Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027–2028
Job Description
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027–2028
The Swiss Confederation awards the prestigious Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships every year to promote international exchange and research cooperation between Switzerland and over 180 countries. These highly competitive scholarships support talented young researchers and artists from abroad.
The programme for the academic year 2027–2028 is managed by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS / ESKAS).
Why Apply?
The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships offer one of the most prestigious fully funded opportunities for early-career researchers and artists to conduct high-level research or studies at world-class Swiss institutions while receiving a solid monthly stipend.
Prepare early — finding a host professor and preparing a competitive research proposal takes time. Applications for the 2027–2028 cycle open on 20 August 2026.
Scholarship Types
1. Research Scholarships
Available to postgraduate researchers in any discipline who wish to pursue research or doctoral studies at Swiss cantonal universities, universities of applied sciences, the federal institutes of technology (ETH Zurich or EPFL), or the ETH Domain research institutes (PSI, WSL, Empa, Eawag).
- Research Fellowship
- PhD Scholarship
Note: From the 2027/28 academic year, postdoctoral scholarships will no longer be awarded.
2. Art Scholarships
Open to highly qualified young artists holding a bachelor’s degree who wish to pursue an initial master’s degree at a Swiss conservatory or university of the arts. Available only to citizens of selected countries with reciprocity agreements.
Scholarship Benefits
- Monthly stipend of CHF 2,450 (increased from the previous amount)
- One-time housing allowance of CHF 600
- Health and accident insurance coverage (for non-EU/EFTA scholarship holders)
- Support for living costs of one person only (not a salary)
The scholarship does not cover fieldwork outside Switzerland or conference participation.
Eligibility Overview
- Applicants from 183 countries are eligible (check country-specific availability)
- Maximum age limit typically applies (usually under 35 / born after a specific date)
- Master’s degree (or equivalent) completed by the required deadline for research/PhD scholarships
- Bachelor’s degree for art scholarships
- Mandatory letter of support from an academic host professor in Switzerland (for research scholarships)
- Full-time research or studies in Switzerland only
Priority is generally given to candidates who have not previously studied or conducted research in Switzerland.
Key Dates
- Applications open: 20 August 2026
- Country-specific deadlines: Usually between September and November 2026 (varies by country of origin)
- Selection results: By the end of May 2027
- Scholarship start: September 2027
Detailed country-specific deadlines and available scholarship types will be published on the official website in August 2026.
How to Apply
- Check the available scholarship types and exact deadline for your country of origin on the official website.
- Find an academic supervisor at a Swiss higher education institution (required for research scholarships) and obtain a support letter.
- Register and submit your application online via the official Grants Online (GO ESKAS) portal starting 20 August 2026.
- Prepare a strong research proposal, academic documents, and references.
Selection Criteria
Applications are assessed by the FCS based on:
- The candidate’s academic profile, research capacity and motivation
- The quality and originality of the research project (or artistic portfolio)
- The potential for future academic cooperation with the Swiss host institution
