mecㆍviewer v1.4 :: 2025-2026 스위스 정부초청 장학생 모집요강.pdf

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Students
at Swiss Higher Education Institutions
Application Guidelines

for the Academic Year 2025-2026

20.06.2024

To prepare a successful application:
Please read carefully and respect these guidelines exactly

Internet Link: www.sbfi.admin.ch/scholarships_eng

How does one apply ?

Application Guidelines for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships | Academic Year 2025 - 2026 |

• Go to the website www.sbfi.admin.ch/scholarships_eng

• Select your country of origin (this is the country according your passport)

• Check the scholarships available for your country (see list of countries and territories).

• Check the application deadlines for your country (see list of countries and territories).

• Read the „Application Guidelines for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships“.

• For further questions check the FAQ and

• Contact the Swiss Embassy or the competent national institution (see list of countries and territories).

• Download the application package.

• Fill out and print.

• Note: Two paper copies of your application must be submitted.

• To submit your application:

• Send the application to the postal address of your country of origin (see list of countries and territories).

Scholarship applications to be submitted at the Swiss Embassy

or the competent national institution in your country of origin

Content

About the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships

Application procedure

Selection criteria

Academic host – a precondition

8 Finding your supervisor
9

Types of scholarships available

Research Fellowships

PhD Scholarships

Postdoctoral Scholarships

Arts Scholarships

Study location

Eligible academic host institutions

Obligations

21 Financial matters
23

Preparing your application

Documents for postgraduate scholarship applications

Documents for art scholarship applications

Exclusion criteria

For further information see :

> www.sbfi.admin.ch/scholarships_eng > select your country of origin for full details

Application Guidelines for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships | Academic Year 2025 - 2026 |

Application Guidelines for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship Applicants | Academic Year 2025 - 2026 |

About the …

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships
Through the Swiss Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS aka ESKAS, CFBE), the
Swiss Government grants foreign researchers postgraduate scholarships at Swiss higher education institutions
(esp. Universities, Federal Institutes of Technology and Universities of Applied Sciences, Arts and Music Schools).
The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are intended for highly motivated, competitive young researchers
who have graduated from university (postgraduates). These scholarships wil enable applicants to undertake
research work in the fields in which the Swiss universities are particularly active.

Specific scholarship types are offered for each country.
Please go to the ESKAS webpage in order to see which type of scholarship is offered to your country of origin.
Read the „Application Guidelines“ and download the „Application Package“.
See: www.sbfi.admin.ch/scholarships_eng

Applications have to be submitted in the candidate‘s country of origin (citizenship). Al candidates for a Swiss
Government Excellence Scholarship have to submit their application at the specified contact (normally the Swiss
Embassy) responsible for their country of origin. Applicants who hold dual citizenship submit their application in
their country of residence – provided they also hold citizenship of that country. These candidates with dual
citizenship are free to choose in which of the two countries they wish to submit their application.
The applications have to be submitted for a preliminary selection to the national institution in charge and/or to the
Swiss diplomatic representation in the applicant‘s country of origin. The Swiss diplomatic representation wil then
forward the pre-selected applications to the ESKAS for final selection. In case your current country of residence is
not your country of origin please submit your application to the Swiss diplomatic representation in your country of
origin.

Postgraduate

scholarships

Read the ESKAS

webpage

Submit in your

country of origin

Application Guidelines for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship Applicants | Academic Year 2025 - 2026 |

Application procedure

Entry Points
The Swiss diplomatic representation in the country of origin of the applicant is the entry point for the Swiss
Government Excel ence Scholarships.

Release
Detailed information about the scholarship types available for your country of origin, the eligibility criteria and
the deadlines are online. Click the website: www.sbfi.admin.ch/scholarships_eng

Call for proposals
Download the application package from www.sbfi.admin.ch/scholarships_eng and prepare your file.

Submission deadline
The date for submission of the application varies from country to country. Please check on the FCS website.

Selection
The results of the selection by the Federal Commission for Scholarships wil be communicated at latest until
the end of May.

