities, world-famous hospitality schools and unmatched quality of life. Post-study work: 6 months.
Other scholarships for Switzerland
Browse all Switzerland scholarshipsEPFL Excellence Fellowships
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
A grant of roughly CHF 10,000 to CHF 16,000 a year towards living costs during the master's
Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme
ETH Zurich
A grant covering living and study costs of around CHF 13,000 per semester plus a full tuition waiver
University of Geneva Excellence Master Fellowships
University of Geneva, Faculty of Science
A grant of CHF 10,000 to CHF 15,000 a year, with no teaching duties, for the standard duration of the master's
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships: your questions, answered
What does the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships cover?
Monthly stipend of around CHF 1,920, tuition waivers at most institutions, health insurance and housing support. The Swiss Confederation annually awards Excellence Scholarships for research stays, PhDs and postdoctoral work at any of Switzerland's ten cantonal universities, both federal institutes of technology (ETH Zurich and EPFL) and other eligible institutions.
Who is eligible for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships?
Core requirements are: Citizen of an eligible country — over 180 countries participate, including Sri Lanka and India; A master's degree (for PhD awards) completed before the start of the scholarship; A concrete research proposal and a confirmed academic host supervisor in Switzerland; Typically under 35 years of age — check your country's specific rules; Research and doctoral awards only — taught master's degrees are not covered. Eligibility rules are set by the funder and can change each cycle, so confirm on the official site before applying.
When is the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships deadline?
Managed by Swiss embassies in each country — deadlines typically fall between September and December, a year ahead. Because award cycles shift year to year, always check the official programme website for the current date.
Is the university placement service really free?
Yes, our service is 100% free. Counselling, university matching, application support and guidance right up to your offer cost you nothing. There are no consultation fees and no agent fees, because we are funded by our university partners. The only cost you take on is the university’s own tuition or semester fees, which you pay directly to the university after you accept your offer.
What exactly do you help with?
Everything from start to finish: understanding your options, shortlisting the right programme, preparing your application and personal statement, submitting to the university, and guiding you through the offer, enrolment and visa paperwork, all with a dedicated counsellor.
Which universities can you place me into?
We place students into a range of UK and international universities, and we shortlist the best-fit options for your grades, budget and goals rather than pushing a single school. On some pages we run dedicated free placement drives for a specific partner university, and we are always adding more partners. Tell us your goals and your counsellor will map out your options.