The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027–2028 are scheduled to open for applications on 20 August 2026, providing international researchers and artists with opportunities to pursue postgraduate research, doctoral studies and artistic training in Switzerland.
The programme is administered by the Swiss Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS/ESKAS) and supports academic and research exchange between Switzerland and international partners.
The programme covers applicants from 183 countries, while the Art Scholarship is available to applicants from 26 eligible countries.
What Does the Swiss Government Scholarship Offer?
The programme has three main scholarship categories:
- Research Fellowship
- PhD Scholarship
- Art Scholarship
The financial support and eligibility requirements differ between the categories.
For researchers, a major requirement is securing the support of a Swiss academic supervisor before applying.
Research Fellowship
The Research Fellowship is intended for postgraduate researchers who want to undertake a research project at an eligible Swiss institution.
According to the information provided, applicants must:
- Be from one of the 183 eligible countries.
- Hold a Master’s degree.
- Obtain a Swiss academic supervisor.
- Undertake research for up to 12 months.
The scholarship provides approximately:
CHF 2,450 per month
This makes the Research Fellowship particularly relevant for international researchers who already have a postgraduate qualification and a defined research project.
PhD Scholarship
The PhD Scholarship supports international students who want to undertake a doctoral degree in Switzerland.
Applicants must:
- Hold a Master’s degree.
- Be 35 years old or younger at the time of application.
- Be a citizen of one of the 183 eligible countries.
- Secure a Swiss academic supervisor.
The scholarship can support doctoral study for up to 36 months.
The stated monthly scholarship is approximately:
CHF 2,450 per month
For someone looking for a funded PhD opportunity in Europe, this is one of the more substantial options in the material provided.
Art Scholarship
The Art Scholarship is designed for students seeking their first Master’s degree in an artistic discipline.
Applicants must:
- Hold a Bachelor’s degree.
- Be from one of the 26 countries eligible for the Art Scholarship.
- Obtain admission to, or provide proof of application to, a recognised Swiss arts institution.
The scholarship can support studies for up to 21 months.
Where Can Scholars Study?
Successful applicants may undertake their research or studies at various Swiss higher education and research institutions, including:
- Swiss cantonal universities
- Universities of Applied Sciences
- ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
- EPFL
- Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI)
- WSL
- Empa
- Eawag
Research and PhD applicants should pay particular attention to the supervisor requirement, as the source states that Swiss academic supervision must be secured before submitting the application.
Who Is Eligible?
Eligibility depends on the scholarship category.
Research applicants
Generally need:
- A Master’s degree
- A suitable research project
- A Swiss academic supervisor
- Citizenship of an eligible country
PhD applicants
Need:
- A Master’s degree
- A Swiss academic supervisor
- Age of 35 or younger
- Citizenship of one of the 183 eligible countries
Art applicants
Need:
- A Bachelor’s degree
- Citizenship from one of the 26 eligible countries
- Admission or proof of application to a recognised Swiss arts institution
How Are Applicants Selected?
The Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS/ESKAS) evaluates applications competitively.
The selection considers:
- Academic achievements and profile
- Quality and originality of the research project or artistic work
- Potential for future research cooperation between Switzerland and the applicant’s home country
The source states that applications are initially submitted through Swiss diplomatic representations before being assessed by the Commission.
Application Timeline
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Country-specific information published | August 2026 |
| Applications open | 20 August 2026 |
| Selection process | After submission |
| Scholarship decisions | By end of May 2027 |
| Scholarship begins | 2027–2028 academic year |
Important: The exact application deadline is country-specific, so applicants should check the information published for their country when the 2027–2028 call opens.
Is It Fully Funded?
The source describes the scholarships as providing substantial financial support, but the exact coverage varies by category.
For the Research and PhD categories, the stated support is approximately CHF 2,450 per month.
The material provided does not give a complete itemised breakdown of whether all tuition, travel, accommodation, health insurance and other costs are covered for every category. Therefore, I would not describe every category as automatically “fully funded” without checking the country-specific official call.
Important: The Application Is Free
Applicants should be particularly careful about scholarship scams.
The application is completely free. The Swiss Government does not request payment for scholarship administration, visa processing or insurance as a condition of receiving the scholarship.
Be suspicious of anyone asking you to transfer money in connection with the scholarship.
How to Prepare Now
Since applications are scheduled to open on 20 August 2026, prospective applicants can begin preparing immediately.
For a PhD or Research Fellowship, the most important preparation is likely to be:
- Identify a suitable Swiss university or research institution.
- Find researchers whose work aligns with your proposed research.
- Contact potential Swiss supervisors.
- Develop a strong research proposal.
- Prepare your academic transcripts and certificates.
- Prepare your CV.
- Review the country-specific eligibility requirements once published.
- Submit through the prescribed Swiss application channel.
Apply here
Scholarship: Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships
Academic year: 2027–2028
Application opens: 20 August 2026
Countries covered: 183 countries for research/PhD categories
Research Fellowship: Up to 12 months
PhD Scholarship: Up to 36 months
Research/PhD stipend: Approximately CHF 2,450/month
Art Scholarship: Up to 21 months
Art Scholarship countries: 26 eligible countries
Key requirement: Swiss academic supervisor for Research/PhD
Selection: Academic excellence, research/artistic proposal and cooperation potential
Application fee: Free
Decisions: By end of May 2027
Study period: 2027–2028