Start of scholarship
1st of September

Al year round

In August

September -

November

Check for your

country

Before end of May

In September

Application Guidelines for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship Applicants | Academic Year 2025 - 2026 |

Selection criteria

The 3 dimensions of selection criteria
The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are highly competitive. The following
aspects of the application are considered mainly:

1) The candidate
Her/his academic profile, the research capacity and motivation.

2) The research proposal
Its originality and methodological soundness.

3) The academic context
The quality and context of supervision and the potential for future academic cooperation.

Longterm perspective
Candidates submitting their applications within the framework of a cooperation program between their
academic home institution, where they are at the moment and/or where they accomplished their
education, and a Swiss university/ institute have a certain priority.

Important selection

criteria

Strengthening

cooperation

Application Guidelines for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship Applicants | Academic Year 2025 - 2026 |

Academic host – a precondition

Academic supervisor
To have an eligible application package, each applicant wishing to undertake a research, PhD or a Postdoctoral
scholarship must find a host professor in Switzerland wil ing to support and entitled to supervise their scholarship
research project or PhD project.
A specific letter of invitation must imperatively be part of the application package. This is also valid for doctoral
schools (aka doctoral programmes).
Failure to have an academic supervisor wil result in the rejection of the application by the relevant national
institution in the host country or by the Swiss diplomatic representation.

Prepare yourself well before contacting a prospective host professor
Make sure that the prospective academic supervisor actual y works in your field at a Swiss university.
Be specific and furthermore make sure that you possess all of the competences required for the intended scientific
collaboration. Find out, for instance, what requirements must be met in order to obtain a Master's degree at the
university in question before contacting professors.
Note: Many professors receive numerous requests. Finding a professor who is wil ing to supervise you can be a
major chal enge. It can take several weeks or even months.

The ESKAS application for a PhD scholarship including the support letter of a prospective host professor and the
application for admission by a Swiss University for a PhD study are two separate procedures.

Academic

supervisor

aka host professor

Before contacting a

host professor

Please note

Application Guidelines for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship Applicants | Academic Year 2025 - 2026 |

Finding your supervisor

A prerequisite for the application
The first step in the application process for the scholarship candidate is to find a professor at a Swiss
academic institution wil ing to act as her/ his academic supervisor for the scholarship research project.

What should you do before contacting a potential academic supervisor?
Watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp4NnqZ2T00

The ESKAS encourages candidates to find their academic supervisor on their own. There is no specific
support offered in this bottom-up matching process. It is each applicants own task.
A support letter from a host professor is required in any case. This is valid for PhD applications at doctoral
school (aka doctoral programmes) as well. If the chosen doctoral school does not allow you to contact a
supervisor before being admitted to the school, an application for the Swiss Government Excellence
Scholarship is not possible.

Understanding the role of academic supervisors
Professors reported to the ESKAS that they are frequently contacted by scholarship applicants asking for
support. Therefore the ESKAS secretariat has published a leaflet explaining the role of an academic
supervisor for a Swiss Government Excel ence Scholarship holder.

The ESKAS recommends potential academic supervisors not to support more than 1 - 2 applicants per
year. To comply with the rules of the host university potential academic supervisors are asked to inform
themselves about their internal regulations before deciding to support a Swiss Government scholarship
holder. You find the leaflet «Wil you be my supervisor?» enclosed in your application package. Feel free
to use it when contacting your potential supervisor.

Where to find

Some hint

Good to know

Application Guidelines for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship Applicants | Academic Year 2025 - 2026 |

Types of scholarships available

Al scholarships start in September
It is not possible to start the scholarship in the Spring semester or any other time in the year.

Research Fellowships
12 months (September – August) – no prolongation possible.
Cannot be upgraded into a prolongable PhD scholarship.
Grant applications for stay lasting less than 9 months wil not be treated as a priority.
Grant applications for stay lasting less than 6 months wil be rejected.

PhD Scholarship
12 months (September – August) – prolongable up to 36 months
The PhD scholarships can be prolonged in three steps of 12 months based on the achieved academic results.
It is the concerned grant holder’s and the supervisor’s responsibility to find sufficient funding beyond the maximal
duration of the PhD scholarship (36 months) if it turns out to be necessary to end the doctorate.

