The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027/28 are now open for applicants from more than 180 countries. The programme is funded by the Swiss Confederation and is mainly designed for early-career researchers who have already completed a master’s degree and want to carry out research or doctoral work at a Swiss university or recognised research institute.
The headline funding amount is CHF 2,450 per month. But the scholarship is not simply a monthly stipend programme: research applicants must build a credible research proposal and secure the support of an academic supervisor in Switzerland before applying. Applications without an eligible Swiss supervisor and support letter are not considered.
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships: Quick Facts
- Host country: Switzerland
- Current cycle: 2027/28
- Applications opened: 20 August 2026
- Countries covered: 183 countries in the current programme
- Research/PhD stipend: CHF 2,450 per month
- Research fellowship: 6–12 months
- PhD scholarship: 12 months, renewable up to 36 months
- Typical start date: 1 September 2027
- Application fee: Free
There Are Three Main Scholarship Routes
The 2027/28 programme includes research fellowships, PhD scholarships and art scholarships. The research routes are available across academic disciplines, while art scholarships are limited to applicants from selected countries and support a first master’s degree at a Swiss art school or conservatory.
Research Fellowship: Who It Is For
The research fellowship is intended for highly qualified early-career researchers who are pursuing a PhD in their home country, including young medical doctors, and want to complete a focused research project in Switzerland.
The fellowship lasts a minimum of six months and a maximum of 12 months. It cannot be extended. The standard start date is 1 September 2027.
PhD Scholarship: Who It Is For
The PhD scholarship supports candidates who want to pursue a full-time doctorate at an eligible Swiss university or recognised research institute. Initial funding is for 12 months and can be renewed twice, allowing up to 36 months in total when academic progress is satisfactory.
PhD applicants at graduate schools may need confirmation of admission, while candidates pursuing an individual doctorate follow the relevant university and scholarship procedures separately.
The Core Eligibility Rules
Research and PhD applicants must have completed a master’s degree or equivalent by 31 July 2027. For ETH Zurich, the completion deadline is 30 June 2027.
Applicants must have been born after 31 December 1991. They also need a detailed research plan with a timeline, milestones and activities.
Candidates already living in Switzerland need to pay particular attention to residence rules. For the current cycle, an applicant already in Switzerland must generally have entered no earlier than 1 August 2026, and the programme excludes applicants who have been living, studying or working in Switzerland for more than 13 months before the scholarship begins.
The Most Important Step: Find a Swiss Academic Supervisor
For research fellowships and PhD scholarships, an academic supervisor in Switzerland is mandatory. The applicant must find a professor or suitable research-group leader whose work matches the proposed project and obtain a letter of support.
For a PhD application, the supervisor must be authorised to supervise doctoral theses. At a university of applied sciences, a doctorate requires two supervisors, including one who has doctoral-awarding authority at a traditional university.
The Swiss authorities specifically advise applicants to start this process early because professors receive many enquiries and finding the right supervisor can take weeks or months.
How to Contact a Potential Supervisor Well
A strong first email should be short and academically specific. It should identify the applicant’s current degree or research position, explain the proposed research question, show why the professor’s recent work is relevant and ask whether the professor would consider supervising the project for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship.
Sending the same generic email to dozens of professors is unlikely to produce strong support. Read the research group’s current work and make the match visible.
Research Proposal Requirements
The proposal is a major part of the selection process. Applicants use the FCS/ESKAS research proposal form and prepare a detailed plan of up to five pages, including a summary understandable to non-specialists.
The proposal should explain the research problem, objectives, approach, methodology, timeline and expected contribution. The selection committee evaluates originality and methodological quality, so a broad topic without a workable method is not enough.
Documents for Research and PhD Applicants
- A complete academic CV including education, awards, positions, publications and relevant experience.
- A motivation letter of up to two pages.
- The detailed FCS/ESKAS research proposal.
- A letter of support from the Swiss academic supervisor.
- A short CV from the Swiss supervisor.
- For research fellowships, a short CV of the home-university supervisor.
- Two academic referees whose email addresses are entered in the online system.
- Degree certificates and transcripts, with certified translations where required.
- Passport copies and, where applicable, Swiss residence documentation.
How the Scholarship Is Assessed
The Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students assesses three broad areas: the candidate’s academic and research profile, the quality of the research project or artistic work, and the potential for strong supervision and future research cooperation.
That last point matters. The programme is intended not only to fund an individual project but also to encourage longer-term academic cooperation between Switzerland and other countries.
What CHF 2,450 per Month Means
Research fellows, PhD scholars and art scholars receive CHF 2,450 per month to help cover basic living expenses for one person. The Swiss authorities clearly state that the scholarship is not a salary.
The programme can also provide additional benefits. For scholars from outside the EU/EFTA, compulsory health-insurance premiums are covered. A one-time CHF 600 rental-deposit grant and a Half-Fare Travelcard for Swiss public transport are also included. Non-EU/EFTA scholars can receive a return-flight allowance based on country of origin.
Costs You Still Need to Plan For
The scholarship does not automatically cover university tuition or semester fees. Depending on the institution, a scholar may still need to pay approximately CHF 600 to CHF 2,000 per semester or reduced tuition fees.
Conference participation and field-research costs are generally the scholar’s responsibility. The stipend is intended for one person and no family allowance is provided.
Common Reasons an Application Can Be Excluded
An application can be rejected for formal reasons if it is incomplete, if the applicant submits simultaneous applications to multiple host universities or scholarship types, if there is no Swiss supervisor, if the support letter is missing or if more than one research proposal is submitted.
A previous Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship can also make an applicant ineligible, and the programme limits repeated unsuccessful applications.
Country-Specific Deadlines
Applications opened on 20 August 2026, but there is no single worldwide closing date. Scholarship types and deadlines are published according to the applicant’s country of origin. Applicants should use the official country list before starting the online application.
How to Apply
First check the scholarship types available for your country. Then register in the official GO ESKAS application system. Research and PhD applicants should secure a supervisor before finalising the application, prepare the required proposal and documents and submit through the online system.
Applications should not be sent by email or in paper form.
Fraud Warning
The Swiss authorities warn about fake scholarship offers that ask applicants to transfer money for supposed visa, insurance or processing charges. The official Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship application is free of charge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply without a supervisor in Switzerland?
No. Research and PhD applications without an eligible Swiss academic supervisor and support letter are not considered.
How much is the monthly scholarship?
The current 2027/28 amount is CHF 2,450 per month.
Does the scholarship cover university fees?
Not necessarily. Scholarship holders may still be responsible for semester or tuition-related fees charged by the host institution.
Is there one deadline for every country?
No. Deadlines and available scholarship types vary by country of origin.
