Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027-2028 for Foreign Scholars & Artists

Each year, the Swiss Confederation offers Government Excellence Scholarships to promote international exchange and research collaboration between Switzerland and over 180 countries. These scholarships are awarded by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS). The program primarily targets talented early career researchers (ECRs) from abroad who have already completed their Master's degree. Additionally, Art scholarships are available for students pursuing an initial Master's degree in an artistic field, though these are open to a limited number of countries.

Scholarship recipients for Research fellowships, PhD scholarships, and Art scholarships receive a monthly stipend of CHF 2,450 to cover basic living expenses. Additional benefits include health insurance coverage for scholarship holders from non-EU/EFTA countries, a one-time grant of CHF 600 for rental deposit, and a Half-Fare Travelcard for public transport within Switzerland. A return flight allowance is also provided for non-EU/EFTA scholarship holders. The coordinating body organizes excursions and activities for federal scholarship holders. However, the scholarship does not cover tuition or semester fees, which can range from approximately CHF 600 to CHF 2,000 per semester, and must be covered by the scholarship holders. Costs for participating in international conferences, field research (up to six months without additional funding), and travel expenses for EU/EFTA scholarship holders are also not covered.

Ethiopian students are eligible as the program is open to applicants from 183 countries. For Research and PhD scholarships, candidates must be talented early career researchers who have already completed a Master's degree and be under 35 years of age. A crucial requirement is to secure an academic supervisor at a Swiss university (such as a cantonal university, university of applied sciences, federal institutes of technology like ETHZ or EPFL, or research institutes within the ETH Domain) who is willing to direct and guide the proposed research project. For PhD scholarships, supervisors must be authorized to supervise doctoral theses. For Art scholarships, applicants must wish to pursue an initial Master's degree in an artistic field, hold a Bachelor's degree, and have admission or proof of application to a Swiss conservatory or art school. Eligibility for Art scholarships is restricted to a limited number of countries.

Applicants for Research and PhD scholarships must have their application backed by an academic supervisor in Switzerland. All applications must be submitted to the relevant Swiss diplomatic representation (embassy or consulate) in their country of origin. Selection is based on three criteria: the candidate's profile, the quality of the research project or artistic work, and the potential for future research cooperation.

Prospective applicants should first identify and secure an academic supervisor in Switzerland for Research and PhD scholarships. Information regarding specific application deadlines and scholarship availability by country will be published on the official website in August 2026. Applications are submitted directly to the Swiss diplomatic representations (embassies/consulates) in the applicant's home country. The Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS) assesses the applications, and decisions are announced by the end of May for the following academic year. The application process is free of charge; applicants should be wary of fake scholarship offers.

The scholarship is not considered a salary. No specific funding is provided for fieldwork or participation in conferences. Research scholarships typically last 12 months, PhD scholarships 36 months, and Art scholarships 21 months.