Postdoctoral Scholarship
12 months (September – August) – no prolongation possible
Grant applications for stays lasting less than 9 months wil not be treated as a priority.
Grant applications for stays lasting less than 6 months wil be rejected.

Arts Scholarships
12 months (September – August) – prolongable up to 21 months at most
depending on the Master programme chosen and the necessary ECTS credits.

Not prolongable

Prolongable

Not prolongable

Prolongable

Application Guidelines for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship Applicants | Academic Year 2025 - 2026 |

Research Fellowships

Research Fellowships (12 months)

• Intended for highly qualified postgraduate researchers from all academic fields.

• Master degree or equivalent achieved (degree certificate)

before 31 July 2025 (except: ETH Zurich: 30 June 2025)

• Date of birth after 31 December 1989

• A copy of the support letter from an academic host professor (including her/his short CV, maximum 2 pages) at

the chosen Swiss university confirming why she/he is wil ing to supervise and support the research. This letter is
not the same as the also requested confidential recommendation letter.

• Research proposal including time frame

Furthermore, this scholarship type is not available for scholars holding a PhD degree.

PhD students with an ongoing or planned doctoral project that is carried out within the framework of a formalised
agreement between two universities («cotutel e de thèse» cooperation between a Swiss and a foreign university)
and under the joint direction of two supervisors are eligible for this scholarship category only.

Go to the ESKAS

Webpage in order

to see which type

of scholarship is

offered to your

country of origin

Postgraduate

scholarships

Cotutelle de thèse

Application Guidelines for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship Applicants | Academic Year 2025 - 2026 |

Research Fellowships

Validity

Specific conditions

The Scholarship is valid only for full-time research in Switzerland. It is not valid for mixed research (part
time in Switzerland and part time in another country).

This scholarship is not compatible with fieldtrips outside Switzerland. Therefore no possibility and no
funding for fieldwork.

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.

Scholarship holders are expected to move to Switzerland during their grant period.

Application Guidelines for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship Applicants | Academic Year 2025 - 2026 |

PhD Scholarships

PhD Scholarships
(12 months up to 36 months prolongable in 3 steps of 12 months each based on the
achieved academic results)

Intended for highly qualified PhD students from all academic fields.
• Master degree or equivalent achieved (degree certificate)

before 31 July 2025 (except: ETH Zurich: 30 June 2025)

• Date of birth after 31 December 1989
• A copy of the support letter (including a short CV, maximum 2 pages) from an academic host professor who is

entitled and wil ing to supervise a PhD at the chosen Swiss university during the entire duration of the doctoral
studies. The support letter should contain the reasons why she/he is wil ing to supervise and support the PhD thesis.
If an assistant professor supports a candidature, a full professor who is entitled to supervise the PhD during the
entire scholarship has to co-sign the support letter. This letter is not the same as the also requested confidential
recommendation letter.

• Please note: Doctoral degrees can only be awarded by research universities. For PhD studies at a University of

Applied Sciences and UniDistance Suisse an additional letter of support from a faculty member of the host research
university at which the PhD wil be completed is mandatory.

• Research proposal including time frame. This is the centrepiece of the application. The applicant must devote all

required attention to it.

Go to the ESKAS

Webpage in order

to see which type

of scholarship is

offered to your

country of origin

Application Guidelines for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship Applicants | Academic Year 2025 - 2026 |

PhD Scholarships

The scholarship is valid only for full-time PhD studies in Switzerland at a Swiss university. It is not valid for mixed
PhD programmes (part time in Switzerland and part time in another country).
Scholarship holders are expected to move to Switzerland during their grant period.

PhD students whose studies require mandatory fieldwork must indicate this in their application (research
proposal), stating the duration and destination outside Switzerland. Please note: During the entire PhD
scholarship (36 months) the maximum duration of the PhD field work abroad in principle cannot exceed a total of
6 months. There is no additional financial support for fieldwork (e.g. travel costs, housing, travel insurance etc.).

