Find below grants available in Switzerland.
The following link provides the most a comprehensive overview of the scholarships available for international students in Switzerland.
Each year the Swiss Confederation awards Government Excellence Scholarships to promote 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). The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are aimed at young researchers from abroad who have completed a master’s degree for the PhD scholarship or a PhD degree for the postdoctoral and research fellowships.
For the application details, click here.
Calls usually open in August every year
Ambizione grants are aimed at young researchers who wish to conduct, manage and lead an independent project at a Swiss higher education institution. The funding scheme supports young researchers (PhD less than 4 years ago) both from Switzerland and abroad. Scientists holding non-professorial academic positions at higher education institutions are also eligible to submit an application.
Applications details here.
Submission deadline: usually early November
PRIMA grants are aimed at excellent women researchers who show a high potential for obtaining a professorship. PRIMA grantees conduct an independent research project with their own team at a Swiss research institution. PRIMA grants cover the grantee’s salary and project costs for a five-year period. With this competitive grant, PRIMA grantees can carve out a name for themselves and take the next step up the academic career ladder: a professorship.
For application details, click here.
Submission deadline: usually early November
Doc.CH is aimed at promising researchers who wish to write a doctoral thesis on a topic of their own choice in the humanities and social sciences in Switzerland. Part of the doctoral thesis may be conducted at a host institution abroad if a corresponding request giving reasons is submitted. Besides the salary of the doctoral student, the grant may include a contribution towards costs directly related to project implementation.
For application details, click here.
Submission deadline: usually mid-March and mid-September every year
The goal of the Research Partnership Grants is to strengthen or initiate scientific exchange between researchers from Swiss and Latin American institutions in all disciplines by enabling them to jointly undertake preliminary research and organize meetings, conferences, or workshops.
For the period 2021-2024, the Leading House will support new cooperation endeavors with all potential partners in the region. Therefore, the Leading House opens the call, inviting scholars from Switzerland to propose mono- or interdisciplinary research projects in any Latin American country, involving bilateral or multilateral partnerships. For projects up to CHF 25,000.
The call is open to all disciplines and fields. However, this year’s call is restricted to certain SDGs and thematic areas. Additionally, proposals have to guarantee a direct transfer to society.
Grants between CHF 10,000 and CHF 25,000 will be awarded.
For application details, click here.
Submission deadline: 25 June 2021
EPFL is dedicated to supporting students, in particular when their financial situation makes it difficult for them to complete their studies. These scholarships are awarded following a change in the social, family and/or economic situation of the potential grantee.
Deadlines: Between mid-december and end of March
For further information, please contact: [email protected]
EPFLglobaLeaders is a doctoral fellowship program funding early stage researchers to become leaders in the transition towards sustainable societies. Forty-eight doctoral fellows will benefit from a multifaceted training program, including a secondment in the non-academic sector.
Are you interested in the EPFLglobaLeaders program? For more information, please check the website here
EPFLeaders4Impact is a post-doctoral funding program for researchers interested in any discipline included in the research areas of EPFL and which address at least one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Interested in the program? For more information, please check EPFL’s website here.
ETH Zurich can offer students a scholarship if they and their families cannot afford this funding, provided that the students can demonstrate that they are making adequate progress with their studies. ETH Zurich scholarships do not completely cover the costs of studies and living.
Deadline: Please check directly with the University.
For further information, please contact ETH Zurich Financial Aid Office: [email protected]
The Master of Advanced Studies in European and International Governance (MEIG Programme) is organized by the University of Geneva in cooperation with the United Nations Office at Geneva, the programme offers a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of European and international governance while developing the essential professional skills to become a leader in this field.
This 10-month programme is designed for professionals who hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree and are working in ministries, non-governmental organizations, private companies, or other institutions dealing with international affairs. It also welcomes students from universities and schools of public administration.
