Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2026 – 2027

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

Warning against fake scholarship offers using the name of the Swiss Government (Phishing)
The State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation issues this warning against fake Swiss Federal Government Scholarships advertised by e-mail or published on social medias. Through these fake scholarship offers, crooks try to lead their victims to money transfers (under the pretext of visa and social insurance costs for example).
The Swiss Federal Commission for Scholarships (FCS) recommends never to answer to these e-mails and above all not to send any money. Please note that the application for a Swiss Government Scholarship is free of charge.

Art scholarships

Art scholarships are open to students wishing to pursue an initial Master’s degree in an artistic field in Switzerland. This scholarship is available to students from a limited number of countries only.

Art scholarship

Research scholarships

These scholarships are available to postgraduate researchers in any discipline wishing to pursue research at any Swiss cantonal university, university of applied sciences, either of Switzerland’s two federal institutes of technology (ETHZ or EPFL) or at one of the four research institutes within the ETH Domain (PSI, WSL, Empa, Eawag). Prerequisite: the scholarship application must be backed by an academic supervisor in Switzerland who is willing to direct and guide the applicant’s proposed research.

Expenses that will cover by Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships:

Master's, Ph.D., and postdoctoral students will receive a monthly stipend.
There is no charge for the application procedure.
Swiss health insurance will be given as a requirement.
After completing their studies, students from non-EU and non-EFTA nations will get a travel allowance (return to their home country).
At the start of the scholarship, a special housing allowance of 300 CHF will be provided.
Public transportation will be half-priced for students.
Support services, excursions, meals, and sightseeing tours will be available to students.

Eligibility Criteria for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships

In order to qualify for a place in the program you will need to meet the following requirements:

To be considered for this award, the candidate must obtain a letter of acceptance from a Swiss university professor. As a result, you must understand how to obtain a professor's acceptance letter.
A master's degree equal to a Swiss master's degree is required for Ph.D. and Post-doctoral positions.
A bachelor's degree comparable to a Swiss bachelor's degree is required for admission to the master's program.
The applicant must be a citizen of a country with which Switzerland maintains diplomatic ties.
Scholarship recipients must be able to relocate to Switzerland for the duration of their studies.
Applicants who have spent more than a year in Switzerland are ineligible to apply.
Any candidate who has previously received a Swiss government grant is unable to apply.
The master's program eligibility varies somewhat from nation to country. Select Your Country: Countries A – L / Countries M – Z to see whether you meet the qualifying requirements.

Documents Required for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships

A concise cv is attached.
A motivational letter.
Using the FCS form, create a research plan of no more than 5 pages (signed).
Two sets of documents should be submitted: one original and one copy.
The original signed documents, as well as two letters of recommendation, must be included in the first set (if applicable attested in English).
Except for recommendation letters, the second set must contain a duplicate of the previous set.
A photo-enhanced FCS form that has been written and printed.

What is the Deadline for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2026?

The deadline for submitting an application varies by country. The outcome of the Swiss scholarship will be revealed by the end of May 2026

How to Apply for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships?

Applicants must apply individually to Swiss universities for Ph.D., Post-Doctoral, or Master's degrees, as well as to the Federal Commission of Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS).
The candidate must provide a full profile as well as a research project or artistic piece.
The candidate must locate a supervisor from a selected Swiss university on his or her own.
It's best if the research of the professors you choose is related to your field of study.
Make direct touch with your lecturer and let them know you're interested in a Swiss Government scholarship.
Students wishing to apply for Arts must first establish their country's eligibility.
It is required that the paper be written in English.
The candidate must locate a supervisor from a selected Swiss university on his or her own.
It's best if the research of the professors you choose is related to your field of study.
Make direct touch with your lecturer and let them know you're interested in a Swiss Government scholarship.
Students wishing to apply for Arts must first establish their country's eligibility.
It is required that the paper be written in English.
The Swiss Embassy can provide you with the application package.