The ESKAS application for a PhD scholarship and the application for admission by a Swiss university for
PhD studies are two separate procedures. It is the applicant’s responsibility to manage both procedures in
paral el.

Full-time PhD only

Maximum 6 months

field research

Cotutelle de thèse

Further important

information for PhD

applicants

Application Guidelines for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship Applicants | Academic Year 2025 - 2026 |

PhD Scholarships

Option 1: For PhD studies under the supervision of
an academic supervisor (mentor):
The scholarship applicants for a regular PhD must hand
in the support letter of their academic supervisor,
however, a PhD admission letter is not required at that
point.

Two different

admission

requirements

for PhD

scholarship

application

Option 2: PhD studies at a doctoral school where
you don’t get an assigned supervisor in the first year:
The admission to the doctoral school (aka doctoral programme)
is a conditio sine qua non for a scholarship application. The
proof for admission (admission letter) from the doctoral school
has to be submitted together with the scholarship application
simultaneously and additional y together with the support letter
of the academic supervisor.
Please note: If the chosen doctoral school does not allow you to
contact a supervisor before being admitted to the school, the
application for the Swiss Government Excel ence Scholarship is
not possible. In case you do not get the admission to the
doctoral school until the application deadline, and therefore
cannot apply for the next academic year, you can always begin
your studies without the Swiss Government Excellence
Scholarship and then apply for the following academic year.
Please note: the exclusion criteria «Applicants who have been
in Switzerland since more than one year at the beginning of the
scholarship in September are not eligible» stays effective.
If you are not sure which option applies for your case please
enquire all possible questions (e.g. admission etc.) directly with
the corresponding university respectively the doctoral school at
the host institution. Not all universities have a doctoral school
(for example, University of Fribourg does not).

Application Guidelines for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship Applicants | Academic Year 2025 - 2026 |

Postdoctoral Scholarships

Postdoctoral Scholarships (12 months)

Intended for highly qualified early career scientists on postdoctoral level from all scientific fields.

• PhD degree achieved after 31 December 2021 and before 31 July 2025 (except: ETH Zurich: 30 June 2025)

PhD degree certificate completed.

• Primarily for scholars who have not already been to Switzerland.

• No funding for sabbaticals.

• A copy of the letter from an academic host professor (including her/his short CV, maximum 2 pages) at the chosen

Swiss university confirming why she/he is wil ing to supervise and support the postdoctoral research.

• Not accepted as academic supervisors for Postdoctoral scholarship applicants are their former PhD mentors and

their co-directors for the co-tutel e PhD.

• A research proposal including a timeframe. This is the centrepiece of the application. The applicant must devote all

required attention to it.

• This scholarship is valid only for full-time postdoctoral research in Switzerland. It is not compatible with fieldtrips

outside Switzerland. Therefore no possibility and no funding for fieldwork.

• Scholarship holders are expected to move to Switzerland during their grant period.

• In the case of double doctorates, the date of the 1st degree counts.

• It is not valid for mixed research (part time in Switzerland and part time in another country).

Specific conditions

Go to the ESKAS

Webpage in order

to see which type

of scholarship is

offered to your

country of origin

Application Guidelines for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship Applicants | Academic Year 2025 - 2026 |

Arts Scholarships

Art Scholarships
(12 months prolongable up to 21 months at most depending on the MA chosen and the
necessary ECTS credits)
Intended for highly qualified art students from all artistic fields wishing to pursue an master’s degree course.
• The arts scholarships are granted at any Swiss conservatory or universities of the arts.
• Valid for full-time studies in Switzerland only.
• Bachelor degree or equivalent achieved before 31 July 2025 (degree certificate)
• Applicants should start their scholarship no later than three years after graduating with their Bachelor’s degree.
• Applicants must be born after 31 December 1989
• A proof for “admission is under consideration” at the intended Swiss arts or music school (conservatory). This may be in

the form of a conditional acceptance pending an entry exam or other specific requirements. If applicable: a copy of the
letter from a professor confirming the supervision of the studies.
Or, if applicable the confirmation from the art or music school that the admission procedure cannot be started before the
scholarship application deadline.

