Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027/28 Open for International Students and Artists

If you find it daunting to pay your living costs and tuition fees abroad, then the Swiss Scholarships for International Students can help you study in Switzerland.

The Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students has announced the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships to help international students study in Switzerland. It offers researchers, artists, and scholarship holders the chance to work on research grants, study for PhD degrees, or take art programs in Switzerland. The scholarship program promotes international cooperation and knowledge sharing and supports international research collaborations between Switzerland and almost 180 countries worldwide.

Whether you are a researcher about to conduct doctoral or post-doctoral research or an artist wanting to experience the Art Basel event, this scholarship scheme is a great opportunity to study abroad at some of the most reputable institutions known for their high research standards. 

Overview of Awarded Categories

The Swiss scholarships for international students aim to attract qualified candidates in the field of postgraduate research, doctoral studies, and fine arts:

• Research Fellowship: This program is meant for students who have high qualifications and possess a master’s degree or equivalent in any discipline and wish to pursue advanced research or studies in Switzerland.
• PhD Scholarship: This type of scholarship is intended for exceptional master’s degree holders who would like to pursue full doctoral programs at accredited universities in Switzerland.
• Art Scholarship: It is a scholarship for students of fine arts and music who want to gain their first master’s degree in Switzerland. The scholarships can be applied to every institution of arts in Switzerland, and applications can be made only by students from some selected countries.

Financial Coverage and Included Benefits

Scholarship recipients are given a support package that is aimed at reducing their financial burdens and allowing them to focus solely on their studies:

• Monthly Living Stipend: Recipients receive a monthly stipend of CHF 2,450 from the research grants, doctoral scholarships, and artistic scholarships that they receive, which will help them to cover all necessary expenses related to living. (Important note: this stipend is provided only for the personal use of the recipients and is not meant to be used as payment for their work or for conducting their research/conferences).
• Mandatory Health Insurance: The Foundation for the International Scholarship covers the whole cost of mandatory health insurance for non-EU/EFTA citizens.
• Housing Allowance: The beneficiaries will receive a one-time grant of CHF 600 to start their new life by covering the rent for the first month.
• Public Transport: The applicants will be provided with a Swiss Half-Fare Travelcard, which will save them money on travel by train, trams, or buses across the country.
• Return ticket fare: The applicants will get their airfare covered for return home after completing their studies.
• Cultural Integration: The coordinating body arranges special activities and outings for the eligible candidates for federal scholarships who are going to study in Switzerland

Key Obligations and Financial Considerations

To remain eligible for the stipend and to plan their stay in the right way, candidates need to be aware of some particular requirements set by the Swiss authorities:

• Obligation to Reside in Switzerland: The recipient of the scholarship must mandatorily stay in the territory of Switzerland for the entire duration of his/her study at the institution.
• Educational Expenses: The scholarship amount does not include expenses related to education. The tuition fees for the universities may vary from CHF 600 to CHF 2000 depending on the institution.
• Restrictions Regarding Family Members: The amount of money received may only be used by the scholar himself/herself and is not meant to include any funds for dependents since the family reunification process is very complicated.
• Prohibition to Work: The scholarship cannot be received at the same time as full-time employment.

Participating Swiss Higher Education Institutions

Here are the leading participating universities offering Swiss scholarships for international students:

• Cantonal Universities are funded and managed by the individual Swiss cantons in Switzerland and focus on scientific research while providing the education needed for scientific studies. There are10 universities in this category: University of Basel, University of Bern, University of Fribourg, University of Geneva, University of Lausanne, University of Luzern, University of Neuchâtel, University of St. Gallen, University of Zurich, and Università della Svizzera italiana.
• The Federal Institutes of Technology are run by the country’s government and focus on technology, engineering, and research in natural sciences. This includes the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ), and other research institutions in the ETH Domain (PSI, WSL, EMPA, EAWAG).
• Universities of Applied Sciences deal with practical professional training and practical research instead of theoretical or academic research. Some of these universities are the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID), HES-SO, BFH, FHNW, OST, HSLU, ZHAW, and ZHDK.

How to Apply: Step-by-Step Instructions

Below are the steps to follow to submit your application for the scholarships: 

1. Check the requirements of your Country: Research the various types of scholarships available, their eligibility criteria, and their application deadlines for your nationality by consulting the complete list of countries and territories.
2. Get an Academic Supervisor (Important Step): For a research fellowship or PhD application, it is a must to seek help from a professor/academic supervisor working at a Swiss institute and acquire a formal support letter from him/her.
3. Open the GO ESKAS website: After doing the previous steps, you will have to proceed to the online application portal (Grants Online/GO ESKAS).
4. Fill out and submit the application package: You will then need to prepare your research proposal, motivation letter, transcript, reference letters from your professors, and endorsement letter from the host, etc. and submit all the documents before the given deadline via the online application system.

The Road Ahead

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships provide individuals worldwide a chance to achieve their goals in arts and research regardless of whether they want to pursue a career in education, research, or arts. The call for applications for the 2027/28 academic cycle is open now. For detailed information regarding submission periods for different countries, academic requirements, and application documents, to access the official website of the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI).