Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships and University Funding Guide

How funding to study in Switzerland works

Switzerland's funding for international students comes mainly from a national government scholarship programme and from the universities and cantons themselves; there is no single Swiss equivalent of an EU-wide scheme, so applicants typically target the national programme plus institution-specific awards.

The flagship national programme is the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships, administered by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS). Alongside it, leading universities such as ETH Zurich and EPFL run their own scholarships, and individual cantonal universities offer further awards.

• National: Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships (research fellowships/PhD, plus an arts-scholarship variant)
• University: ETH Zurich and EPFL excellence and master's scholarships
• Cantonal: scholarships from individual cantonal universities
• Doctoral/postdoc: research-focused funding at host institutions

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are aimed mainly at international early-career researchers who have already completed a relevant degree — typically funding research fellowships and doctoral (PhD) study at Swiss universities and research institutes. A separate arts-scholarship variant covers initial master's study in artistic fields. The exact eligible types vary, so do not assume the programme covers ordinary taught master's degrees.

Crucially, the eligible countries, eligible scholarship types and quotas differ by country, and each country has its own annual application window and route — usually involving the Swiss diplomatic mission in that country. Always check the official Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships pages and your country's specific call before applying, as the details change each cycle.

The application process

The process is country-specific: candidates from an eligible country usually apply through a designated route (often the Swiss diplomatic mission or a national body), and applications are then assessed by the FCS. Acceptance or a letter of support from a Swiss host professor or institution is frequently part of the requirement, especially for research scholarships.

No scholarship can be guaranteed, and selection is competitive. The official information also notes that applying is free of charge — be cautious of any third party that asks for payment to 'secure' a Swiss Government scholarship. Confirm the exact eligibility, documents, host-letter requirement and deadline for your country on the official source for the current cycle.

• Check whether your country is eligible and which scholarship types apply
• Identify the country-specific application route and deadline (often via the Swiss diplomatic mission)
• Secure any required acceptance or support letter from a Swiss host
• Prepare transcripts, a research plan where required, references and language evidence

ETH, EPFL and cantonal university scholarships

Switzerland's leading institutions run their own competitive scholarships. ETH Zurich offers an excellence master's scholarship programme, and EPFL has its own master excellence fellowships, each with its own criteria, coverage and deadline. Other cantonal universities offer their own merit and need-based awards.

These institution scholarships are separate from the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships, and you usually apply through the university's own admission or scholarship system. Check the official scholarships pages of ETH Zurich, EPFL and any cantonal university you target, and note their deadlines are often tied to admission.

What to prepare and where to verify

Documents commonly requested across Swiss scholarships include academic transcripts and degree certificates, proof of admission or a host acceptance, a motivation letter or research proposal, references, and language evidence (English or the local language depending on the programme). Requirements differ between the national scholarship and each university scheme.

Amounts, coverage, quotas and deadlines are set per programme and per country and change between cycles, so we do not quote figures here. Verify every detail on the official Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships, ETH, EPFL or cantonal university source before relying on it.