• Invalid: Al applications for a second master’s degree.
• Scholarship holders are expected to move to Switzerland during their grant period.

Go to the ESKAS

Webpage in order

to see which type

of scholarship is

offered to your

country of origin

Application Guidelines for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship Applicants | Academic Year 2025 - 2026 |

Arts Scholarships

This type of scholarship is available for the following countries only:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Iceland, Italy,
Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, United
States of America

PLEASE NOTE:
The application for a ESKAS Arts Scholarship and the application for admission by your chosen Swiss conservatory or art
school (university of applied sciences) are two separate procedures.
ESKAS applicants have to document that an institution has accepted them or a proof for «admission is under
consideration» at the intended Swiss arts or music school (conservatory).
This may be in the form of a conditional acceptance pending an entry exam or other specific requirements.
Without such a document, the application wil be rejected. If applicable: a copy of the letter from a professor confirming the
supervision of the studies.

List of eligible

countries

Specific

conditions

Application Guidelines for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship Applicants | Academic Year 2025 - 2026 |

Study location

Swiss public academic institutions
The Swiss Government Scholarships are granted for research in one of the Swiss public universities, Federal Institutes
of Technology, University of Applied Sciences or Schools of music and arts. The arts and music scholarships are granted
for studies in the public music academies, as well as art and design schools. It is up to the individual academic
supervisor, potential host for scholarship holders, to decide whether to accept students or not.

Information on the universities, programmes, and professors can be obtained on the internet sites of the Swiss academic
institutions, on the portal swissuniversities and «study in Switzerland+».

The scholarship is valid only for full-time research in Switzerland. It is not valid for on-the-job studies, part-time studies,
correspondence courses or mixed programmes (part time in Switzerland and part time in another country). During their
scholarship grant holders are resident in Switzerland.

The scholarship is meant for conducting research in the Swiss host institution. For Research as well as Postdoctoral
scholarships, no fieldwork abroad of Switzerland is possible during the scholarship period. PhD students working in an
academic field where fieldwork is indispensable, have to submit a request for acceptance of fieldwork indicating in
advance the exact period, destination and purpose. A support letter by the academic supervisor has to be enclosed.
There is no additional financial support for fieldwork by ESKAS.

This scholarship primarily offers an opportunity to scholars who have not already been to Switzerland. Applicants who
have been in Switzerland since more than one year at the beginning of the scholarship in September are not eligible.
Reference document if applicable: residence permit to be added to the application documents.

Eligible host

institutions

Useful weblinks

Full-time research

only

Field work for PhD

grant holders only

At max 12 months

in Switzerland

before start

Application Guidelines for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship Applicants | Academic Year 2025 - 2026 |

Eligible academic host

institutions

For postgraduate scholarships

(Research fellowships and Postdoctoral only)
University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland

(HES-SO)

Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH)

University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland

(FHNW)

Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences (OST)

University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons (FHGR)

Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts

University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern

Switzerland

Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW)

Universities of teacher education

UniDistance Suisse (presence in Switzerland mandatory)

Swiss Federal University for Vocational Education and Training

SFUVET

Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen SFISM

Eligible host

institutions

For postgraduate scholarships
(Research Fellowships, PhD, Postdoctoral)
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)
Research Institutes of the ETH Domain (PSI; WSL; EMPA;
EAWAG)
Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies
(IHEID)

Application Guidelines for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship Applicants | Academic Year 2025 - 2026 |

Eligible academic host

institutions

For art scholarships
University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland
Bern University of the Arts
University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland
University of Applied Sciences Eastern Switzerland
Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts
University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland
Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana
Zurich University of the Arts

Eligible host

institutions

Application Guidelines for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship Applicants | Academic Year 2025 - 2026 |

Obligations

Place of residence
The scholarship must be carried out in Switzerland. Therefore, the Swiss Government Scholarship
holders must move to Switzerland during their grant period. The scholarship holders must be resident
preferably in the city (in Switzerland) or in the Canton of their research/study institution. They must
comply with the ESKAS instructions, regulations concerning the residence for foreigners in Switzerland
and with the university/ art institution regulations.

