Pixabay - Jorono

Swiss Government’s Excellence Scholarships

Applications are now open for the Swiss Government's Excellence Scholarships for the academic year 2024/2025, with the scholarship starting in Switzerland in September 2024. The call includes Ph.D., Postdoctoral, and Research positions. Applications for Brazilians until 27 October.

For Foreign Scholars and Artists for the 2024-2025 Academic Year

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 or PhD and at foreign artists holding a bachelor’s degree.

Research scholarships

The research scholarship (research fellowship, PhD, Postdoc) is available to post-graduate researchers in any discipline (who hold a master’s degree is the minimum qualification required) who are planning to come to Switzerland to pursue research or further studies at the doctoral or post-doctoral level.

Research scholarships are awarded for research or study at all Swiss cantonal universities, universities of applied sciences, the two federal institutes of technology, and the four research institutes. Only candidates nominated by an academic supervisor at one of these higher education institutions will be considered.

Options for Research fellowship, PhD scholarships, and Postdoctoral scholarship, more information HERE.

Art scholarships

Art scholarships are open to art students wishing to pursue an initial arts master’s degree in Switzerland.

Art scholarships are awarded for study at any Swiss conservatory or university of the arts. This scholarship is available to students from a limited number of countries only.

Abbreviated summary for Art scholarships HERE.

Application procedure

Release of the program for 180+ Countries

Go to: www.sbfi.admin.ch/scholarships_eng —– early August

▼ ▼ ▼

Call for Applications

Download application documents, questions? See list of contacts —– this September

▼ ▼ ▼

Prepare application

Forms, research proposal,
support letters, references —– before the submission deadline

▼ ▼ ▼

Submission deadline at Swiss representation

This date and the postal address vary from country to country —– September – December

▼ ▼ ▼

Selection

By the Federal Commission for Scholarships FCS —– by the end of May

▼ ▼ ▼

Start of scholarships

At the Swiss academic host institution —– next September

Selection

Applications are subject to preliminary selection by the relevant national authorities and/or the Swiss diplomatic representation. The Federal Commission then assesses the short-listed applications for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS), which makes the final decision.

The FCS assesses scholarship applications according to three criteria:

  1. Candidate profile
  2. Quality of the research project or artistic work
  3. Synergies and potential for future research cooperation

The FCS is composed of professors from Swiss public universities. Scholarship awards are decided on the basis of academic and scientific excellence.

Awards & Outlook

The FCS will announce its decisions regarding the new scholarship awards by the end of May at the latest.

The FCS will select scholarship holders for the 2024-25 academic year by the end of May 2024. Scholarships for the 2025-26 academic year will be advertised online from August 2024.

How to apply

Select your country of origin according to your passport. Find out about the types of scholarships available, eligibility criteria, and application deadlines for your country. For more information and questions, please contact the address provided in the list of contacts (PDF, 280 kB, 23.08.2023).

Read the Application Guidelines (PDF, 753 kB, 19.07.2023) and follow the instructions. Prepare your application and submit two complete copies to the relevant office in your country of origin according to the list of contacts (PDF, 280 kB, 23.08.2023) by the deadline.

Are you Brazilian? Send your questions to the email: [email protected]

Updated information on the official SERI (State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation) website HERE.