Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships

For international students wishing to study in the universities of Switzerland, financial resources can be a potential limitation but to provide students with the opportunity to study and acquire knowledge, the country’s government offers Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships to aspiring students across the globe. This blog brings you a detailed guide on Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships and their essential criteria, application process and more.

Location	Switzerland
Eligibility	Postgraduates, PhD holders, and Researchers
Amount	CHF 3,500 (INR 2.8 lacs) per month and other benefits
Deadline	December 2022
Results	End of May 2023

What are Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships?

Each year the Confederation of Switzerland identifies students from every nook and corner of the world who have innate potential and award them scholarships to facilitate their academic journey in the various Universities in Switzerland. Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are a group of scholarships awarded to international students from 180 nations for master’s or research degrees in Switzerland. The aim of these scholarships is to promote international cooperation and students exchange by allowing students from different countries to reside and study in Switzerland.

Financial Coverage Under Swiss Government of Excellence Scholarship

• Monthly Stipend
• Tuition Fee
• Round Airfare Tickets
• Accommodation
• Health Insurance
• Housing Allowance
• Research Fund

Types of Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships

Knowing about the major streams for which the scholarships are offered can help a student decide whether they are eligible for the scholarship or not. Majorly two types of Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are awarded to international students which are mentioned below.

• Art Scholarships: These are open for international students desirous of pursuing a master’s degree in Arts from any Swiss Conservatory or University.
• Research Scholarships: These are open for postgraduate research scholars who wish to undertake research in any field at the doctoral or post-doctoral level. Candidates have to be nominated by the mentors of a higher educational institution in Switzerland to be considered for the scholarships. 

Eligibility Criteria

Before applying for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships, it is of vital importance to be aware of the eligibility requirements a student has to meet to be considered for the scholarship:

For Postdoctoral Scholarships

• Candidates must have a PhD degree between 31 December 2016 and 31 July 2020 that is recognised by the Swiss University. 
• An excellent research proposal including the timeline. 
• A letter that is issued by a professor of any Swiss-hosting academic institution affirming their supervision and support for the postdoctoral research.
• Be willing to relocate to Switzerland during the grant period. 
• The candidate must not have been in Switzerland for more than one year at the Commencement of the scholarship.
• The applicant must not have been awarded by a Swiss Government scholarship. 
• Stronghold over the language and good communication skills.

Note: The applicants will have to submit their degree to FCS as proof at the beginning of the scholarship.

For PhD Scholarship /Research Fellowship 

• Candidates must possess a master’s degree or its equivalent recognised by the Swiss University, before 31 July 2023.
• Applicants must be born after 31 December 1984.
• An excellent research proposal including the timeline. 
• A letter that is issued by a professor of any Swiss-hosting academic institution affirming their supervision and support for the postdoctoral research.
• Stronghold over the language and good communication skills.
• Be willing to relocate to Switzerland during the grant period.
• The candidate must not have been in Switzerland for more than one year at the Commencement of the scholarship.
• The applicant must not have been awarded a Swiss Government scholarship. 

Note: The applicants will have to submit their degree to FCS as proof at the beginning of the scholarship.

Documents Required

• CV along with all academic publications
• A motivation letter (Maximum 2 pages)
• Completed and signed research proposal (Maximum 5 pages)
• Copy of the letter issued by an academic professor of the host institution stating his/her will to supervise and support the thesis 
• Two Letters of Recommendation (LOR) issued by two different professors in the applicant’s field
• Short CV of the academic mentor (for research fellowship)
• Photocopies of previous mark sheets and certificates sequenced with the most recent ones 
• Signed medical certificate
• Two photocopies of the passport

Duration 

Stated below is the official duration of the scholarship up to which you can seek the grants: 

• Research Scholarships: 12 Months Maximum.
• Doctoral Scholarships: 12 Months prolongable up to 36 months based on the achieved academic results.
• Post-Doctoral Scholarships: 12 Months.

Benefits of Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships

It helps students belonging to different nations overcome their financial hurdles and earn a degree from a lauded university in Switzerland. Enlisted below are the expenses that are covered under the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships.

For Postdoctoral Scholarships:

• A monthly scholarship of CHF 3,500 (INR 2.9 lacs).
• Special housing allowance of CHF 300 (INR 24,000) will be paid only once. 
• Mandatory Swiss health insurance.
• Half-fare public transportation card for one year.
• Support services, dinners, sightseeing tours and trips.
• Flight allowance for returning to home country after the scholarship.

For PhD Scholarship /Research Fellowship 

• A monthly scholarship of CHF 1,920 (INR 1.6 lacs).
• A special housing allowance of CHF 300 (INR 24,000) will be paid only once. 
• Mandatory Swiss health insurance.
• Half-fare public transportation card for one year.
• Support services, dinners, sightseeing tours and trips.
• Flight allowance for returning to home country after the scholarship.

Eligible Universities for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships

Listed below are the universities in Switzerland in which you can aim to pursue studies through this scholarship:

For Research Scholarships

• University of Basel
• University of Bern
• University of Fribourg
• University of Geneva
• University of Lausanne
• University of Lucerne
• University of Neuchâtel
• University of St. Gallen
• University of Zurich
• Università della Svizzera italiana
• Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL)
• Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ)
• Research Institutes of the ETH Domain (PSI; WSL; EMPA; EAWAG).
• Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID).

For Arts Scholarships 

• University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland
• Bern University of the Arts
• University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland
• University of Applied Sciences Eastern Switzerland
• Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts
• University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland
• Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana
• Zurich University of the Arts

Application Procedure for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships

After understanding the criteria for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships, the next most important step is to be familiar with the application process. Knowing the application process helps the students in applying for the scholarship in time and eases the process. Mentioned below is the application procedure organized systematically for a better understanding of the students.  

1. Release of the list of programs based on each country.
2. Call for proposals for perusal by the committee.
3. Submission deadline based on the program and the country of the applicant
4. After a long process of evaluation, the selected candidates are informed following which the scholarship is awarded as the academic session starts for the particular course chosen by the student.

Note: If certificates are not available in English, German, Italian or French, copies are also acceptable with certified and attested translations.

Selection Process

The competent state authorities and/or the Swiss diplomatic mission may pre-select applications. The Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS) evaluates the applications that were shortlisted before making a judgement.

The FCS assesses scholarship applications according to three criteria:

1. Candidate profile
2. Quality of the research project or artistic work
3. Synergies and potential for future research cooperation

Professors from all Swiss public universities make up the FCS. Academic and scientific excellence is the criterion used to determine scholarship recipients.

Contact Details

For the applicants willing to reach out to the authorities, here are the contacts details for it:

Swiss Embassy in India Nyaya Marg
Chanakyapuri-110021, New Delhi 
E-mail: ndh.scholarship@eda.admin.ch
Tel: 0091 11 4995 9500

We hope this blog has provided in-depth knowledge about the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships. Are you planning to explore scholarships to study in Switzerland? Our Leverage Edu experts are here to help you in selecting the right scholarship as per your chosen course and university and sort out the application process to ensure that you get successfully selected. Register for a free session today!