Family and children
The ESKAS does not have the authority to decide on the possibility of bringing the family of the
scholarship holder to Switzerland. This is left to the Federal and Cantonal Migration Offices, which at
present deal with requests very restrictively. The scholarship amount covers the living costs of one
person only. There are no additional family allowances.
Neither the ESKAS nor the university’s reception service can assist you with questions and fees
associated with the arrival of family members.

Other grants and additional income
Please note for PhD scholarships: At some universities, such as EPFL, ETH Zurich, University of
Lausanne, University of Zurich the scholarship is not considered sufficient funding. The academic host
professors must supplement the funding.
If you are awarded another additional scholarship or you receive other forms of financial support (such as
a supplementary funding, an income from teaching and research assistance, etc.) you are asked to notify
the Federal Commission for Scholarships. The scholarship cannot be used as top-up to an existing full
employment though.

Living in

Switzerland

No family

allowances

Notifying ESKAS

about other grants

and other forms of

financial support

Application Guidelines for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship Applicants | Academic Year 2025 - 2026 |

Financial matters

Scholarship amount (Please note: This scholarship is not a salary.)
Research scholarship:

1’920.- Swiss Francs per month = 23’040.- CHF for 1 year

PhD scholarship:

1’920.- Swiss Francs per month = 23’040.- CHF for 1 year

Arts scholarship:

1’920.- Swiss Francs per month = 23’040.- CHF for 1 year

Postdoctoral scholarship:

3’500.- Swiss Francs per month = 42’000.- CHF for 1 year

No financial support for fieldwork or for conferences. Grant holders receive a one-year half-fare public
transportation card in Switzerland. Support services organise various trips, dinners and sightseeing tours for
Swiss Government Scholarship holders.

Al scholarship holders receive a one-time lump sum of CHF 300.- with the first grant payment to help them pay
part of the housing deposit.

Tuition fees and Master fees for artists
The ESKAS does not pay for tuition and/or semester fees. In some cases the universities and the Federal
Institute of Technology do require scholarship holders to pay semester fees (approx. CHF 600.- up to CHF
2’000.- per semester) or at least reduced tuition fees. In some cases the universities do not waive the PhD fees.
In case the Universities and the Universities of Applied Sciences and Art Schools should not waive the fees, it is
up to the grantee to pay for the fees.

Health insurance
According to the Swiss law, every resident in Switzerland must be covered by a Health Care Insurance (except
for dental care). For non-EU and non-EFTA grantees only: the ESKAS pays mandatory Swiss health insurance.
Please note, each ESKAS scholarship holder from an EU and EFTA Member State is responsible for his/her
insurance coverage and all resulting costs.

Grants

Housing allowance

Semester fees

Insurance

Application Guidelines for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship Applicants | Academic Year 2025 - 2026 |

Financial matters

Travel expenses
Grantees from EU and EFTA member states pay for their own travel expenses to Switzerland as well as back to
their country of origin.
Grantees from outside the European Union and the EFTA pay for their own travel expenses to Switzerland, but
Scholarship holders from non-EU and non-EFTA countries receive a return flight allowance (lump sum depending
upon the country of origin) for a ticket back to their country of origin (provided at the end of the scholarship).

Return allowance
However, the return allowance wil not be paid if the scholarship holders extend their stay in Switzerland beyond six
months after completion of their research, if they take up employment pending the continuation of their research or if
they move to a Third country.

Conferences/ Congress
Valid for all scholarship types: There are no allowances for international conferences.

Fieldwork
Once the scholarship is awarded PhD scholarship holders may submit a special request regarding their PhD thesis
and the potential y necessary fieldwork. The scholarship may continue during the fieldwork up to six months. No
additional financial support is possible though for fieldwork by ESKAS. For other scholarship types, no fieldwork
abroad of Switzerland is possible during the scholarship period.

