Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists
Overview
Brief Description
University or Organization: Swiss Government
Department: NA
Course Level: Ph.D., postdoctoral, research programs
Award: Various
Access Mode: Online
Number of Awards: NA
Nationality: International Students
The program can be taken in Switzerland
Application Deadline: Varies from country to country: September-December
Eligibility
- International applicants are eligible to apply.
- The studentships are offered in diverse fields to help students in upgrading their education.
- The studentships are available for pursuing Ph.D., postdoctoral and research programs and fine arts opportunities are for the Master program (according to the ECTS credits).
- PhD Criteria
- Master’s degree or equivalent university degree recognized by the Swiss university. The applicant must have achieved this degree before the start of the program next September. As proof, the degree has to be submitted to the Federal Commission for programmes before the start of the program.
- Applicant’s date of birth after 31 December 1983.
- Applicants who have been in Switzerland for more than one year at the beginning of the program 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 Ph.D. thesis. Without such support, the application will be rejected.
- Applicants must have a research proposal including a timeframe. This is the centerpiece 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 Ph.D. 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 PhD and the application deadline.
- Applicants who are in Switzerland for more than one year at the beginning of the program 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 recognized by the Swiss university. The applicant must have achieved this degree before the start of the program next September. As a proof, the degree has to be submitted to the Federal Commission for programmes before the start of the program.
- Applicants must be born after 31 December 1983
- Applicants who have been in Switzerland for more than one year at the beginning of the program 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 centerpiece 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 1983.
- 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 program in September are not eligible.
- Applicants must be in command of the necessary language skills required for the Master’s program.
- 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.
How to Apply
- How to Apply: 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 the 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).
- Supporting Documents: Applicants need to provide signed FCS application form (typed and printed) with photo, a full CV, motivation letter, complete research proposal, copy of the letter from an academic host professor, Two confidential letters of recommendation from, Photocopies of certificates and grade sheets, signed medical certificate, two copies of the applicant’s passport, Dual nationals add copies of both passports.
- Language Requirements: 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.
Benefits
financial aid positions will comprise of PhD Scholarships
- The aid 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 program).
- Special CHF 300 housing allowance (paid once at the beginning of the program).
- One-year half-fare public transportation card.
- Support services and various trips, dinners and sightseeing tours organized for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship holders.
- Ph.D. scholarship holders may request a supplementary allowance for fieldwork. For field trips lasting longer than 2 months, the program amount will be reduced to 50%.
Postdoctoral scholarships:
- The aid 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 program).
- Special CHF 300 housing allowance (paid once at the beginning of the program).
- One-year half-fare public transportation card.
- Support services and various trips, dinners and sightseeing tours organized for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship holders.
Research scholarships
- The aid 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 program).
- Special CHF 300 housing allowance (paid once at the beginning of the program).
- One-year half-fare public transportation card.
- Support services and various trips, dinners and sightseeing tours organized for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship holders.
Fine Arts
-
- The aid 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 program).
- Special CHF 300 housing allowance (paid once at the beginning of the program).
- One-year half-fare public transportation card.
- Support services and various trips, dinners and sightseeing tours organized for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship holders.