Swiss Excellence Scholarships 2027–2028: How to Apply
The Swiss Excellence Scholarships 2027–2028 offer international students and researchers an opportunity to pursue advanced study and research in Switzerland. Each year, the Swiss Confederation provides these scholarships to promote international academic exchange and strengthen research cooperation with countries around the world.
The program currently accepts applicants from 183 countries. The Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS), also known as ESKAS, evaluates applications and selects the successful candidates.
However, applicants should note that these scholarships primarily target talented early-career researchers who have already completed a master’s degree. Therefore, they are not generally designed as undergraduate scholarships.
Swiss Excellence Scholarships 2027–2028
The Swiss Excellence Scholarships support international academic exchange and research collaboration. Depending on the scholarship category, successful applicants can pursue research or doctoral studies at eligible Swiss institutions.
The main scholarship categories include:
- Research scholarships
- PhD scholarships
- Art scholarships
The general scholarship information lists funding of CHF 2,450 per month and a maximum age of 35 years for the relevant scholarship categories. However, eligibility and conditions can differ depending on the applicant’s country and scholarship type.
Scholarship Types
The Swiss Excellence Scholarships include different opportunities for different academic backgrounds. Therefore, applicants should select the category that matches their qualifications and study plans.
| Scholarship | Target group | Main requirement | Maximum duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Scholarship | PhD students/researchers from 183 countries | Master’s degree + Swiss academic supervisor | 12 months |
| PhD Scholarship | PhD students from 183 countries | Master’s degree + Swiss academic supervisor | 36 months |
| Art Scholarship | Art students from 26 countries | Bachelor’s degree + admission or proof of application | 21 months |
As a result, applicants should carefully check the scholarship category available to citizens of their country before preparing an application.
Research Scholarships in Switzerland
The Research Scholarship is designed for postgraduate researchers from abroad who want to conduct research in Switzerland.
Applicants can pursue research in any discipline at eligible Swiss institutions. These include Swiss cantonal universities, universities of applied sciences, and Switzerland’s two federal institutes of technology, ETH Zurich (ETHZ) and EPFL.
In addition, eligible research institutions within the ETH Domain include:
- Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI)
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)
- Empa
- Eawag
Most importantly, applicants must secure the support of an academic supervisor in Switzerland. The supervisor must be willing to guide and support the applicant’s proposed research project.
Therefore, prospective applicants should begin identifying suitable professors and research groups well before the application deadline.
PhD Scholarships
The PhD Scholarship provides an opportunity for qualified international applicants to pursue doctoral studies in Switzerland.
Applicants generally need to have completed a master’s degree and obtain support from an appropriate academic supervisor in Switzerland.
The maximum scholarship duration listed for the PhD category is 36 months. Consequently, this option can provide substantial support for students planning a longer-term doctoral research project.
However, applicants should still check the specific requirements for their country because scholarship availability and eligibility can vary.
Art Scholarships
The Art Scholarship targets students who want to pursue their first master’s degree in an artistic field in Switzerland.
Unlike the research and PhD scholarships, this category is available only to applicants from a limited number of countries. The source information lists 26 countries.
Applicants generally need:
- A bachelor’s degree
- Admission to an eligible Swiss institution, or
- Proof that they have applied for admission
The maximum duration listed for the Art Scholarship is 21 months.
Therefore, students interested in this category should first confirm that their country participates in the program.
Scholarship Benefits
The Swiss Excellence Scholarships provide financial support to successful candidates.
The scholarship information lists funding of:
CHF 2,450 per month
In addition, the maximum duration depends on the scholarship category:
- Research Scholarship: up to 12 months
- PhD Scholarship: up to 36 months
- Art Scholarship: up to 21 months
The exact benefits and conditions can depend on the applicant’s scholarship category and country. For that reason, applicants should always consult the official country-specific information before making financial plans.
Who Can Apply?
The program mainly targets talented international researchers and students at the postgraduate level.
For the research and PhD categories, applicants generally need a master’s degree and an appropriate academic supervisor in Switzerland.
Furthermore, the general scholarship information lists a maximum age of 35 years for the relevant categories.
However, eligibility can differ by country and scholarship type. Therefore, applicants should not assume that meeting the general requirements automatically makes them eligible.
How to Find a Swiss Academic Supervisor
For research and PhD applicants, finding a suitable academic supervisor represents one of the most important parts of the preparation process.
First, identify Swiss universities or research institutions that offer research in your field.
