Swiss Government Excellence Postdoctoral Scholarships for Foreign Scholars

Important: Before starting the online application, please check the available scholarship types and deadlines for your country of origin.

Research scholarships

These scholarships are available to postgraduate researchers in any discipline wishing to pursue research at any Swiss cantonal university, university of applied sciences, either of Switzerland’s two federal institutes of technology (ETHZ or EPFL) or at one of the four research institutes within the ETH Domain (PSI, WSL, Empa, Eawag). Prerequisite: the scholarship application must be backed by an academic supervisor in Switzerland who is willing to direct and guide the applicant’s proposed research.

• Research fellowship

Art scholarships

Art scholarships are open to students wishing to pursue an initial Master’s degree in an artistic field in Switzerland. This scholarship is available to students from a limited number of countries only.

• Art scholarship

Amount and additional benefits

• Research fellowships, PhD scholarships and art scholarships: CHF 2,450 per month to cover basic living expenses of one person.
  Please note: This scholarship is not a salary.
  No funding is provided for fieldwork and participation in conferences
• Additional benefits:
  • Health insurance: FCS covers the premiums for compulsory health insurance for scholarship holders from non-EU/EFTA countries. Scholarship holders from EU/EFTA countries must cover these costs themselves.
  • One-time grant of CHF 600 for rental deposit.
  • Half-Fare Travelcard for public transport
  • In addition, the coordinating body organises excursions and activities for federal scholarship holders.
  • Return flight allowance:
    Scholarship holders from non-EU/EFTA countries receive a return flight allowance (amount determined by country of origin). This allowance may be used up to two months after expiry of the scholarship exclusively for the purpose of returning to the country of origin.
• Costs to be paid by scholarship holders:
  • Tuition fees:
    The Federal Excellence Scholarship does not cover tuition or semester fees. In some cases, universities, universities of applied sciences or federal institutes of technology require scholarship holders to pay semester fees (approx. CHF 600 to CHF 2,000 per semester) or reduced tuition fees. In some cases, PhD fees are not waived.
    Scholarship holders must cover these fees themselves.
  • Conferences:
    The costs of participating in international conferences are borne by the scholarship holders.
  • Field research:
    PhD scholarship holders may request to do field research for up to six months (without additional funding). All associated costs are borne by the scholarship holders.
  • Travel expenses:
    Scholarship holders from EU/EFTA countries must pay their own travel expenses.

Scholarship holder obligations

• Place of residence:
  The scholarship requires the holder to reside in Switzerland. Scholarship holders must live in the city or canton of their Swiss host institution. They must follow FCS instructions, comply with laws applicable to foreign nationals and adhere to the regulations established by their host institution.
• Family and children:
  The scholarship amount only covers the living expenses for one person. No family allowances are provided. The decision on whether to grant residence permits for accompanying persons is made by the federal and cantonal migration authorities. Currently, a restrictive policy is in place. Neither FCS nor Swiss higher education institutions provide any support in this regard.
• Additional scholarships/income:
  Some universities (e.g. EPFL, ETH Zurich, University of Zurich) require additional funding from the academic supervisor. FCS must be notified if any other financial support is provided, e.g. from other scholarships, teaching and research assistant positions. The scholarship may not be used to supplement full-time employment.
• Field research:
  Field research outside Switzerland is not permitted during research fellowships.

Apply here

Scholarship applications only via this link (access available from 20 August 2026).

Allow enough time
Start preparing your application well in advance. Careful preparation improves your chances of success.

Steps:
1. Check that you meet the eligibility requirements.
2. Register in Grants Online (GO ESKAS).
3. Sign in to GO ESKAS and prepare your application. If you are applying for a research scholarship, you must also identify an academic supervisor in Switzerland.

Important: Do not send your application by email or in paper form.