The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for the Master in Arts let highly talented young artists complete their first Master's degree at a Swiss art school or conservatory, starting on 1 September 2027. Scholarship holders receive CHF 2,450 per month for 12 months, extendable up to 21 months, plus a CHF 600 rental deposit grant and a Half-Fare Travelcard. The art scholarship is open to applicants from only 23 countries, each with its own deadline, and the earliest closes on 10 November 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we went through the official scholarship rules for the art track, and every condition, document and benefit is set out below.
What the Master in Arts Scholarship Is For
🎓 The art scholarship enables selected applicants to pursue their first Master's degree at a Swiss art school or conservatory.
🏫 Scholarships are available at all Swiss conservatories and art schools.
⏱️ It is valid only for full-time studies in Switzerland.
🌐 It is available to applicants from only a limited number of countries.
Who the Art Scholarship Targets
🎭 Highly talented young artists who do not already hold a Master's degree or an equivalent qualification.
⭐ Priority goes to people who have not previously studied or conducted research in Switzerland (see the residence rule below for the exception).
🗺️ The scholarship is open to only a limited number of countries: 23 for the 2027-2028 art track.
Eligibility Criteria for Art Applicants
📜 A Bachelor's degree or equivalent completed by 31 July 2027.
🎂 Date of birth after 31 December 1991.
🚫 You must not yet hold a Master's degree at the start of the scholarship.
✉️ An admission letter or proof of application from a Swiss University of the Arts or Music; if applicable, a confirmation that the application period has not yet opened.
🏠 If you already live in Switzerland, your date of entry must not be earlier than 1 August 2026: submit a copy of your registration confirmation or residence permit.
Which Countries Can Apply and Their Deadlines
Each eligible country has its own closing date for the Master in Arts scholarship:
📅 10 November 2026: Austria, Belgium, Estonia, Germany, Korea (South), Latvia, Lithuania
🗓️ 13 November 2026: Finland
📆 17 November 2026: Bulgaria, Czechia, Holy See, Italy, Malta
🕰️ 20 November 2026: Israel
⌛ 27 November 2026: Denmark, Netherlands, Slovakia
🔚 30 November 2026: Croatia, Japan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia
🔎 Before starting the online application, check the available scholarship types and deadlines for your country of origin in the official country list.
How Candidates Are Selected
🖌️ Artistic profile, qualifications and motivation.
🖼️ The submitted portfolio: artistic maturity and potential.
🏛️ Enrolment availability at the desired university.
Duration and Start Date
⏳ 12 months.
➕ Extension possible up to a maximum of 21 months, depending on the chosen Master's programme and the required ECTS credits.
🚀 Start date: 1 September 2027.
Scholarship Amount: CHF 2,450 per Month
💵 CHF 2,450 per month to cover the basic living expenses of one person.
📌 This scholarship is not a salary.
🚫 No funding is provided for fieldwork or participation in conferences.
Additional Benefits for Scholarship Holders
🏥 Health insurance: FCS covers the premiums for compulsory health insurance for scholarship holders from non-EU/EFTA countries. 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: 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 Pay Yourself
🧾 Tuition fees: the scholarship does not cover tuition or semester fees. Some institutions require holders to pay semester fees (approx. CHF 600 to CHF 2,000 per semester) or reduced tuition fees. Scholarship holders cover these fees themselves.
🎤 Conferences: the costs of attending international conferences are borne by the scholarship holder.
🧳 Travel expenses: holders from EU/EFTA countries pay their own travel expenses.
Application Documents for the Art Track
📄 A complete CV with educational background, degrees, awards, list of exhibitions, concerts, teaching and practical experience.
✍️ A letter of motivation (max. 2 pages): your reasons for a stay in Switzerland, its significance for your future career and your professional plans after the scholarship. Our guide to writing a strong motivation letter covers structure, tone and length.
👩🏫 E-mail addresses of two different professors in your field, entered during the online application. They are contacted through the system and asked to upload a recommendation letter on the FCS/ESKAS form.
🎓 Copies of certificates and transcripts from previous universities, with certified translations if they are not in English, French, Italian or German.
🛂 A copy of your passport; dual citizens submit copies of both passports.
🏠 A copy of your residence permit or registration confirmation if you already live in Switzerland.
🖼️ An art portfolio (details below).
✅ A confirmation from the Swiss University of the Arts or Music (details below).
Building the Art Portfolio PDF
Submit one PDF document that includes:
🎼 Music: a link (e.g. YouTube) or QR code to a high-quality recording of three different styles of music. Composers submit their scores.
🎨 Visual arts: a link or QR code to a portfolio showing three pieces of artwork together with sketches, each indicating the creation date and labelled with your first name, surname and country.