Next, search for professors whose research interests closely match your proposed topic.
Then, prepare a professional academic inquiry that includes:
- Your academic background
- Your research interests
- Your proposed research topic
- Relevant research experience
- Your reasons for choosing the professor or research group
Finally, ask whether the professor is willing to supervise your proposed research.
Because the scholarship requires academic backing from a supervisor in Switzerland, applicants should begin this process early.
How to Apply for the 2027–2028 Scholarship
The Swiss states that information about application deadlines and scholarship availability by country will be published in August 2026.
The application period opens on August 20, 2026
Applicants should therefore monitor the official scholarship information for the deadline applicable to their country of origin.
The application process involves submitting the required materials through the appropriate Swiss diplomatic representation.
Because requirements can vary by country, applicants should follow the instructions provided for their specific country rather than relying only on general scholarship information.
Selection Process
After applicants submit their applications, the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS) evaluates them.
The FCS considers three main criteria:
1. Candidate Profile
The commission evaluates the applicant’s academic and professional profile.
2. Quality of the Research Project or Artistic Work
For research applicants, the proposed research project plays an important role. Similarly, art applicants need to demonstrate the quality of their proposed artistic work.
3. Potential for Future Cooperation
The commission also considers the potential for future research cooperation and academic collaboration between Switzerland and the applicant’s country.
Therefore, applicants should prepare an application that demonstrates both strong academic ability and a clear, meaningful research or artistic direction.
When Will Scholarship Results Be Announced?
The FCS will announce scholarship decisions for the following academic year by the end of May at the latest.
Successful applicants can then proceed with the necessary preparations for their studies or research in Switzerland.
Important Warning About Fake Scholarship Offers
Applicants should remain extremely careful when searching for information about the Swiss Excellence Scholarships.
The State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation has warned about fake scholarship offers circulated through email and social media.
Is This a Fully Funded Scholarship?
The Swiss Excellence Scholarship provides substantial financial support through its monthly scholarship allowance. However, applicants should carefully review the exact benefits applicable to their scholarship category and country.
The available information confirms a monthly allowance of CHF 2,450 for the relevant categories. The program information provided here does not establish that every possible study-related expense will automatically receive full coverage.
Consequently, applicants should review the official country-specific scholarship conditions before describing the award as completely fully funded.
Important Dates for 2027–2028
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Scholarship information by country | August 2026 |
| Applications open | August 20, 2026 |
| Country-specific deadline | Varies by country |
| Scholarship decisions | By the end of May 2027 at the latest |
| 2028–2029 scholarships advertised | August 2027 |
Because individual deadlines depend on the applicant’s country of origin, applicants should check the relevant country-specific announcement before submitting their application.
Who Should Consider the Swiss Excellence Scholarship?
This scholarship is particularly suitable for applicants who:
- Have already completed a master’s degree
- Want to conduct advanced research in Switzerland
- Are interested in a PhD or research fellowship
- Have a strong academic or research profile
- Can develop a high-quality research proposal
- Can obtain support from a Swiss academic supervisor
- Want to build international research collaborations
Art students can also consider the Art Scholarship if their country is among the participating countries.
On the other hand, students looking for a general bachelor’s scholarship in Switzerland should not consider this program their primary option because the main scholarship categories focus on postgraduate research and doctoral study.
2028–2029 Scholarship Outlook
Applicants who miss the 2027–2028 cycle can also plan for the following year.
The Swiss states that scholarships for the 2028–2029 academic year will be advertised online from August 2027.
Therefore, students who need additional preparation time can use the next cycle to strengthen their academic profile, develop their research proposal, and establish contact with potential supervisors.
Final Assessment
The Swiss Excellence Scholarships 2027–2028 represent an important opportunity for international researchers and postgraduate students who want to study or conduct research in Switzerland.
The program currently covers applicants from 183 countries, while the Art Scholarship applies to a smaller group of 26 countries. Moreover, eligible scholarship categories offer a monthly allowance of CHF 2,450, with durations ranging from 12 to 36 months depending on the category.
Most importantly, research and PhD applicants should focus on finding a suitable Swiss academic supervisor and preparing a strong research proposal. At the same time, applicants should carefully check the requirements and deadline that apply specifically to their country.
Finally, applicants should remember that the official scholarship application is free of charge. Therefore, anyone asking for money in exchange for a Swiss Excellence Scholarship application should be treated with caution.
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