The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are available for the class of 2024-2025. The Swiss Government Scholarships are fully funded, covering a wide range of disciplines. Degree programs in Sciences, Arts, Engineering, Medicine, Business Administration, and Law are offered under the Swiss Scholarships. READ: Harvard University Scholarship (Fully Funded)
This is the perfect time for applicants to familiarize themselves with the Swiss Scholarship application process and prepare their application materials on time. It’s a great opportunity to study for free in Switzerland.
Every 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 for 2024-2025 are intended for young researchers from abroad who have completed a master’s or doctoral degree, and foreign artists with a bachelor’s degree.
Scholarship Benefits and Coverage Plan:
It should be noted that the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are fully funded and cover full tuition fees, monthly stipends, accommodation, health insurance, and other student expenses.
The Swiss Excellence Scholarship covers the following for all international students:
- Free Airfare Tickets
- Sponsored Research Fund
- Housing Allowance Disbursements
- Free Accommodation
- Monthly Stipend Sponsorship
- Full Tuition Fee Waiver
- Paid Health Insurance
Types of Scholarships Offered:
1 – Swiss Research-based Scholarships:
Available to postgraduate researchers in any discipline (holding at least a master’s degree) planning to travel to Switzerland for research or further studies at the doctoral or post-doctoral level. Research scholarships are granted for research or study at all Swiss cantonal universities, universities of applied sciences, and the two federal institutes of technology. Only candidates nominated by an academic mentor from one of these higher education institutions will be considered.
2 – Swiss Arts Scholarships:
These are open to art students wishing to pursue an initial master’s degree in Switzerland. Art scholarships are granted for studies at any Swiss conservatory or university of the arts. This Swiss scholarship is available only to students from a limited number of countries.
Selection Criteria for Swiss Government Scholarships:
The FCS evaluates scholarship applications according to three criteria:
a) Quality of Research Project or Artistic Work
b) Candidate Profile Assessment
c) Synergies and Potential for Future Research Cooperation
Eligibility Standards for the Scholarship:
- Applicants must master the language skills necessary for research/studies.
- Applicants must provide a letter from a host academic professor (including their brief curriculum) at the chosen Swiss university, confirming why they are willing to supervise and support the research. Without this support, the application will be rejected.
- Applicants who have been in Switzerland for more than one year at the beginning of the scholarship in September are not eligible.
- Applicants who have already benefited from a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship are not eligible to apply for a second scholarship.
- Applicants must have a research proposal with a deadline.
- The applicant must devote the necessary attention to it.
- Fellows are expected to move to Switzerland during the grant period.
Documents Required for Government Excellence Scholarships:
- Signed Medical Certificate (use only the FCS health certificate form).
- Signed FCS Application Form (typed and printed) with photos.
- A copy of a letter from a host academic professor (including the candidate’s brief curriculum) at the chosen Swiss university, confirming why he/she is willing to supervise and support the research.
- A motivation letter (max. 2 pages).
- A complete CV with a list of academic publications, awards, etc.
- A complete research proposal (maximum of 5 pages, signed), using exclusively the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS) proposal form.
- A brief curriculum of the academic mentor at the home institution.
- Study plan or statement of purpose.
- Photocopies of certificates and transcripts from previously attended universities/colleges and diplomas with grades, starting with the most recent. If not in English, French, Italian, or German with certified translations into English. Do not send original certificates.
- Two confidential letters of recommendation from two different professors in the candidate’s field (use exclusively the FCS reference form — originals in sealed envelopes only for the 1st set).
- Two copies of the applicant’s passport (main page with personal data). Citizens with dual nationality add copies of both passports.
- Applicants already in Switzerland during the application process must attach a copy of the residence permit for Switzerland.
Application Process for Government Excellence Scholarships:
Applicants must submit the above-listed documents to the local Swiss embassies before the specific deadlines for each country. You can check the specific Swiss scholarship application for your country and deadline information in the links provided at the end of this article.
For further details and to submit your application, visit the OFFICIAL WEBSITE.
Alert:
The State Secretariat for Education, Research, and Innovation issues this warning regarding fake Swiss government scholarship advertisements sent by email. Fraudsters are offering fake scholarships in an attempt to make their victims transfer money (e.g., claiming that this money is needed for visa or social insurance costs).
The Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students FCS recommends that members ignore these fraudulent offers and, above all, do not transfer any money. The application process for a Swiss government scholarship is free.
Swiss government scholarships are offered by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students exclusively through Switzerland’s official diplomatic representations in the countries of origin of the candidates.