For the academic year 2026–2027, the MEIG Programme offers special scholarship opportunities made possible by private donors. A limited number of full scholarships (CHF 45,000) cover tuition fees and contribute significantly to living expenses in Geneva. Additional partial scholarships (CHF 20,000) are also available to support living costs.
These scholarships are reserved for outstanding candidates from countries on the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) ODA list who lack the financial means to cover the programme’s costs. Recipients are expected to return to their home countries after completion of the programme to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in Geneva.
The next edition of the MEIG Programme will begin in September 2026.
For more information, please visit the MEIG Programme website.
Master’s scholarships are excellence scholarships intended exclusively for students who have graduated from a foreign university and whose academic results are of a very high standard.
Submission deadline: November 1 to start a master’s degree during the following academic year, in the fall semester (September) or in the spring semester (February) if the program allows it. For more information, visit their website.
The University of St. Gallen provides comprehensive information about options for financing your studies. These include existing financing mechanisms as well as information about budgeting and ways to reduce your living costs. The Center for Study Funding offers a complete guide for incoming and interested students.
The Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI) offers several funding opportunities for international students interested in getting enrolled at their Master Programs. There are specific opportunities offered for the Faculty of Economics, Communication, Culture and Society and the Faculty of Informatics. To get more information about these opportunities, please contact the University directly: [email protected]
There is also an specific scholarship offered to master students of the the Academy of Architecture: For more information, please contact the Academy: [email protected]
Swiss and foreign students enrolled at the Università della Svizzera italiana can apply for a scholarship granted by the Leonardo Foundation.
For more information about other funding opportunities, please, check the University’s Study Advisory Service or contact the office directly: [email protected]
The University of Zurich office for new international scholars offers funding opportunities for Doctoral Candidates, Postdoctoral Researchers, Academic Guests and International Professors.
Doctoral Candidates:
International students holding a Master’s degree are eligible to apply for admission and funding to a doctoral program at UZH. Information on the application procedures, forms, semester fees and deadlines can be found on the University’s website.
Phd’s holders can apply for a Postdoctoral position at the University of Zurich. Additional information and requirements can be found here.
Academic Guests: Offered to researchers visiting the University of Zurich during a specific period before returning to their home institutions. Academic guests have at least a Master’s diploma. The guest can stay at University of Zurich for up to 24 months. For more information, please contact Ms. Claudia Meyer and Mr. Martin Hiefner: [email protected]
Make sure you don’t miss out on funding opportunities, networking activities, and events for junior researchers at the University of Zurich accessing their webpage.
The Graduate Institute supports talented scholars from around the world. Financial aid packages may include cost-of-living scholarships, tuition reduction and/or a paid position, in various proportions. Aid is awarded with consideration to both financial need and academic merit. A number of special scholarship opportunities are available to students who meet specific eligibility criteria. You can find more information and a suitable opportunity by checking their website.
To strengthen the collaboration with academic partners, the Institute offers one scholarship per year to students currently enrolled in partner universities, who intend to pursue a Master or PhD program at the Institute. Candidates need to demonstrate financial needs and academic excellence. If you are a student from a partner institution, please contact the Institute directly for more information: [email protected]
Brazilian Partner:
To promote research and education in cyber-defence, the EPFL and the Cyber-Defence (CYD) Campus have jointly launched the “CYD Fellowships – A Talent Program for Cyber-Defence Research.”
The CYD Fellowships is a talent program for cyber-defence research. It offers master thesis, doctoral, and distinguished postdoctoral fellowships to candidates with an outstanding academic and, if applicable, professional track record. This program is highly competitive, and the primary evaluation criterion is excellence, as measured by academic records and professional accomplishments. Candidates applying for a CYD fellowship are expected to have excellent grade transcripts. Further information is available here.
The call for Master Thesis Fellowship applications is open with a deadline of 14 February 2022 for Doctoral and Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship applications.
Novartis offers the opportunity to promote unusual and creative projects through the FreeNovation program. It is aimed at researchers based in Switzerland who does not find a place for their questions and approaches in current research programs.
FreeNovation
