Swiss Government Scholarship 2025-2026| Fully Funded

The Swiss government offers a golden opportunity to study free of charge in Switzerland for students wishing to obtain scholarships for doctoral degrees, research fellowships or post-doctoral fellowships in various disciplines. These scholarships enable students to study at a selection of the best universities, institutes of technology, applied science schools, as well as art and music schools in Switzerland.

Details of Swiss Government Scholarship

Degree Type: Research Fellowships, PhD, Postdoctoral
Funding: Fully funded
Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities

Swiss Government Scholarship

The scholarships provided by the Swiss government to international students are varied and include the following types:

Research Fellowships:

Duration: 12 months, starting from September 2025 and ending in August 2026.
Note: Applications less than 9 months old will not be accepted.

PhD Scholarships:

Duration: ranging from one academic year to three years.
Start date: September 2025.

Postdoctoral scholarships:

Duration: 12 months, starting from September 2025 and ending in August 2026.

Arts Scholarships:

Degree: Master’s.
Duration: ranging from 12 months to 21 months.
Start date: September 2025.

Swiss Universities Available for Study

For Research Fellowships, PhD, and Postdoctoral Studies

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 Research Fellowships and Postdoctoral Studies Only

University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland (HES-SO)
Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH)
University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW)
Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences (OST)
University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons (FHGR)
Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts
University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland
Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW)
Universities of Teacher Education
Swiss Federal University for Vocational Education and Training (SFUVET)
Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen (SFISM)

Benefits of Swiss Government Scholarship

For research fellowships and doctoral scholarships:

Students receive CHF 23,000 per year, providing sufficient financial support to cover their living expenses during their studies.

For postdoctoral scholarships:

The annual salary for these scholarship holders is CHF 42,000, reflecting the value and importance that Switzerland places on advanced scientific research.

Additional benefits for all scholarships:

Students receive an allowance of CHF 300 upon arrival to help them settle in.
Health insurance is provided for all scholarship recipients.
Flight tickets are also provided for students.

Requirements for Swiss Government Scholarship

For Research Fellowships

Fellowships are open to all disciplines for applicants holding a Master’s degree.

Academic qualifications:

The applicant must have obtained a Master’s degree or equivalent before 31 July 2025.
The applicant must have been born on or after 31 December 1989.
A letter of recommendation from a supervisor in Switzerland including a CV (no more than two pages) and an explanation of why the supervisor wishes to supervise the research must be provided.
A detailed research proposal must be submitted, including a timeline for the proposed research.
These fellowships are not available to those who have already obtained a PhD.
The fellowship must be full-time.

For PhD Scholarships

Specializations: The scholarships are open to all scientific and research fields.

Academic qualifications:

The applicant must have obtained a master’s degree or equivalent before 31 July 2025.
The applicant must have been born on or after 31 December 1989.
A letter of support from a supervisor in Switzerland must be submitted, including their CV (no more than two pages) and an explanation of their desire to supervise the research.
The doctoral degree must be obtained at a research university in Switzerland.
A detailed research proposal including a timetable must be submitted.
For applications to universities of applied sciences, a letter of support from a faculty member at the host research university must be submitted.
The doctoral studies must be full-time.

Part of the research can be carried out outside Switzerland for a period not exceeding six months, and the costs associated with this period will be covered.

For Postdoctoral Scholarships

Open to all scientific fields.
Must have obtained the PhD degree after December 31, 2021, and before July 31, 2025.
Must not be residing in Switzerland.
Must have a supervision letter from a supervisor in Switzerland, including their CV (maximum two pages) and an explanation of why they are willing to supervise the research.
A research proposal including a timeline.

For Arts Scholarships

Open to all artistic fields for a master’s degree.
The study must be full-time.
Must have obtained the bachelor’s degree or equivalent before July 31, 2025.
Must have graduated within the last three years.
Must be born after December 31, 1989.
Must have preliminary acceptance from a school of arts or conservatory.
Arts scholarships are available to some European and Asian countries only and are not available to Arab countries.

Required Documents for Applying to the Swiss Government Scholarship

All documents must be submitted in English, French, Italian, or German.
Submit two copies of each document: one original signed copy and one duplicate.
Fill out the form, include a photo, and print it. The form can be obtained from the scholarship website.
Curriculum Vitae (CV) Preferably in the Europass template. The CV should include comprehensive details about your education, training, diplomas, awards, conferences, publications with references, academic and non-academic positions, teaching or academic experience, and links to your scientific blogs and online presentations.
Motivation Letter Not exceeding two pages.
Research Proposal Not exceeding five pages, signed.
Invitation Letter from the Academic Supervisor in Switzerland Including their CV.
Two Letters of Recommendation From professors in the same field of study.
Academic Certificates: Copies of your degrees.
For those with dual nationality, provide a copy of each passport.
Medical Certificate Signed by a medical professional.

How to Apply for the Swiss Government Scholarship ?

Visit the official website of the Swiss Government Scholarship to determine the application deadlines specific to your country. This information is important to plan enough time to prepare and submit the application.
Make sure to gather and prepare all necessary documents, such as supervision letter, research proposal, CV, and other required documents before the deadline.
Send your documents to the Swiss embassy in your country. Mailing address and application dates can be found in the file on the application page under “Date and Mailing Address.”
Before submitting your documents, find a supervisor in Switzerland in your field of study, whether for research fellowships, doctorates, or postdoctoral grants. Your supervisor must provide you with an invitation letter, which must be included in your application documents.
Make sure that the supervisor works in your field at a Swiss university. This step can take time, so start researching early.
Watch the video tutorial available on the application page to get a better understanding of the process and ensure you have everything required for the application.
Be aware that start and end dates for the application process vary by country.

Apply Now

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