The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027-2028 include a Research Fellowship that funds PhD candidates from abroad to carry out a 6 to 12 month research project at a Swiss university, university of applied sciences, ETH Zurich, EPFL or an ETH Domain research institute. Fellows receive CHF 2,450 per month from 1 September 2027, and the earliest country deadline is 10 November 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the official call so you can check your eligibility, your country deadline and every document you need.
What Is the Swiss Government Excellence Research Fellowship?
The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are awarded by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS / ESKAS). Research scholarships are open to postgraduate researchers in any discipline who wish to pursue research in Switzerland.
🎯 The fellowship enables selected applicants to carry out a one-year research project as part of their doctoral studies at a Swiss higher education institution or recognised research institute.
⏱️ It is valid only for full-time research in Switzerland.
🤝 The application must be backed by an academic supervisor in Switzerland who is willing to direct and guide the proposed research.
Who Is the Research Fellowship For?
🧑🔬 Highly qualified early-career researchers from all academic fields who are pursuing a PhD in a country other than Switzerland.
🩺 Young medical doctors are also part of the target group.
🆕 Priority is given to applicants who have not previously studied or conducted research in Switzerland (see the eligibility rules on residence below for exceptions).
Eligibility Criteria
🎓 A Master's degree or equivalent completed by 31 July 2027 (for ETH Zurich: 30 June 2027).
🎂 Date of birth after 31 December 1991.
🗺️ A detailed research plan with a timeline specifying key milestones and activities.
✉️ A letter of support from an academic supervisor in Switzerland, including a short CV of the supervisor.
🏠 If you already reside in Switzerland, your date of entry must not be earlier than 1 August 2026, and you must submit a copy of your registration confirmation or residence permit.
Where You Can Carry Out Your Research
Research fellowships can be held at any Swiss cantonal university, university of applied sciences, either of Switzerland's two federal institutes of technology (ETHZ or EPFL) or one of the four research institutes of the ETH Domain (PSI, WSL, Empa, Eawag).
Universities and Federal Institutes
🏛️ 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)
Universities of Applied Sciences and Other Institutions
🏫 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 (HSLU)
☀️ University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI)
🏙️ Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW)
👩🏫 Universities of teacher education
💻 UniDistance Suisse (presence in Switzerland mandatory)
🧰 Swiss Federal University for Vocational Education and Training (SFUVET)
🏃 Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen (SFISM)
Duration and Start Date
📆 Maximum of 12 months, with a minimum of 6 months.
🚫 No extensions are possible.
🚀 The fellowship starts on 1 September 2027.
How Much Does the Fellowship Pay?
💵 CHF 2,450 per month to cover the basic living expenses of one person.
⚖️ The scholarship is not a salary and must not be treated as equivalent to regular remuneration, either financially or legally.
🧳 No funding is provided for fieldwork or participation in conferences.
Additional Benefits
🏥 Health insurance: FCS covers the premiums for compulsory health insurance for scholarship holders from non-EU/EFTA countries. Scholarship holders from EU/EFTA countries must cover these costs themselves.
🔑 A one-time grant of CHF 600 for the rental deposit.
🚆 A Half-Fare Travelcard for public transport.
🏞️ The coordinating body organises excursions and activities for federal scholarship holders.
✈️ Return flight allowance: scholarship holders from non-EU/EFTA countries receive a return flight allowance, with the amount determined by country of origin. It may be used up to two months after the scholarship ends, exclusively for returning to the country of origin.
Costs You Must Cover Yourself
🎟️ Tuition fees: the scholarship does not cover tuition or semester fees. Some universities, universities of applied sciences or federal institutes of technology require scholarship holders to pay semester fees (approx. CHF 600 to CHF 2,000 per semester) or reduced tuition fees, and in some cases PhD fees are not waived.
🎤 Conferences: the costs of participating in international conferences are borne by the scholarship holder.
🧭 Travel expenses: scholarship holders from EU/EFTA countries pay their own travel expenses.
Finding an Academic Supervisor in Switzerland
An academic supervisor at a Swiss university is required for every application. Each applicant must find a supervisor in Switzerland who endorses the proposed research project and writes a letter of support. Applications without an academic supervisor are not considered, and this also applies to graduate schools (doctoral programmes).
