SERI - State Secretariat for Education, Research & Innovation - Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships

You get about 2,600 EUR per month (CHF 2,450) to research or study in Switzerland. This covers the basic living costs of one person. The Swiss Confederation awards these scholarships every year to bring early-career researchers and artists from over 180 countries to Swiss universities. There are three types. A research fellowship funds a research project of 6 to 12 months as part of a doctorate. A PhD scholarship funds a full doctorate, running 12 months and renewable up to 36 months. An art scholarship funds a first Master's degree in an artistic subject, running 12 months and extendable up to 21 months. The money is a scholarship, not a salary.

Who can apply

• Degree: For a research fellowship or PhD scholarship you have a Master's degree (completed by 31 July 2027, or 30 June 2027 for ETH Zurich). For the art scholarship you have a Bachelor's degree and no Master's yet.
• Age: You were born after 31 December 1991, so you are no older than 35.
• Field of study: Research and PhD scholarships are open to all academic fields, including young medical doctors. The art scholarship is for artistic subjects at a Swiss art school or conservatory.
• Where you go: You study or research at a Swiss cantonal university, a university of applied sciences, ETH Zurich or EPFL, or one of four ETH research institutes (PSI, WSL, Empa, Eawag). Art scholarships run at Swiss art schools and conservatories.
• Supervisor (research and PhD only): You have a written letter of support from a professor at a Swiss university who backs your research plan. Finding this supervisor is up to you.
• Nationality: Research and PhD scholarships are open to applicants from 183 countries. Art scholarships are offered only for a limited number of countries.
• Not already based in Switzerland: You must not have lived, studied or worked in Switzerland for more than about a year before the scholarship starts (no entry before 1 August 2026).
• Attempts: You may apply at most three times for the same type, and you cannot have held this scholarship before.

How to apply

You apply through the Swiss embassy in your country. Deadlines vary by country and are published from August 2026, with applications for the 2027/2028 year opening on 20 August 2026. A commission judges your academic profile, the quality of your project or artistic work, and the potential for future research cooperation. You get the decision by the end of May before the scholarship starts.

How realistic are your chances?

This is a well-known, government-funded programme open to applicants from over 180 countries, so competition is genuine. Your strongest lever is a supervisor: for research and PhD applications, a Swiss professor who has endorsed your specific project sets you apart. Finding one can take months, so start early. If you clearly meet the age and degree limits and bring an original, well-supervised project, your prospects are solid.