Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027-2028: research fellowship or PhD in Switzerland, CHF 2,450 a month, applications from Ukraine by 30 November

The Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS/ESKAS), operating under the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), has opened the call for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for the 2027-2028 academic year. The programme enables international early-career researchers and doctoral candidates, including applicants from Ukraine, to conduct research or pursue a doctoral degree at Swiss higher education institutions.

Selected scholars receive a monthly grant of CHF 2,450 to cover living expenses, alongside supplemental benefits including mandatory health insurance, a one-off housing allowance of CHF 600, a Swiss public transit Half-Fare travelcard, and airfare reimbursement. The deadline to submit applications for Ukrainian candidates is 30 November 2026.

What is funded

The scholarship supports full-time research in Switzerland under two specific tracks. The Research Fellowship track provides funding for 6 to 12 months for candidates who are carrying out a research project as part of their ongoing doctoral studies abroad, with no option for extensions. The PhD scholarship track supports full doctoral studies for an initial period of 12 months, with the possibility of renewal up to a maximum of 36 months.

Scholars receive a monthly living allowance of CHF 2,450. In addition, the award covers health insurance, a housing subsidy of CHF 600 provided at the start of the stay, a Half-Fare travelcard, and travel expenses. The scholarship is intended to support living expenses for one person and is not legally or financially equivalent to a regular salary.

Who can apply

The call is aimed at highly qualified postgraduate researchers in all academic disciplines, including young medical doctors. Applicants must hold a master’s degree or equivalent completed by 31 July 2027, or by 30 June 2027 if the host institution is ETH Zurich. Candidates must be born after 31 December 1991.

For research fellowships, applicants must be enrolled in a PhD programme in a country other than Switzerland. Priority is given to applicants who have not previously studied or conducted research in Switzerland. Applicants already residing in Switzerland are eligible only if their entry date was not earlier than 1 August 2026.

Conditions and requirements

Securing academic supervision in Switzerland is an indispensable prerequisite for all applicants. Candidates must independently identify and obtain a formal letter of support from an authorized supervisor at a cantonal university, a university of applied sciences, ETH Zurich, EPFL, or an ETH Domain research institute (PSI, WSL, Empa, Eawag). For doctorates at universities of applied sciences, two academic supervisors are required, one of whom must be authorized to confer doctoral degrees at a traditional university.

Applications are excluded if they are incomplete, contain formal errors, or present multiple research projects. Submissions will also be disqualified if the applicant submits multiple simultaneous applications for different host universities, has already received a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship, or is applying for the fourth time after three previous rejections.

Research must be carried out on a full-time basis in Switzerland starting on 1 September 2027. Selection is based on the applicant’s academic profile and competence, the originality and methodological quality of the research plan, and the supervision capacity and potential for future collaboration.

How to apply

Applicants must assemble and submit a comprehensive application file. Key components include a detailed curriculum vitae, a motivation letter of up to two pages, a research proposal of up to five pages on the official FCS/ESKAS form with a clear timeline, and a letter of support and short CV from the Swiss host supervisor. Candidates must also provide university transcripts and certificates, a copy of their passport, and residence documentation if already living in Switzerland.

During the online application, candidates must enter the email addresses of two independent professors in their academic field, who will be invited by the system to submit letters of recommendation on standard forms. Applicants applying to formal doctoral programmes or graduate schools must also submit official proof of admission, which constitutes a separate administrative procedure from the scholarship application.

Practical tip. Begin your outreach to potential Swiss host supervisors months in advance of the deadline, as faculty members receive numerous inquiries and require time to evaluate proposals. Before reaching out, verify that your profile directly matches their ongoing research, and prepare a concise summary of your research plan to present your academic credentials effectively.

Applications are submitted on the donor’s page: sbfi.admin.ch.