Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027–2028

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027–2028: Quick Answer

The Swiss Confederation awards these scholarships through the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS/ESKAS) to strengthen international research and academic cooperation. For 2027–2028, the programme is mainly aimed at early-career researchers who have completed, or will complete, a Master’s degree and want to conduct research or pursue a PhD at an eligible Swiss institution. A separate art scholarship supports a first Master’s degree in art for applicants from a limited number of countries.

This is also not a conventional university admission scholarship. For research and PhD routes, you normally need a Swiss academic supervisor who supports your project. For PhD applicants, the scholarship application and doctoral admission process are separate procedures.

Readers comparing research funding can also browse ScholarshipHubNow’s PhD scholarships and broader scholarship opportunities.

Who Is Eligible?

Research Fellowship

• Highly qualified early-career researchers from eligible countries who are pursuing a PhD in their home country, including eligible young medical doctors.
• A Master’s degree or equivalent must be completed by 31 July 2027; for ETH Zurich, the official deadline is 30 June 2027.
• Applicants must have been born after 31 December 1991.
• A detailed research plan and support from an academic supervisor in Switzerland are mandatory.
• The fellowship lasts 6 to 12 months and begins on 1 September 2027.

PhD Scholarship

• Applicants must hold, or complete in time, a Master’s degree in any academic field.
• The same age, degree-completion, research-plan and Swiss-supervisor requirements generally apply.
• The scholarship begins on 1 September 2027.
• Funding is initially for 12 months and may be renewed twice for up to 36 months, subject to academic progress.

Art Scholarship

• Available only to applicants from a limited number of eligible countries.
• Supports a first Master’s degree in an artistic field at a Swiss art school or conservatory.
• Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent by 31 July 2027, be born after 31 December 1991, and must not already hold a Master’s degree at the start of the scholarship.
• Admission, proof of application, or evidence that the institution’s admission period has not yet opened is required.

Funding and Benefits: What Is Actually Covered?

For research fellowships, PhD scholarships and art scholarships, the official 2027–2028 programme information states a scholarship amount of CHF 2,450 per month for the living expenses of one person. The scholarship is not a salary.

• CHF 2,450/month living allowance.
• CHF 600 one-time rental-deposit grant.
• Half-Fare Travelcard for public transport.
• Compulsory health-insurance premiums are covered for scholarship holders from non-EU/EFTA countries; EU/EFTA recipients must cover their own health insurance.
• Recipients from non-EU/EFTA countries receive a return-flight allowance, with the amount determined by country of origin.
• FCS also organises selected activities and excursions for scholarship holders.

This is why ScholarshipHubNow does not describe the programme simply as “full tuition fully funded.” The official package is substantial, but applicants should budget for costs that their host institution does not waive.

How to Apply

1. Check your country first. Confirm which scholarship types are available for your nationality and note the exact country-specific deadline.
2. Choose the correct scholarship type. Research fellowship, PhD scholarship, or—where available—Art Master’s.
3. Find a Swiss academic supervisor if applying for a research fellowship or PhD scholarship. The supervisor must support the proposed project and provide a support letter and short CV.
4. Prepare the official FCS/ESKAS research proposal and supporting documents.
5. Register in Grants Online (GO ESKAS) and complete the online eligibility check.
6. Submit only through GO ESKAS. The official instructions state that applications should not be sent by email or on paper.
7. Handle university admission separately where required, especially for PhD or art programmes.

Required Documents and Application Checklist

Requirements vary by scholarship type and country, but the official research/PhD guidance lists the following core items:

• Complete academic CV, including degrees, awards, positions, publications, teaching and relevant experience.
• Motivation letter of up to two pages explaining the purpose of the stay in Switzerland, career relevance and future plans.
• Research proposal on the FCS/ESKAS form, maximum five pages including a non-specialist summary.
• Support letter from a Swiss academic supervisor.
• Short CV of the Swiss supervisor (maximum two pages).
• For research fellowships, a short CV of the academic supervisor at the home university.
• For relevant graduate-school PhD applications, proof of admission where required.
• Email addresses for two academic referees; the system contacts them to upload recommendation letters.
• Degree certificates and transcripts; certified translations are required when documents are not in English, French, Italian or German, subject to official country instructions.
• Passport copy and, where applicable, Swiss residence/registration documentation.

Application-quality implication: a generic proposal or a last-minute supervisor email is unlikely to be competitive. The selection criteria explicitly consider the applicant’s academic profile, the quality and originality of the project, the quality of supervision, and the potential for future research collaboration.

Application Dates and Country-Specific Deadlines

• 20 August 2026: online applications opened for the 2027–2028 cycle.
• Country deadline: varies by nationality; the official SERI country list is the controlling source.
• Türkiye example: the Swiss representation lists 30 November 2026 as the deadline for Turkish applicants.
• United Kingdom example: the Swiss representation lists 10 December 2026 for British researchers.
• 1 September 2027: scholarship period begins for the 2027–2028 academic year.
• By the end of May 2027: FCS states that award decisions are announced by the end of May at the latest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027–2028 open now?
Yes. The official SERI page states that applications opened on 20 August 2026.

How much is the scholarship?
Research, PhD and eligible art scholarship holders receive CHF 2,450 per month for one person, plus selected additional benefits.

Is this a fully funded scholarship?
It covers a substantial living allowance and several additional benefits, but tuition and semester fees are not automatically covered. Applicants should check whether their Swiss host institution waives or charges those fees.

Can postdoctoral researchers apply in 2027–2028?
No. The Swiss Government states that postdoctoral scholarships are no longer awarded from the 2027/28 academic year.

Do I need a professor in Switzerland before applying?
Yes for research fellowships and PhD scholarships. An academic supervisor in Switzerland must endorse the research project and provide a support letter.

Can I apply for a normal Master’s degree?
Not through the research/PhD tracks. A first Master’s in art is available only for applicants from a limited number of eligible countries.

What is the deadline?
There is no universal deadline. Deadlines depend on the applicant’s country of origin, so check the official country list before submitting.

Is the application free?
Yes. SERI warns applicants about fake scholarship offers and states that applications for a Swiss Government Scholarship are free of charge.

Is PhD admission the same as the scholarship application?
No. The official guidance explicitly treats the scholarship application and admission to a Swiss doctoral programme as separate procedures.

Last verified: September 7, 2026. ScholarshipHubNow independently verified the application status, 183-country scope, scholarship types, CHF 2,450 monthly amount, additional benefits, tuition caveat, eligibility, supervisor requirement, 2027/28 postdoctoral change and application procedure against official Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI/FCS) and Swiss diplomatic-representation sources. Fellowshipsguide.com and OpportunitiesCorners.com were used only as discovery leads; no wording, images or structure were copied from them.