Federal Department of Economic Affairs,
Education and Research EAER
Federal Commission for Scholarships
for Foreign Students FCS
Academic Year 2018-2019 - Korea, South (Republic of Korea)
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships
PhD Scholarships
Academic year:
2018-2019
Country:
Korea, South (Republic of Korea)
Opening of the call:
01 September 2017
Submission deadline:
30 November 2017
Scholarship
Swiss Government Excellence PhD Scholarships for foreign students
Offered by
The Swiss Government via the Federal Commission for Scholarships for
Foreign Students FCS
Objectives
To enable selected applicants to undertake a PhD at one of the 10 Swiss
cantonal universities, the two Swiss federal institutes of technology or
public teaching and research institutes.
Universities
Federal institutes
of technology
Teaching and
research institutes
University of Basel / University of Bern / University of Fribourg / University
of Geneva / University of Lausanne / University of Lucerne / University of
Neuchâtel / University of St. Gallen / University of Zurich / Università della
Svizzera italiana
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL)
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ)
Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID)
Validity
The scholarship is only valid for full-time PhD studies in Switzerland. It is
not valid for mixed PhD programmes (part time in Switzerland and part time
in another country).
Target group
Highly qualified postgraduate students (possessing the required degrees)
from all academic fields.
Duration
3 years maximum (starting in September)
Amount and
additional
allowances
The scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of CHF 1’920.
For non-EU and non-EFTA grantees only: mandatory Swiss health
insurance is paid by the FCS.
There are no family allowances.
Scholarship holders from outside continental Europe receive a flight
allowance (lump sum) for a ticket back to their country of origin (provided
at the end of the scholarship).
Academic Year 2018-2019 - Korea, South (Republic of Korea)
Special CHF 300 housing allowance (paid once at the beginning of the
scholarship).
One-year half-fare public transportation card.
Support services and various trips, dinners and sightseeing tours organised
for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship holders.
PhD scholarship holders may request a supplementary allowance for
fieldwork. For fieldtrips lasting longer than 2 months the scholarship
amount will be reduced to 50%.
Eligibility
criteria and
specific conditions
Master’s degree or equivalent university degree recognised by the Swiss
university. The applicant must have achieved this degree before the start of
the scholarship next September. As a proof the degree has to be submitted
to the Federal Commission for Scholarships before the start of the
scholarship.
Applicant
’s date of birth after 31 December 1982.
Applicants who have been in Switzerland for more than one year at the
beginning of the scholarship in September are not eligible.
Applicants must provide a letter from an academic host professor (including
her/his short CV) at the chosen Swiss university confirming why she/he is
willing to supervise and support the PhD thesis. Without such support, the
application will be rejected.
Applicants must have a research proposal including a timeframe. This is
the centrepiece of the application. The applicant must devote all required
attention to it.
Applicants must be in command of the necessary language skills required
for the PhD studies/ research.
Applicants who have already benefited from a Swiss Government
Excellence Scholarship are not eligible to apply for a second scholarship.
Scholarship holders are expected to move to Switzerland during their grant
period.
PLEASE NOTE:
The FCS application for a PhD scholarship and the application for
admission by a Swiss University for a PhD study are two separate
procedures.
The admission to a PhD study at your chosen Swiss University is a conditio
sine qua non for a potential attribution of a FCS scholarship - but no
guarantee though for a positive decision by the Federal Commission for
Scholarships for Foreign Students FCS. It is the
applicant’s responsibility to
manage both procedures in parallel.
In those cases where the PhD is run within a structured doctoral school*,
applicants must include in their application an admission letter or proof that
they are being considered for admission. Without such a document, the
application will be rejected. A support letter is required in any case
additionally.
For EPFL doctoral school candidates*, the admission letter from the EPFL
doctoral school is required before the application. As this takes time
applicants must plan accordingly and submit their application for admission
to the doctoral school sufficiently in advance of the scholarship programme
deadline. Without those documents the application will be rejected.
* A support letter from a host professor is required in any case additionally.
Selection
criteria
The following aspects and selection criteria are primarily considered:
The candidate: academic profile, research capacity and motivation.
Academic Year 2018-2019 - Korea, South (Republic of Korea)
The research project: originality and methodological soundness.
The academic context: quality and context of supervision and potential for
future academic cooperation.
Application
timeframe
Opening of the call:
01 September 2017
Application deadline:
30 November 2017
Beginning of the scholarship:
01 September 2018
Application
procedure
The application package can be obtained by e-mail from the Swiss
Embassy in Seoul.
Application
documents
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
Please submit 3 sets (=1 original + 2 copies) of application documents in
exact order given below: The 1st set contains the original, signed
documents plus the confidential letters of recommendation and if applicable
the attested translations. The other two sets are the copies of the 1st set
except for the confidential letters of recommendation (only 1st set).
Signed FCS application form (typed and printed) with photo.
A full CV with list of academic publications.
A motivation letter (max. 2 pages).
A complete research proposal (max. 5 pages, signed), using exclusively
the FCS research proposal form.
A copy of the letter from an academic host professor (including her/his
short CV) at the chosen Swiss university confirming why she/he is willing to
supervise and support the PhD thesis.
For PhD scholarships at doctoral schools*:
A proof that the applicant is being considered for admission. Except: EPFL:
accepted admission required.
*A support letter from a host professor is required in any case additionally.
Two confidential letters of recommendation from two different professors in
the applicant’s field (use exclusively the FCS reference form – originals in
sealed envelopes only for the 1st set).
Photocopies of certificates and grade sheets from previously attended
universities/colleges and diplomas with grades, starting with the most
recent. If not in English, French, Italian or German with attested certified
translations.
Signed medical certificate (use only the FCS health certificate form).
Two
copies of the applicant’s passport (main page with personal data).
Dual nationals add copies of both passports.
Please do not put the documents into plastic folders or binders.
Contact institution
for the application
Questions and application documents, should to be submitted to the
following address
– if not mentioned otherwise below*:
Swiss Embassy in Republic of Korea (South Korea)
20-16, Daesagwan-ro 11gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
04401 Seoul
E-mail:
seo.science@eda.admin.ch
Tel:
0082 2 739 9511
Web:
http://www.eda.admin.ch/seoul
*
-