💃 Other artistic domains (e.g. dance, acting, writing): a link or QR code to a recording of artistic performances and creations.
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Proof of Admission from a Swiss Art University
📨 A confirmation from the Swiss University of the Arts or Music showing that admission has already been granted or is currently under review.
🔓 This can also be a conditional admission, subject to an entrance examination or other specific requirements.
📧 If registration at the chosen university is not yet possible, a confirmation from the Swiss university about the start date of the admission process is enough (for example, an email from the university).
Swiss Art Schools and Conservatories You Can Choose
🏫 University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland (HES-SO)
🎭 Bern University of the Arts (HKB-BFH)
🏛️ University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW)
⛰️ University of Applied Sciences Eastern Switzerland (OST)
🌊 Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU)
☀️ University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI)
🎹 Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana
🖌️ Zurich University of the Arts (ZHDK)
Obligations During the Scholarship
📍 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 follow your host institution's regulations.
👨👩👧 Family and children: the amount covers living expenses for one person only, and no family allowances are paid. 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 in this regard.
💼 Other scholarships and income: 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.
How the Online Application Works
🖥️ Applications are accepted only through the official GO ESKAS link, with access available from 20 August 2026.
1️⃣ Check that you meet the eligibility requirements.
2️⃣ Register in Grants Online (GO ESKAS).
3️⃣ Sign in to GO ESKAS and prepare your application.
🚫 Do not send your application by email or in paper form.
🕒 Start preparing well in advance: careful preparation improves your chances of success.
📚 The official FAQ for interested applicants and academic supervisors and a User Guide for onboarding scholarship candidates are available from the scholarship page.
What Former Scholarship Holders Report
📊 "Career-boosting scholarships": an online survey of ESKAS alumni from the 2016-2021 cohort, with a follow-up survey of the 1996-2015 cohort (in German, with summaries in French and English).
🌱 "Scholarships that change lives": an online survey of FCS scholarship holders from 1996-2015 (in German, with an English summary).
You can find more funded study opportunities like this one in our Scholarships category on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship Master in Arts?
Highly talented young artists from the 23 eligible countries who were born after 31 December 1991, will hold a Bachelor's degree or equivalent by 31 July 2027 and do not yet hold a Master's degree. Priority goes to people who have not previously studied or done research in Switzerland.
How much does the art scholarship pay?
It pays CHF 2,450 per month to cover the basic living expenses of one person. It also includes a one-time CHF 600 rental deposit grant and a Half-Fare Travelcard, and holders from non-EU/EFTA countries get health insurance premiums and a return flight allowance.
What is the deadline for the Master in Arts scholarship?
Each country has its own deadline. The earliest is 10 November 2026 (Austria, Belgium, Estonia, Germany, Korea (South), Latvia, Lithuania) and the latest is 30 November 2026 (Croatia, Japan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia).
Does the scholarship cover tuition fees?
No. Tuition and semester fees are not covered, and some institutions charge semester fees of approx. CHF 600 to CHF 2,000 per semester or reduced tuition fees, which the scholarship holder pays.
How long does the scholarship last?
It lasts 12 months and can be extended up to a maximum of 21 months, depending on the Master's programme and the required ECTS credits. It starts on 1 September 2027.
Do I need to be admitted to a Swiss art school before applying?
You need a confirmation from a Swiss University of the Arts or Music that admission has been granted or is under review, and a conditional admission also counts. If registration is not yet possible, an email from the university about the start date of its admission process is sufficient.
What should my art portfolio include?
Musicians link a high-quality recording of three different styles of music, and composers submit their scores. Visual artists link three artworks with sketches, labelled with creation date, name and country, while dancers, actors and writers link recordings of their performances and creations.
I already live in Switzerland. Can I still apply?
Yes, if your date of entry into Switzerland is not earlier than 1 August 2026. You must submit a copy of your registration confirmation or residence permit.
Who writes my recommendation letters?
Two different professors in your field. You enter their e-mail addresses in the online application, and the system asks them to upload a recommendation letter on the FCS/ESKAS form.
Can I send my application by email?
No. Applications are accepted only through the GO ESKAS online system, which opened on 20 August 2026, and email or paper applications are not accepted.
Can my family come with me?
The scholarship covers one person only and pays no family allowances. Residence permits for accompanying persons are decided by the migration authorities under a currently restrictive policy, and neither FCS nor the universities help with this.
Deadline
⏳ 10 November 2026
Links
🔗 Apply (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
📘 Official scholarship page: https://www.sbfi.admin.ch/en/swiss-government-excellence-scholarships-at-a-glance
🗂️ Countries, 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