👤 Finding a suitable supervisor is the responsibility of each applicant.
👩🏫 Suitable supervisors are professors and laboratory group leaders.
🏫 At universities of applied sciences, a doctorate requires two academic supervisors, and one of them must be authorised to confer doctorates at a traditional university.
Before You Contact a Potential Supervisor
🔍 Academic relevance: check that the supervisor is conducting research in your desired field.
🪞 Self-assessment: make sure your skills and credentials meet all the requirements for the planned scientific collaboration.
📏 Thorough research: be precise, for example by verifying the degree requirements for your intended scholarship before reaching out.
⌛ Plan ahead: the search for a supervisor can take weeks or even months, as professors receive many enquiries.
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Required Application Documents
📄 A complete CV including educational background, degrees, awards, positions, publications, teaching and practical experience.
💌 A letter of motivation (max. 2 pages) covering your reasons for staying in Switzerland, its significance for your future career and your professional plans after the scholarship.
🗂️ A research proposal with a detailed research plan and a timeline of key milestones and activities, submitted on the FCS/ESKAS form (max. 5 pages including a summary for non-specialists). The form can be downloaded in the online application.
📝 A letter of support from an academic supervisor at a Swiss higher education institution.
🧾 A short CV (max. 2 pages) of this Swiss supervisor and a short CV of your academic supervisor at your home university.
📧 The e-mail addresses of two different professors in your academic field, provided during the online application. They are contacted through the system and asked to upload a recommendation letter (FCS/ESKAS form).
🎓 Copies of certificates and transcripts from previous universities, with certified translations if they are not in English, French, Italian or German. For India, self-certification is accepted.
🛂 A copy of your passport (dual citizens submit copies of both passports).
🪪 A copy of your residence permit or registration confirmation if you already reside in Switzerland.
How Applications Are Assessed
🏅 Academic profile, research competence and motivation.
💡 Originality and methodological quality of the project.
🔗 Quality of supervision and the potential for future collaboration.
Exclusion Criteria
Your application will not be considered if any of the following applies:
❗ The application is incomplete or contains formal errors.
🔁 Multiple applications are submitted at the same time for several host universities and/or scholarship types.
📍 You have been living, studying or working in Switzerland since a date more than 13 months before the start of the scholarship.
🏆 You have already received a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship.
4️⃣ It is your fourth application after three unsuccessful attempts.
🙅 No academic supervisor in Switzerland has been indicated.
📭 No letter of support from the Swiss supervisor has been provided.
📚 The application includes more than one research project proposal.
Cotutelle Doctoral Projects
PhD students with an ongoing or planned doctoral project carried out under a formal agreement between two universities ("cotutelle de thèse" cooperation between a Swiss and a foreign university) are eligible only for a 12-month research fellowship. The project is jointly supervised by two supervisors.
Your Obligations as a Fellow
🏡 Place of residence: you must reside in Switzerland and live in the city or canton of your Swiss host institution. You must follow FCS instructions, comply with the laws applicable to foreign nationals and respect the regulations of your host institution.
👨👩👧 Family and children: the monthly amount covers the living expenses of one person only, and no family allowances are provided. Residence permits for accompanying persons are decided by the federal and cantonal migration authorities, which currently apply a restrictive policy. Neither FCS nor Swiss higher education institutions provide support with this.
💼 Additional scholarships or income: some universities (e.g. EPFL, ETH Zurich, University of Zurich) require additional funding from the academic supervisor. FCS must be notified of any other financial support, such as other scholarships or teaching and research assistant positions. The scholarship may not be used to supplement full-time employment.
🧪 Field research: field research outside Switzerland is not permitted during research fellowships.
