Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships: What They Cover, Who Can Apply and How to Win One

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are awarded annually by the Swiss Confederation through ESKAS. The programme promotes international academic exchange and long-term research cooperation between Switzerland and over 180 countries, and these scholarships are among the most respected research-focused awards in Europe.

Recipients can conduct research at any Swiss cantonal university, either federal institute of technology (ETH Zurich and EPFL), universities of applied sciences, or the four research institutes within the ETH Domain (PSI, WSL, Empa, and Eawag).

There is no subject restriction. Scholars from all academic fields are eligible, including natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities, medicine, and the arts.

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship is a comprehensive financial package. Here is exactly what is included:

Monthly stipend:

• Research scholarship (PhD): CHF 3,500 per month
• Postdoctoral scholarship: CHF 3,500 per month
• The 2027/2028 cycle listings show CHF 2,450 per month for some tracks — confirm the exact current amount once applications for your cycle open

Additional benefits:

• Health insurance coverage – mandatory Swiss health insurance is fully covered for non-EU/EFTA fellows
• Half-Fare Travelcard for Swiss public transport throughout the scholarship period
• Housing allowance – availability varies by country and scholarship type
• Airfare reimbursement – availability depends on country of origin
• Invitation to orientation and networking events organised by ESKAS

What the scholarship does NOT cover:

University tuition or semester fees are not covered by the scholarship. Scholars may need to pay reduced or full semester fees depending on the university. Always confirm fee requirements with your host institution directly.

The scholarship covers living costs for one person only. Scholars with dependents must plan personal finances accordingly.

Citizenship:

Applicants must be citizens of one of the 180+ countries eligible for the programme. Swiss nationals are not eligible.

Age:

Most tracks require applicants to be born after 31 December 1990. Some country-specific fact sheets show a cutoff of 31 December 1991. Check your country’s specific requirement carefully.

Academic qualification:

For the Research scholarship (PhD track): a master’s degree or equivalent must be completed before 31 July of the year the scholarship starts (ETH Zurich applicants: before 30 June). The degree certificate must be received by ESKAS before the scholarship begins.

For the Postdoctoral track: a PhD must already be completed.

Previous scholarship:

Applicants who have already held a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship are not eligible to apply for a second one.

Time in Switzerland:

Applicants who have been in Switzerland for more than one year at the beginning of the scholarship period in September are not eligible. The scholarship is primarily intended for scholars who have not previously been based in Switzerland.

Full-time commitment:

The scholarship is valid for full-time research in Switzerland only. Scholars are expected to relocate to Switzerland during the grant period.

The supervisor requirement – this is the most critical step:

A mandatory letter from a confirmed academic host professor at your chosen Swiss university is required, including the professor’s short CV. Applications submitted without this letter are automatically rejected. Securing a Swiss supervisor typically takes months of correspondence and is the single step that eliminates most potential applicants before they even submit.

Starting with the 2026/2027 cycle, all applications are submitted online through the official ESKAS portal at go.eskas.ch. The previous embassy-based printed submission process has been discontinued.

Step 1: Identify a Swiss supervisor

This is the first and most time-consuming step. Research professors at your target Swiss university whose work aligns with yours. Contact them by email with your CV, research proposal, and a clear explanation of why you want to work with them specifically. This step should begin several months before the application deadline.

Step 2: Develop your research proposal

Your research proposal must include a timeline with key milestones and activities. It must be high-quality, original, and feasible within the Swiss research environment. The proposal must align with your host professor’s expertise and institutional infrastructure.

Step 3: Check your country-specific requirements

Eligibility criteria, scholarship types available, and deadlines vary by country. Check the official ESKAS website and your country’s Swiss diplomatic representation for country-specific fact sheets.

Step 4: Submit via the ESKAS portal

Applications are submitted online at go.eskas.ch. Applications undergo a preliminary review by the relevant national authorities or the Swiss diplomatic representation before being forwarded to ESKAS for final selection.

Step 5: Final selection by ESKAS

Selection is based on academic excellence, research quality, and the strength of the Swiss supervisor’s endorsement. Final decisions are typically communicated by May of the scholarship start year.

While requirements vary by country and scholarship type, most applications require:

• Valid passport
• University degree certificates and transcripts
• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Motivation letter (maximum 2 pages)
• Research proposal with timeline (maximum length varies by track)
• Letter from confirmed Swiss academic host professor, including the professor’s short CV (maximum 2 pages)
• Language proficiency certificates where applicable
• Medical certificate (in some cases)

The most current information is always available at go.eskas.ch and through your country’s Swiss diplomatic representation.

