Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships

About the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships is offered by FCS (Swiss Confederation). Research, PhD and postdoc scholarships (plus fine-arts Master's) at Swiss universities for young researchers from 180+ countries, awarded by the Federal Commission for Scholarships. Scholarships like this are competitive and rule-bound: meeting every published eligibility criterion is what gets your application read, and missing even one usually means an automatic rejection regardless of how strong the rest of your profile is.

Use the eligibility checker on this page for a quick, personalised read of whether you qualify before you invest hours in the application — then confirm the fine print on the official source, since awarding bodies revise criteria and amounts between cycles.

What the scholarship covers

This award typically covers: Monthly stipend (~CHF 1,920 research/PhD); Tuition-fee exemption at most institutions; Health insurance and housing allowance; Airfare support for some countries. Read the value carefully — "full" funding can still leave gaps (visa fees, travel, or a partner/family), while a partial award may need topping up from savings or part-time work to satisfy a visa's proof-of-funds rule.

Who is eligible

The main requirements are strict gates rather than guidelines: The research/PhD track requires a completed Master's or equivalent; A letter from a Swiss professor willing to supervise you is mandatory. Check each against your own situation honestly before applying — the checker on this page does exactly this and flags where you may fall short.

Deadlines and how to apply well

Key dates: 2027–28 call — country deadlines Sep–Dec 2026 via Swiss embassies — 2026-12-01. Always confirm the exact deadline on the official source, as cycles shift year to year and some awards close early once funds are committed.

Strong applications are specific and evidenced: tie your goals to what the scholarship is actually for, supply every requested document in the right format, and give referees plenty of notice. A late or incomplete submission is the most avoidable reason good candidates miss out.