About the scholarship
Each year the Swiss Confederation awards Government Excellence Scholarships to encourage international exchange and research cooperation between Switzerland and over 180 other countries. Recipients are selected by the awarding body, the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS).
These scholarships are available to postgraduate researchers in any discipline wishing to pursue research at any Swiss cantonal university, university of applied sciences, either of Switzerland’s two federal institutes of technology (ETHZ or EPFL) or at one of the four research institutes within the ETH Domain (PSI, WSL, Empa, Eawag). Prerequisite: the scholarship application must be backed by an academic supervisor in Switzerland who is willing to direct and guide the applicant’s proposed research.
Eligibility
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent completed by 31 July 2026.
Date of birth after 31 December 1990.
Applicants must not yet hold a Master’s degree at the start of the scholarship.
Admission process (entrance exam or submitted application) to a Swiss art or music school (conservatory) must already be in progress.
If the applicant already resides in Switzerland: date of entry must not be earlier than 1 August 2025 (submit a copy of the registration confirmation or residence permit).
Additional notes
An academic supervisor at a Swiss university is required for all scholarship applications (research fellowships, PhD scholarships, postdoctoral scholarships). Each applicant must find a supervisor in Switzerland to endorse the proposed research project and write a letter of support. Scholarship applications without an academic supervisor will not be considered. This also applies to graduate schools (doctoral programmes).
It is the responsibility of each individual scholarship applicant to find a suitable academic supervisor.
Suitable supervisors: professors and laboratory group leaders. For PhD scholarships, supervisors must be authorised to supervise doctoral theses.
Complete CV including educational background, degrees, positions, publications, teaching and practical experience
Letter of motivation (max. 2 pages; reasons for wanting to stay in Switzerland, significance for your future career and professional plans after the scholarship expires)
Clearly defined research objective with research proposal (max. 5 pages including a summary for non-specialists) based on the FCS form. This does not apply to applicants for an art scholarship.
Letter of support from the academic supervisor at a Swiss higher education institution.
Short CV (max. 2 pages) from this academic supervisor.
For research fellowships: short CV of the academic supervisor at your home university.
For PhD scholarships at graduate schools (doctoral programmes): confirmation of admission.
Two recommendation letters must be submitted directly by email by two different professors in the relevant academic field during the application process.
Copies of certificates and transcripts from previous universities (if not in English, French, Italian or German, with certified translations).
For India: self-certification accepted.
Certificate signed by a doctor stating that you are fit for mission (use FCS form only).
Copy of your passport (if you have dual citizenship, please submit copies of both passports).
If you already reside in Switzerland: residence permit or confirmation of registration.