For the 2027/2028 cycle:

Applications officially opened on 20 August 2026. Country-specific deadlines vary — some close as early as September 2026 while others extend into early 2027. Scholarship year begins 1 September 2027.

For the 2026/2027 cycle:

This cycle has already closed. Scholarship start date was 1 September 2026. Final selection decisions were communicated by May 2026.

Students targeting the 2027/2028 cycle should begin identifying a Swiss supervisor immediately, as this step takes months and cannot be rushed.

Switzerland is not the first country most students think of when planning to study abroad. But for researchers, it offers a genuinely exceptional environment:

• ETH Zurich and EPFL consistently rank in the global top 10 for engineering, natural sciences, and technology
• Switzerland invests more in research and development per capita than almost any other country in the world
• The research environment is highly international – English is the working language at most research institutes
• Switzerland is centrally located in Europe, giving scholars access to conferences, collaborations, and networks across the continent
• The stipend of CHF 3,500 per month, combined with Switzerland’s excellent public infrastructure, provides a comfortable and productive research environment

Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation has issued an explicit public warning about fraudulent scholarship offers circulating via email and social media using the Swiss Government’s name. Applying for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship is completely free. The Swiss Government never requests payment for visa processing, insurance, or scholarship administration. If you are asked to pay any fee to process your application, it is a scam.

Preparing a competitive Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship application involves securing a supervisor, developing a high-quality research proposal, and understanding country-specific requirements, all well before the deadline.

My Study Offers is a global education platform for students that helps ambitious researchers navigate competitive scholarship applications, understand eligibility requirements, and plan their full postgraduate journey from shortlisting to visa. Speak to an expert advisor at mystudyoffers.com.

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are among the most respected research funding opportunities available to international postgraduate students. They offer direct access to some of the world’s best research institutions, a comprehensive financial package, and the opportunity to build an international academic career from one of Europe’s most innovative countries.

The application is demanding, and the supervisor requirement is non-negotiable. But for researchers who identify the right Swiss professor, develop a strong proposal, and meet the eligibility criteria, this scholarship represents a genuinely transformative opportunity.

Start early. Identify your supervisor first. Everything else follows from there.

Always verify the most current eligibility requirements, deadlines, and stipend amounts directly at go.eskas.ch or through your country’s Swiss diplomatic representation before applying.

Q1. What is the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship?

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are awarded annually by the Swiss Confederation through the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (ESKAS). They fund doctoral and postdoctoral research at Swiss universities, federal institutes of technology including ETH Zurich and EPFL, and affiliated research institutions. The programme is open to citizens of over 180 countries and covers all academic disciplines.

Q2. What does the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship cover?

The scholarship provides a monthly stipend of CHF 3,500, mandatory Swiss health insurance for non-EU/EFTA scholars, a Half-Fare Travelcard for public transport, and in some cases a housing allowance and airfare reimbursement depending on country of origin. University tuition and semester fees are not covered and must be paid separately.

Q3. Who is eligible for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship?

Citizens of the 180+ eligible countries (excluding Switzerland) who hold a master’s degree for the PhD track, or a PhD for the postdoctoral track, and who are born after 31 December 1990 or 1991 depending on the country-specific requirements. Applicants must not have previously held an ESKAS scholarship and must not have been in Switzerland for more than one year before the scholarship start date.

Q4. Is securing a Swiss supervisor mandatory?

Yes. A letter from a confirmed academic host professor at your chosen Swiss university, including the professor’s short CV, is a mandatory requirement. Applications submitted without this letter are automatically rejected. Identifying and securing a supervisor is typically the most time-consuming step in the application process and should begin several months before the deadline.

Q5. How do I apply for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship?

Applications are submitted online through the official ESKAS portal at go.eskas.ch. The previous process of submitting printed copies to Swiss embassies has been discontinued. Country-specific deadlines and eligibility requirements are published on the same portal and through Swiss diplomatic representations.

Q6. Can I apply for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship twice?

No. Applicants who have previously held a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship are not eligible to apply for a second one under any track.

Q7. Is the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship application free?

Yes. The application is completely free. The Swiss Government never requests payment for visa processing, insurance, or scholarship administration. Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation has issued an explicit warning against fraudulent scholarship offers using the Swiss Government’s name — if anyone asks you to pay a fee, it is a scam.

Q8. When do applications open for the next cycle?

Applications for the 2027/2028 cycle opened on 20 August 2026 via the ESKAS portal at go.eskas.ch. Country-specific deadlines vary from September 2026 through early 2027. The scholarship year begins on 1 September 2027. Always check the official portal for your country’s specific deadline.