Application Deadlines by Country
Deadlines differ by country of origin. Check your country's date before starting the online application:
📅 10 November 2026: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bhutan, Burundi, Cook Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Germany, Haïti, India, Iran, Korea (South), Kuwait, Latvia, Libya, Lithuania, Malawi, Morocco, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Qatar, Samoa, St. Kitts and Nevis, Sudan, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, Zambia, Zimbabwe
🗓️ 13 November 2026: Algeria, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Finland, Peru, South Sudan, Taiwan (Chinese Taipei), United Kingdom
📌 17 November 2026: Barbados, Bulgaria, Czechia, Grenada, Guyana, Holy See (Vatican City), Italy, Malta, Santa Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Surinam, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela
🔔 20 November 2026: Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Israel
⏰ 24 November 2026: Cambodia, Chile, Georgia, Laos, Montenegro, Myanmar, Serbia, Thailand, Vietnam
🕐 27 November 2026: Angola, Australia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Denmark, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kosovo, Liberia, Madagascar, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Moldova, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Occupied Palestinian territory, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Salomon Islands, Saudi Arabia, São Tome and Príncipe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Yemen
⌛ 30 November 2026: Albania, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belarus, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Cap Verde, China, Colombia, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Kinshasa), Croatia, Cuba, Eritrea, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Democratic People's Republic (North), Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Namibia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, Singapore, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Syria, Timor-Leste, Türkiye, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
For China, Hong Kong and Korea, Democratic People's Republic (North), only the research fellowship is available among the research scholarships.
How to Apply
Applications are accepted only through the official online system, open since 20 August 2026. Start preparing well in advance, as careful preparation improves your chances of success.
1️⃣ Check that you meet the eligibility requirements and your country deadline.
2️⃣ Register in Grants Online (GO ESKAS).
3️⃣ Sign in to GO ESKAS and prepare your application, including identifying your academic supervisor in Switzerland.
🚫 Do not send your application by email or in paper form.
Explore more funded research programmes in our Fellowships category on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply if I am doing my PhD outside Switzerland?
Yes. The research fellowship is designed for early-career researchers pursuing a PhD in a country other than Switzerland, who spend 6 to 12 months carrying out part of their doctoral research at a Swiss institution.
Do I need a supervisor in Switzerland before applying?
Yes. Every application needs an academic supervisor in Switzerland who endorses your project and writes a letter of support. Applications without one are not considered, and finding a supervisor is your own responsibility.
How much is the monthly scholarship?
The fellowship pays CHF 2,450 per month for the basic living expenses of one person. It is not a salary, and it does not cover fieldwork, conferences or tuition and semester fees.
Is there an age limit?
Yes. You must be born after 31 December 1991 to be eligible.
Can the fellowship be extended beyond 12 months?
No. The research fellowship lasts a maximum of 12 months and a minimum of 6 months, and no extensions are possible.
Is health insurance covered?
FCS covers the compulsory health insurance premiums for fellows from non-EU/EFTA countries. Fellows from EU/EFTA countries pay these costs themselves.
Can I do field research outside Switzerland during the fellowship?
No. Field research outside Switzerland is not permitted during research fellowships, and the fellowship is valid only for full-time research in Switzerland.
Can I apply to several Swiss universities at once?
No. Submitting multiple applications at the same time for several host universities or scholarship types leads to exclusion, as does submitting more than one research proposal.
I already live in Switzerland. Can I still apply?
Yes, if your date of entry is not earlier than 1 August 2026. You must include a copy of your registration confirmation or residence permit.
Who writes my recommendation letters?
You provide the e-mail addresses of two different professors in your academic field during the online application. The system contacts them and asks them to upload a recommendation letter on the FCS/ESKAS form.
Can my family come with me?
The scholarship covers one person only and includes no family allowances. Residence permits for accompanying persons are decided by migration authorities, which currently follow a restrictive policy.
When is the deadline?
Deadlines depend on your country of origin and run from 10 November 2026 to 30 November 2026. The earliest group of countries closes on 10 November 2026.
Deadline
⏳ 10 November 2026
Links
🔗 Apply via GO ESKAS: https://www.go.eskas.ch/BewerbungServlet?identifier=SBFI&kz_bew_pers=S&kz_bew_art=IN&aust_prog=CHECK&sprache=en&onlyEligibilityCheck=ELIG_CHECK_SUCCESS
ℹ️ Official call (Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships at a Glance): https://www.sbfi.admin.ch/en/swiss-government-excellence-scholarships-at-a-glance
📑 A-Z list of countries and territories with scholarship types and deadlines (PDF): https://www.sbfi.admin.ch/dam/en/sd-web/yBYiu8PC4jzg/2026-10-26_A_Z_List_of_countries_and_territories_complete.pdf
