The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2025-2026 are fully funded scholarships available for international students. These scholarships cover master’s, PhD, and postdoctoral studies in Switzerland, providing recipients with a monthly payment, exemption from tuition fees, health insurance, airfare, and a housing allowance.
Sponsored by the Federal Commission of Scholarships (FCS) in collaboration with the Swiss government, the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2025 are awarded to students from more than 180 countries. The scholarships are open to highly qualified postgraduate researchers from all academic fields and young medical doctors.
Types of Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2025
The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2025 offer two main types of scholarships:
- Research Scholarships:
- Available to postgraduate researchers in any discipline (holding at least a master’s degree) planning to pursue research or further studies at the doctoral or postdoctoral level in Switzerland.
- Research scholarships are awarded for study or research at all Swiss cantonal universities, universities of applied sciences, the two federal institutes of technology, and four research institutes.
- Only candidates nominated by an academic mentor at one of these institutions will be considered.
- Art Scholarships:
- Open to art students pursuing an initial master’s degree in Switzerland.
- Art scholarships are awarded for study at any Swiss conservatory or university of the arts and are available to students from a limited number of countries.
Scholarship Summary
- Level of Study: Masters, PhD, Postdoctoral
- Institution(s): Swiss Government / Swiss Universities
- Study Location: Switzerland
- Program Duration: Depends on the chosen degree
- Application Deadline: Country-specific deadlines (Check here for details)
Scholarship Coverage
The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2025 provide the following benefits:
- Monthly Payment: CHF 1,920
- Health Insurance: Provided for non-EU and non-EFTA grantees
- Flight Allowance: Lump sum provided for a return ticket (for non-EU and non-EFTA countries)
- Housing Allowance: Special CHF 300 housing allowance paid once at the beginning of the scholarship
- Public Transportation Card: One-year half-fare public transportation card
- Support Services: Various trips, dinners, and sightseeing tours organized for scholarship holders
Eligibility Criteria for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2025
To qualify for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2025, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Language Requirement: Proficiency in English
- Eligible Countries: Open to all world countries
- Educational Requirements:
- Master’s degree or equivalent university degree achieved before July 31, 2024, recognized by the Swiss university.
- Degree certificate must be submitted to the Federal Commission for Scholarships before the start of the scholarship.
- Age Requirement: Applicants must be born after December 31, 1989.
- Residency Requirement: Applicants who have been in Switzerland for more than a year at the beginning of the scholarship in September are not eligible.
- Academic Host Professor: Applicants must provide a letter from an academic host professor at a chosen Swiss university, confirming their willingness to supervise and support the research. Without this support, the application will be rejected.
- Research Proposal: Applicants must submit a detailed research proposal, including a time frame, as this is the centerpiece of the application.
- Language Skills: Applicants must be proficient in the language required for their research/studies.
- Previous Scholarship Holders: Applicants who have already received a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship are not eligible to apply for a second one.
- Residency: Scholarship holders are expected to move to Switzerland during their grant period.
How to Apply for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2025
Follow these steps to apply for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2025:
- Prepare the Required Documents:
- Signed FCS application form (typed and printed)
- Full CV with a list of academic publications and awards
- Motivation letter (max. 2 pages)
- Complete research proposal (max. 5 pages, signed), using the FCS research proposal format
- Letter from an academic host professor (including their short CV) at the chosen Swiss university
- Short CV of the academic mentor at the home institution
- Two confidential letters of recommendation from two different professors in the applicant’s field (use exclusively the FCS reference form)
- Photocopies of certificates and grade sheets, along with certified translations if not in English, French, Italian, or German
- Signed medical certificate (using only the FCS health certificate form)
- Two copies of the applicant’s passport (main page with personal data)
2. Obtain the Application Package:
- The application package can be obtained from the Swiss representation in your country.
3. Submit Your Application:
- Submit 2 sets of application documents (1 original + 1 copy) in the exact order given below:
- The 1st set contains the original, signed documents plus the confidential letters of recommendation and, if applicable, the attested translations in English.
- The 2nd set is a copy of the 1st set, excluding the confidential letters of recommendation.
Note: Do not put the documents into plastic folders or binders.
For more information and to apply, visit the official website for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2025.