Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for the Academic Year 2018-2019

11 Min Read September 18, 2017 355 Views Add Comment

Swiss Government, through the Federal Commission, offers excellence scholarships for foreign scholars and artists in Switzerland. Scholarships are available for pursuing Ph.D., postdoctoral, research programs and fine arts at one of the public funded universities or recognized institution.

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are aimed at young researchers from abroad who have completed a master’s degree or Ph.D. and at foreign artists holding a bachelor’s degree.

Each 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).

Applicants from outside the home country will often need to meet specific English language/other language requirements in order to be able to study there.

Eligibility

PhD Criteria

  • Master’s degree or equivalent university degree recognised by the Swiss university. The applicant must have achieved this degree before the start of the scholarship next September. As a proof the degree has to be submitted to the Federal Commission for Scholarships before the start of the scholarship.
  • Applicant’s date of birth after 31 December 1982.
  • Applicants who have been in Switzerland for more than one year at the beginning of the scholarship in September are not eligible.
  • Applicants must provide a letter from an academic host professor (including her/his short CV) at the chosen Swiss university confirming why she/he is willing to supervise and support the PhD thesis. Without such support, the application will be rejected.
  • Applicants must have a research proposal including a timeframe. This is the centrepiece of the application. The applicant must devote all required attention to it.
  • Applicants must be in command of the necessary language skills required for the PhD studies/ research.
  • Applicants who have already benefited from a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship are not eligible to apply for a second scholarship.
  • Scholarship holders are expected to move to Switzerland during their grant period.

Postdoctoral Criteria

  • PhD degree
  • No more than five years may have passed between the award of the Ph.D. and the application deadline.
  • Applicants who are in Switzerland for more than one year at the beginning of the scholarship in September are not eligible.
  • Applicants must provide a letter (or email) from a professor at the Swiss host institution stating that they are willing and entitled to supervise the postdoctoral research. Without such confirmation, the application will be rejected.
  • Applicants must have a research proposal including a timeframe (this is the centrepiece of the application. The applicant must devote all required attention to it).
  • Applicants must be in command of the necessary language skills required for the postdoctoral research.
  • Applicants who have already benefited from a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship are not eligible to apply for a second scholarship.

Research Criteria

  • Master’s degree or equivalent university degree recognised by the Swiss university. The applicant must have achieved this degree before the start of the scholarship next September. As a proof the degree has to be submitted to the Federal Commission for Scholarships before the start of the scholarship.
  • Applicants must be born after 31 December 1982
  • Applicants who have been in Switzerland for more than one year at the beginning of the scholarship in September are not eligible.
  • Applicants must provide a letter from a professor at the Swiss host institution stating that she/he is willing to support and supervise the research. Without such support, the application will be rejected.
  • Applicants must have a research proposal including a timeframe. This is the centrepiece of the application. The applicant must devote all required attention to it.
  • Applicants must be in command of the necessary language skills required for the research/studies.
  • Applicants who have already benefited from a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship are not eligible to apply for a second scholarship. Scholarship holders are expected to move to Switzerland during their grant period.

Fine Arts Criteria

  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
  • Applicants must be born after 31 December 1982.
  • Applicants should start their scholarship no later than three years after graduating with their Bachelor’s degree.
  • Applicants who have been in Switzerland for more than one year at the beginning of the scholarship in September are not eligible.
  • Applicants must be in command of the necessary language skills required for the Master’s programme.
  • Applicants who have already benefited from a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship are not eligible to apply for a second scholarship.
    Scholarship holders are expected to move to Switzerland during their grant period.

Scholarship

PhD Scholarships

  • The scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of CHF 1’920.
  • For non-EU and non-EFTA grantees only: mandatory Swiss health insurance is paid by the FCS.
  • There are no family allowances.
  • Scholarship holders from outside continental Europe receive a flight allowance (lump sum) for a ticket back to their country of origin (provided at the end of the scholarship).
  • Special CHF 300 housing allowance (paid once at the beginning of the scholarship).
  • One-year half-fare public transportation card.
  • Support services and various trips, dinners and sightseeing tours organised for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship holders.
  • PhD scholarship holders may request a supplementary allowance for fieldwork. For fieldtrips lasting longer than 2 months the scholarship amount will be reduced to 50%.

Postdoctoral scholarships:

  • The scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of CHF 3’500.
  • For non-EU and non-EFTA grantees only: mandatory Swiss health insurance is paid by the FCS.
  • There are no family allowances.
  • Scholarship holders from outside continental Europe receive a flight allowance (lump sum) for a ticket back to their country of origin (provided at the end of the scholarship).
  • Special CHF 300 housing allowance (paid once at the beginning of the scholarship).
  • One-year half-fare public transportation card.
  • Support services and various trips, dinners and sightseeing tours organised for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship holders.

Research scholarships

  • The scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of CHF 1,920.
  • For non-EU and non-EFTA grantees only: mandatory Swiss health insurance is paid by the FCS.
  • There are no family allowances.
  • Scholarship holders from outside continental Europe receive a flight allowance (lump sum) for a ticket back to their country of origin (provided at the end of the scholarship).
  • Special CHF 300 housing allowance (paid once at the beginning of the scholarship).
  • One-year half-fare public transportation card.
  • Support services and various trips, dinners and sightseeing tours organised for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship holders.

Fine Arts

  • The scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of CHF 1,920.
  • For non-EU and non-EFTA grantees only: mandatory Swiss health insurance is paid by the FCS.
  • There are no family allowances.
  • Scholarship holders from outside continental Europe receive a flight allowance (lump sum) for a ticket back to their country of origin (provided at the end of the scholarship).
  • Special CHF 300 housing allowance (paid once at the beginning of the scholarship).
  • One-year half-fare public transportation card.
  • Support services and various trips, dinners and sightseeing tours organised for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship holders.

Application

The application package can be obtained by e-mail from the Swiss Embassy. Please submit 3 sets (=1 original + 2 copies) of application documents in exact order given below: The 1st set contains the original, signed documents plus the confidential letters of recommendation and if applicable the attested translations. The other two sets are the copies of the 1st set except for the confidential letters of recommendation (only 1st set).

  • Signed FCS application form (typed and printed) with photo.
  • A full CV with list of academic publications.
  • A motivation letter (max. 2 pages).
  • A complete research proposal (max. 5 pages, signed), using exclusively the FCS research proposal form.
  • A copy of the letter from an academic host professor (including her/his short CV) at the chosen Swiss university confirming why she/he is willing to supervise and support the PhD thesis.
  • For PhD scholarships at doctoral schools*: A proof that the applicant is being considered for admission. Except: EPFL: accepted admission required.
    *A support letter from a host professor is required in any case additionally.
  • Two confidential letters of recommendation from two different professors in the applicant’s field (use exclusively the FCS reference form – originals in sealed envelopes only for the 1st set).
  • Photocopies of certificates and grade sheets from previously attended universities/colleges and diplomas with grades, starting with the most recent. If not in English, French, Italian or German with attested certified translations.
  • Signed medical certificate (use only the FCS health certificate form).
  • Two copies of the applicant’s passport (main page with personal data). Dual nationals add copies of both passports.
  • Please do not put the documents into plastic folders or binders.

The application deadlines vary depending on the country you come from.

In order to apply for a scholarship, please contact the relevant application institution in your country of origin (institution cited in the factsheet, that you can find when you choose your country from the drop-down menu HERE ).

For further information visit the official website HERE.