Introduction – Swiss Government Excellence
The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2025-26 offer a prestigious opportunity for international students pursuing master’s, PhD, or postdoctoral studies. This program, funded by the Swiss Confederation, promotes global research collaboration and cultural exchange. The scholarships are awarded based on academic and research excellence, making them highly competitive. Notably, recipients benefit from financial support covering tuition fees, living expenses, health insurance, and travel costs. Furthermore, scholars gain access to a vast academic network within Switzerland, enhancing their research potential.
Additionally, the scholarship fosters cross-cultural experiences, allowing recipients to immerse themselves in Switzerland’s diverse cultural heritage. Transitioning to the application process, it is essential to prepare a strong research proposal, as this is a key criterion. Moreover, securing a letter of acceptance from a Swiss institution significantly strengthens your application. Lastly, early preparation and attention to detail are critical for success.
Scholarship Details
- Host Country: Switzerland
- Degree Level: Masters, PhD, Postdoc
- Awarded By: Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students
- Coverage: Fully Funded
- Nationality: International
- Last Date: 30 Sep 2024
Scholarship Benefits
- Zero Application Fee
- Monthly Stipend
Duration of Scholarship
- Research Scholarship in Switzerland – 12 months
- PhD Scholarship in Switzerland- 12 to 36 months
- Post-Doc Scholarship- 12 months
Eligibility Criteria
- The candidate must obtain an acceptance letter from a professor at a Swiss university to be eligible for this award. You must thus understand how to obtain an acceptance letter from a professor.
- A master’s degree that is comparable to a Swiss master’s degree is required for admission to PhD and postdoc programs.
- The applicant’s bachelor’s degree must be on par with the Swiss bachelor’s degree to be considered for the master’s program.
- The candidate must be a citizen of a nation with which Switzerland has diplomatic ties.
- Recipients of scholarships must be able to relocate to Switzerland for the duration of their studies.
- A candidate cannot apply if they have lived in Switzerland for more than a year.
- The applicant is not eligible to apply if they have previously received a grant from the Swiss government.
Required Documents
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Letter of Motivation
- Two Letters of Recommendation
- Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree Certificate
- Research Plan of Maximum of 5 pages (signed) using the FCS Form
Apply Procedure
- The applicants must submit separate applications to the Federal Commission of Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS) and Swiss universities for PhD, Post-Doctoral, or master’s degrees.
- The application must include a full biography, research project, and creative work.
- The candidate must independently locate a supervisor from the preferred Swiss university.
- It is advised that the chosen professors have research interests related to your field of study.
- Contact your lecturer directly and let them know you’re interested in the Swiss Government scholarship.
- Students must first verify that their nation qualifies for the Arts program.
- The document must be in English.