Europe

Worldwide

Al owance up to six

month after the

scholarship

No allowances

Fieldwork only for

PhD grant holders

possible

Application Guidelines for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship Applicants | Academic Year 2025 - 2026 |

Preparing your application

Four admissible languages

The application documents have to be submitted in English, French, Italian or German. If your documents are not in
one of these languages, then an authenticated translation in English must be included. Attestations can be done by
a university or a government officer.
Exception for India: Self attested documents are accepted.

Submitting 2 sets of documents ‒ each in the precise order

Include the following information in your CV: personal education and training, degrees and diplomas (with precise
dates), if applicable: awards, academic positions (with precise dates), non-academic positions (with precise dates),
publications with references, conferences, academic teaching experiences, extra academic experiences, links to
your sciences blogs, your presentation online.
ESKAS advises against the use of the Europass CV template.

Complete and signed applications are valid only

Please fil in the forms careful y and completely. Sign the application form and the research proposal. Only signed
applications are valid and eligible.

Results follow until end of May next year

If the application is short listed by the national authority and/or the Swiss Diplomatic Representation it wil be sent to
Switzerland for the final selection by the ESKAS. The ESKAS wil inform you by the end of May next year at latest
whether your application has been successful or not.

English, French,
German, Italian

Two sets to be
submitted:
1st set original,
attested, signed
documents
2nd set with copies

Your CV must include

Fill in completely and
sign your documents
Thank you for
your patience

Application Guidelines for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship Applicants | Academic Year 2025 - 2026 |

Documents for postgraduate

scholarship applications

Documents for Postgraduate Scholarships

Please submit 2 sets (= 1 original + 1 copy) 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 in English. The other set is the copy of the 1st set except for the confidential letters of
recommendation (only 1st set). No copies for 2nd set.

1) Signed ESKAS application form (typed and printed) with photo.

2) A full CV with list of personal education and training, degrees and diplomas (with precise dates),

awards, academic positions (with precise dates), non-academic positions (with precise dates),

publications with references, conferences, academic teaching experiences, extra academic teaching

experiences, links to your science blogs, your presentations online etc.

3) A motivation letter (max. 2 pages).

4) Al applicants must have a clear research goal. Therefore research fellowship, postdoctoral

scholarship as well as PhD scholarship candidates have to submit a complete research proposal

(max. 5 pages, signed) including a layman abstract in English, using exclusively the ESKAS research

proposal form provided with the application package. The research proposal is a central part of

your application. Please devote the required attention to it and submit only a signed document.

5) A copy of the letter from an academic host professor (including her/his short CV, maximum 2 pages) at the

chosen Swiss university confirming why she/he is wil ing to support and supervise the research.

For research fellowships in addition:

A short CV (maximum 2 pages) of the academic mentor at the home institution.

For PhD scholarships at doctoral schools (aka doctoral programmes) only, in addition: The confirmation for

accepted admission is required

. A support letter from a host professor is required in any case additional y.

Research, PhD and

Postdoctoral

scholarship

applications

Please

do not put

the documents

into plastic folders

or binders. And do

not use clips or

staples.

Application Guidelines for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship Applicants | Academic Year 2025 - 2026 |

Documents for postgraduate

scholarship applications

...continued

6) Two confidential letters of recommendation from two different professors in the applicant’s field, and not

identical with the academic supervisor at the host institution in Switzerland (use exclusively the ESKAS form –
originals in sealed envelopes only, for the first set). No copies for 2nd set.

7) 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 in English. Exception for India: Self attested documents are accepted.
Do not submit the original certificates.

8) Signed certificate «Fit for mission» (please use only the ESKAS form).

9) Two copies of the applicant’s passport (main page with personal data). Dual nationals add copies of

both passports. Applicants already in Switzerland during their application procedure add a copy
of the residence permit for Switzerland.

Research, PhD and

Postdoctoral

scholarship

applications

Please

do not put

the documents

into plastic folders

or binders. And do

not use clips or

staples.

Application Guidelines for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship Applicants | Academic Year 2025 - 2026 |

Documents for art

scholarship applications

Documents for Arts Scholarships

1) Signed ESKAS application form (typed and printed) with photo.

2) A ful CV with list of exhibitions, concerts, awards etc.

