Imagine doing your research at ETH Zurich or EPFL — two of the best-funded research environments on the planet — with CHF 2,450 landing in your account every month. That's the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship, awarded by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS) under Switzerland's State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation. For the 2027–28 cycle, applications are already open, but there is no single global deadline — your country's Swiss embassy sets its own, and most fall between September and December 2026.
In short: the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship 2027-28 funds research fellowships, PhD studies, and (in selected countries) first master's degrees in the arts at Swiss universities and ETH Domain institutes, paying CHF 2,450 per month. Applications opened 20 August 2026; country-specific deadlines mostly fall between September and December 2026.
● Applications Open
Quick Overview
- Host Country: Switzerland
- Host Institution: Swiss cantonal universities, universities of applied sciences, ETH Zurich, EPFL, and ETH Domain research institutes (PSI, WSL, Empa, Eawag)
- Degree Level: Research fellowships, PhD, and first Master's in artistic fields (art scholarships in selected countries only)
- Program Duration: Research fellowships 6–12 months; PhD up to 36 months; art scholarships around 12 months
- Funding Type: CHF 2,450/month + housing grant, health insurance, travelcard, flight allowance
- Deadline: No single deadline — set by your country's Swiss embassy; most fall between September and December 2026 (e.g. Pakistan: 31 October 2026)
Benefits of the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship 2027-28
The monthly figure is the headline, but the package around it is what makes this one genuinely livable:
- CHF 2,450 per month — To cover one person's basic living costs while you research or study in Switzerland. The amount was raised from CHF 1,920 in 2026, which tells you the Swiss know their own cost of living.
- CHF 600 one-time housing grant — A lump sum toward your rental deposit when you arrive.
- Health and accident insurance — Compulsory health insurance premiums are covered for scholarship holders from outside the EU/EFTA.
- Half Fare Travelcard — Discounted travel across Switzerland's (excellent) public transport network.
- Return flight allowance — For non-EU/EFTA scholarship holders, based on country of origin.
- Activities and excursions — The coordinating body organises events and excursions for federal scholarship holders, which is a genuinely good way to meet people in a country where that can take a while.
- World-class host institutions — Placement at ETH Zurich, EPFL, cantonal universities, or ETH Domain research institutes.
Now the honest bit: this is not quite "everything paid." Tuition and semester fees are generally not covered by the federal scholarship — some host institutions waive or reduce them, but you must verify this with your host. The stipend also covers one person only; there's no family allowance.
Eligibility Criteria for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship 2027-28
Requirements vary by country and scholarship type — your embassy's country page is the final authority. The general conditions for research and PhD applicants are:
- Citizen of an eligible country — The programme is open to applicants from 183 countries. But not every scholarship type is offered in every country, so confirm your category is available for your nationality.
- Master's degree completed — Generally by 31 July 2027 (30 June 2027 if you're heading to ETH Zurich). The programme is aimed at early-career researchers who already hold a master's or equivalent.
- Age limit — Generally born after 31 December 1991 (maximum age 35).
- A Swiss academic supervisor is mandatory — Your application must be backed by an academic supervisor in Switzerland who agrees to direct your proposed research. Applications without a supervisor are not considered. This is the single biggest filter — start this search first.
- No previous Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship — Former holders can't reapply.
- Art scholarships — Open only to students pursuing an initial master's degree in an artistic field, and only from a limited number of countries.
If you're already in Switzerland, note there are residence conditions (generally you must not have entered before 1 August 2026). Check your country's page for the exact rule.
How to Apply for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship 2027-28
The supervisor search is the slow part — everything else is paperwork. Start with step 1 today.
1. Check your country page. Open the official SBFI scholarship page, find your country of origin, and confirm which scholarship types are offered and — critically — your exact deadline. 2. Find a Swiss supervisor. Identify a professor or qualified research leader whose work genuinely matches your project. Read their papers, then send a concise, tailored inquiry: your CV, your project idea, and why their lab is the right home for it. This takes weeks or months, so start now. 3. Secure the support letter. Once a supervisor is interested, request their formal letter of support plus their short CV — both are mandatory attachments. 4. Write the research proposal. Use the official FCS/ESKAS form: maximum five pages including a non-specialist summary and a clear timeline. Make it understandable to reviewers outside your subfield. 5. Prepare your documents. Academic CV, two-page motivation letter, degree certificates and transcripts (with certified translations unless in English, French, German, or Italian), passport copy, and email addresses of two professors who will upload recommendations directly. 6. Apply online via the official portal. Applications go through the GO ESKAS online system (go.eskas.ch) — no email, no paper. Complete everything and double-check every attachment. 7. Submit through your country's channel before its deadline. Applications are submitted to Swiss diplomatic representations; the representation may request clarifications before forwarding your file to the Federal Commission.
