Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027–2028: Full Guide for International Students

Switzerland funds hundreds of international researchers and artists every year through its Government Excellence Scholarships, and it’s one of the few government-run programmes that will pay you to pursue independent research rather than sit inside a fixed university course. The Swiss Confederation awards these scholarships annually to strengthen international exchange and research cooperation between Switzerland and more than 180 partner countries, and the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students — known as the FCS, or ESKAS — runs the entire selection process.

This guide breaks down who qualifies, what each scholarship track actually pays and covers, and how the application and selection process works for the 2027–2028 academic year. That said, one caveat up front: Switzerland hasn’t yet published country-specific deadlines or per-country scholarship availability for this cycle — that information goes live on the official portal in August 2026, once applications open. Bookmark this page and check back once your country’s window is confirmed, since applying through the right channel, inside the right window, matters more for this scholarship than almost any other step.

Quick Facts

Awarding body	Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS/ESKAS), under Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SBFI)
Who it’s for	Early-career researchers and PhD candidates from 183 eligible countries, or art students from 26 eligible countries
Monthly funding	CHF 2,450 (increased from January 1, 2026)
Scholarship tracks	Research (up to 12 months), PhD (up to 36 months), Art (up to 21 months)
Maximum age	35 at the time of application
Applications open	August 20, 2026, for the 2027–2028 academic year
Application cost	Free — a legitimate application never charges a fee

Important: Protect Yourself From Fake Swiss Scholarship Offers

Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation has issued a direct public warning about fraudulent “Swiss Government Scholarship” offers spreading through e-mail and social media. Scammers impersonate the programme and pressure victims into wiring money, usually framed as visa fees or social insurance costs. Because a genuine Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship application never costs anything, that single fact is the easiest way to spot a fake: once anyone asks you to pay before you’ve been awarded funding, stop immediately, don’t send money, and don’t reply. Apply only through the official SBFI portal or through your home country’s Swiss embassy.

Scholarship Types at a Glance

Switzerland runs three distinct scholarship tracks under this programme, and since eligibility, funding length, and eligible countries differ across all three, confirm which track fits your situation before you start preparing documents.

Type	Who It’s For	Main Requirement	Max Duration
Research	PhD students from 183 countries	Master’s degree + a Swiss academic supervisor	Up to 12 months
PhD	PhD students from 183 countries	Master’s degree + a Swiss academic supervisor	Up to 36 months
Art	Art students from 26 countries	Bachelor’s degree + admission or proof of application	Up to 21 months

All three tracks pay the same CHF 2,450 monthly rate and cap applicants at age 35, regardless of which one you apply through.

What Each Scholarship Type Covers

Once you know which track applies to you, here’s what each one actually funds and who’s eligible to run it.

Research Scholarships

Open to postgraduate researchers in any discipline who want to carry out research at a Swiss cantonal university, a university of applied sciences, one of Switzerland’s two federal institutes of technology (ETH Zurich or EPFL), or one of the four ETH Domain research institutes — PSI, WSL, Empa, or Eawag. Before you apply, you need a Swiss-based academic supervisor who has agreed, in writing, to direct and guide your proposed research; ESKAS won’t consider an application without that commitment secured first. A related research fellowship track runs alongside the main scholarship for shorter stays.

PhD Scholarships

The PhD track uses the same host-institution options and the same supervisor requirement as the research track above, but it’s structured to fund a complete doctoral programme rather than a shorter research stay — hence the extended 36-month ceiling.

Art Scholarships

Reserved for students pursuing an initial Master’s degree in an artistic discipline in Switzerland, and only open to applicants from a shorter list of 26 eligible countries rather than the full 183. You’ll need a completed Bachelor’s degree, plus either formal admission to a Swiss art programme or documented proof that you’ve applied.

Who Can Apply: Eligibility & Selection Criteria

Beyond the degree and supervisor requirements above, ESKAS scores every application against three official criteria, so treat your application as a pitch on all three fronts rather than a formality once you have a supervisor lined up.

• Candidate profile — your academic record, research or artistic experience, and overall readiness to work independently in Switzerland.
• Quality of the research project or artistic work — how well-defined, feasible, and rigorous your proposal is.
• Synergies and potential for future research cooperation — whether your project could lead to a longer-term relationship between your home institution and Switzerland.

One detail worth flagging early: applications aren’t submitted directly to ESKAS. They go through Swiss diplomatic representations — embassies or consulates — in your home country, so start there rather than contacting the FCS office in Bern directly.

How to Apply

• Applications for the 2027–2028 academic year open August 20, 2026.
• Country-specific deadlines and scholarship availability by country of origin are due to go live on the official portal in August 2026 — as of this guide’s last update, that country-by-country breakdown isn’t published yet, so treat any deadline you see elsewhere with caution until you confirm it on the official site or with your local Swiss embassy.
• Because you apply through your home country’s Swiss diplomatic representation rather than directly to ESKAS, your embassy’s own internal deadline may fall earlier than the headline application window — confirm that separately once applications open.
• If you’re applying for the research or PhD track, line up your academic supervisor and get their written commitment before you start the formal application, since you’ll need it as a supporting document.
• Never pay anything at any stage of this process — see the scam warning above.

Important Dates

Milestone	Date
Country-specific deadlines and availability published	August 2026
Applications open (2027–2028 cycle)	August 20, 2026
FCS/ESKAS award decisions announced	By the end of May 2027 at the latest
2028–2029 cycle advertised	From August 2027

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship really free to apply for?

Yes. Every legitimate Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship application is free, and the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation has publicly warned against scam offers that ask applicants to pay supposed visa or insurance fees. If anything asks you for money, it isn’t the real programme.

Who can apply for a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship?

Early-career researchers and PhD candidates who’ve completed a Master’s degree can apply from any of 183 eligible countries, while a separate art scholarship track is open to Bachelor’s-degree holders from 26 eligible countries. Both tracks cap applicants at age 35 at the time of application — confirm the exact birth-date cutoff for the 2027–2028 cycle once the official criteria are published, since it shifts slightly year to year.

How much funding does the scholarship provide?

CHF 2,450 per month, a rate the Swiss Federal Council raised starting January 1, 2026. This guide covers the confirmed monthly stipend only; for track-specific extras, check the official FAQ once you’ve been shortlisted rather than assume a figure this guide hasn’t verified.

Do I need a university supervisor before I apply?

Yes, if you’re applying for the research or PhD track. ESKAS requires a Swiss-based academic supervisor who has agreed in writing to direct your proposed research before your application can be considered. The art scholarship track doesn’t have this requirement, but it does need proof of admission or application to a Swiss art programme instead.

When do 2027–2028 applications open, and where do I apply?

Applications open August 20, 2026. You don’t apply directly to the FCS/ESKAS office in Bern — submit your application through the Swiss embassy or diplomatic representation in your home country, since that’s the official channel for every applicant regardless of nationality.

When will I know if I’ve been awarded a scholarship?

The FCS announces its scholarship decisions for the following academic year by the end of May at the latest, so if you apply for the 2027–2028 cycle, expect a decision by the end of May 2027.