3) A motivation letter (max. 2 pages specifying the reasons to study in Switzerland, the importance of the

choice for your future career as well as your professional projects at the end of the scholarship).

4) The applicants for art scholarships do not have to submit a research proposal.

4a) For musicians: High-quality file of 3 different styles of music if the music involves interpreters

and directors. (USB memory stick or CD/DVD label ed with name, surname and country; link or

QR-Code). Composers have to submit their scores.

4b) For painters, graphic artists and sculptors: Copies or photos of 3 pieces of your

work, along with rough drafts (incl. their dates of creation; work label ed with name, surname

and country).

4c) For other artists (e.g. dancers, actors, authors): pieces of their art (USB memory stick or CD/DVD

label ed with name, surname and country; link or QR-Code). (to be continued see next page)

Arts scholarship

applications

Please

do not put

the documents

into plastic folders

or binders. And do

not use clips or

staples.

Application Guidelines for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship Applicants | Academic Year 2025 - 2026 |

Application form (provided with the application package)

...continued

5) A proof for «admission is under consideration» at the intended Swiss arts or music school

(conservatory). This may be in the form of a conditional acceptance pending an entry exam or

other specific requirements. If applicable, a copy of the letter from a professor confirming the

supervision of the studies.

6) Two confidential letters of recommendation from two different professors in the applicant’s

field (use only the ESKAS form – originals in sealed envelopes only, for 1st set).

No copies for 2nd set.

7) 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,

attested certified translations in English. Do not submit the original certificates.

8) Signed certificate «Fit for mission» (please use only the ESKAS form).

9) Two copies of the applicant’s passport (main page with personal data). Dual nationals add copies

of both passports. Applicants already in Switzerland during their application procedure add a copy
of the residence permit for Switzerland.

Documents for art

scholarship applications
Arts scholarship

applications

Please respect the

precise order of

documents

from 1) to 9)

Application Guidelines for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship Applicants | Academic Year 2025 - 2026 |

Exclusion criteria

Invalid applications – valid for all types of applications

- The applicant does not fulfil the eligibility criteria stated on the ESKAS website and in these application Guidelines.

- For PhD candidates at doctoral schools only: the document confirming your admission to the doctoral school is missing.

- Applicants who are in Switzerland since more than one year at the beginning of the scholarship.

- The application is incomplete, does not respect the guidelines, does not include the proper and completely fil ed

ESKAS forms, is not signed (application form, research proposal), is not submitted twofold in the correct order, or is

badly prepared.

- For PostDocs: Not accepted are the PhD mentors and co-directors for cotutel e PhD at a Swiss university.
- An application without a host professor is not complete and wil therefore be rejected.
- The potential academic host professor at the Swiss institution must not be identical to the persons who submit a

reference form.

- An application with more than one research proposal is invalid.

- Applications for more than one university and/or for more than one scholarship type.

- If you are unsuccessful, you can apply a maximum of three times.

- Applicants who have already benefited from a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship are not eligible for a second

scholarship.

- Incomplete (e.g. without a specfic invitation letter from an academic host Professor in Switzerland) or badly prepared

applications wil not be taken into consideration!

Non eligible

No admission to
doctoral school

Already in CH

Bad presentation

Not accepted
supervisors

No supervisor
Non specific

Rerun

Careful preparation
is worthwhile

Application Guidelines for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship Applicants | Academic Year 2025 - 2026 |

Eidgenössische Stipendienkommission für ausländische Studierende ESKAS www.sbfi.admin.ch/scholarships_de

Commission fédérale des bourses pour étudiants étrangers CFBE

www.sbfi.admin.ch/scholarships_fr

Commissione federale del e borse per studenti stranieri CFBS

www.sbfi.admin.ch/scholarships_it

Federal Commission for Scholarships for foreign students FCS

www.sbfi.admin.ch/scholarships_eng

Secretariat FCS ∙ ESKAS ∙ CFBE
Federal Commission for Scholarships for foreign students
Talent Promotion SERI
3003 Bern

www.sbfi.admin.ch/scholarships_eng

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