The FCS assesses applications on three criteria: the candidate's profile, the quality of the research project or artistic work, and the potential for future research cooperation. Decisions are announced by the end of May 2027 at the latest, and scholarships begin in September 2027.
Required Documents
- Completed application form from your country's Swiss representation (via the GO ESKAS portal)
- Academic CV with education, degrees, awards, positions, and publications
- Motivation letter (maximum two pages)
- Research proposal on the official FCS/ESKAS form (maximum five pages, including non-specialist summary and timeline)
- Support letter from your Swiss academic supervisor, plus the supervisor's short CV
- Email addresses of two professors who will upload their recommendations directly
- Degree certificates and transcripts, with certified translations where required
- Passport copy (dual nationals submit both)
- Residence permit or registration confirmation, if already living in Switzerland
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship 2027-28 Deadline
There is no universal deadline — and that's the point most aggregator sites get wrong. Each country's Swiss embassy or consulate sets its own. Applications for the cycle opened on 20 August 2026, and most national deadlines fall between September and December 2026: for example, Pakistani applicants face 31 October 2026 (per the HEC notice citing the Swiss Embassy), Sri Lanka 3 November 2026, and Armenia 10 November 2026 (all at 11:59pm Swiss local time). Open your country's official listing the moment you finish reading this and write its exact date down — it is the only one that matters for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship fully funded?
It provides very substantial support — CHF 2,450 a month, a housing grant, health insurance, a travel discount card, and a return flight allowance — but tuition and semester fees are generally not covered. Think of it as a generous living-and-research package rather than an all-expenses-paid degree.
How much is the monthly stipend?
CHF 2,450 per month for one person's living costs. The amount was increased from CHF 1,920 starting with the 2026 cycle, and the one-time housing grant rose from CHF 300 to CHF 600.
What is the deadline for the 2027-28 cycle?
There isn't one global deadline. Each country's Swiss diplomatic representation sets its own, mostly between September and December 2026. Check your country's page on the official SBFI website — never trust a "global deadline" you saw on a random blog.
Do I need a master's degree to apply?
For research and PhD scholarships, yes — you generally need a completed master's degree or equivalent by 31 July 2027 (30 June 2027 for ETH Zurich). The programme targets early-career researchers, not undergraduates. Art scholarships instead require a completed bachelor's and no master's yet.
Is there an age limit?
Yes — applicants generally must have been born after 31 December 1991 (maximum age 35 at application).
Can I apply without a Swiss supervisor?
No. A Swiss academic supervisor's letter of support is mandatory for research and PhD applications, and files without one aren't even reviewed. Finding the right supervisor is the hardest and most important part of the whole process.
Which universities and institutes can host me?
Swiss cantonal universities, universities of applied sciences, ETH Zurich, EPFL, and the four research institutes within the ETH Domain (PSI, WSL, Empa, Eawag). Your supervisor must be based at one of these.
Is there a postdoctoral category in 2027-28?
The official 2027–28 pages list research scholarships and art scholarships as the categories. Older pages and blogs may mention other categories from previous cycles — always go by the scholarship types listed for your country in the current cycle.
Is applying free?
Completely. The Swiss government explicitly warns that any message asking you to pay a fee for this scholarship — for visas, insurance, or "processing" — is a scam. Never pay anyone.
When will I know the result?
The Federal Commission announces its decisions by the end of May 2027 at the latest, and successful scholarships begin on 1 September 2027.
Final Words
This scholarship rewards preparation, not luck. The winners are the people who started emailing Swiss professors months before the portal opened, with a project that clearly needs to happen in Switzerland. If that's you — or could be, with a few weeks of serious work — the money and the institutions are genuinely worth the effort. Check your country's deadline first, then start the supervisor hunt today.
