Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2025-26 for Foreigners
Application call for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2025-26! The (ESKAS), offers international students to pursue Fully Funded education in Switzerland to promote intellectual interaction to ensure a prosperous, peaceful, and sustainable future
The Swiss government’s Excellence Scholarships are part of the organization’s international education, research, and innovation (ERI) strategy. Through the scholarship, Young and ambitious international students receive a public grant to undertake research at a Swiss higher education institution. The award is accessible to ambitious PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and bright arts students earning their first Master’s degrees.
Applicants from more than 180 countries are eligible to apply. All applications for the scholarship must include a letter of support from the host professor in Switzerland, as well as a research proposal, curriculum vitae, and letter of motivation. The candidates and the academic supervisor then form a team for the entire fellowship period. The main selection factors are the applicants’ profile and motivation, the academic worth of their research project, and the compatibility of their host university.
Switzerland grants approximately 400 awards annually. Since 1961, Switzerland has provided national scholarships for young researchers. So far, approximately 8,400 foreign students have received assistance and are now part of the ever-expanding alumni network.
Apply to this highly competitive scholarship for all its prestige and experience in Switzerland!
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2025 – Summary:
- Host country: Switzerland
- Open for: International Students
- The degree level can be either master’s, doctoral, or postdoctoral.
- Financial Coverage: Fully funded
- The deadline: varies depending on what the Swiss Embassy in the country sets.
Types of Swiss Exc. scholarships 2025/2026
- Postdoctoral scholarships (Research Fellowships, Postdoctoral, PhD)
- Arts scholarships (Master’s)
Why applying for Swiss Excellence Scholarships is worth a shot?
The scholarship is a gateway opportunity for many research enthusiasts to pursue their research with institutions and academia in Switzerland and across Europe. The Swiss Excellence Scholarships cover a wide range of globally recognized institutions to choose your next education destination.
A chance to work on leading research, innovation, and energy-led projects. Not only that, Switzerland can also be a home to artists and creatives, with almost 10 institutions providing multiple fully funded arts scholarships. So that you can dance your way out to Switzerland!
Swiss Excellence Scholarship Benefits:
Scholarship amount: 23,040- 42,000 CHF/year
Housing allowance: a one-time lump sum amount of CHF 300 with the first grant payment to pay the house deposit.
Semester fee: The fee per semester ranges from (approximately CHF 600) up to CHF 2,000, which students can easily pay from the scholarship grant awarded. Selected candidates can also request a fee waiver from their respective universities.
Medical Insurance: ESKAS pays mandatory Swiss health insurance.
Eligibility Criteria:
The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships have specific eligibility criteria.
- Students from around the world can apply for the scholarship.
- 34 years old or younger (as of 2024)
- Applicants must hold a bachelor’s, master’s, or equivalent degree that is relevant to the degree program they are applying for with the Swiss Excellence Scholarship.
- For research scholarships, applicants must demonstrate a strong research background, including a research portfolio and publications, and align their research with Swiss universities’ areas of expertise.
- English Proficiency Test Scores (TOEFL, IELTS) are required by the Swiss universities.
- a well-written letter of motivation that showcases academic accomplishments, outlines career goals and clearly explains how the Swiss Excellence scholarship will benefit the applicants.
Documents Required:
The following documents are required if you are applying for Swiss Excellence Scholarships 2025. In two sets of documents. 1st set (original, attested, and signed by the applicant documents); 2nd set (non-attested copies of documents)
1. Research fellowships:
- Master’s degree or equivalent achieved before 31st July 2025
- Research proposal including time frame
Note: This research fellowship is not for the PhD degree holders unless there is an agreement between your university and any Swiss university offering the fellowships.
2. PhD Scholarships:
- Master’s degree or equivalent achieved before 31st July 2025.
- A copy of a support letter (including a 2-page CV) from the host professor of the university you have applied to for the PhD. The support letter should contain why she/he is willing to supervise and support the PhD thesis.
Note: PhD degrees can only be awarded by research institutes and not by the universities of applied sciences or Unidistance Suisse (a distance learning university). If you want to pursue your PhD from these universities, you need to partner with a Swiss research university and get an additional letter of support from them to support your PhD.
3. Post-doctoral Scholarships:
- PhD Degree achieved after 31st December 2021 and before 31st July 2025.
- A copy of a support letter (including a 2-page CV) from the host professor of the university you have applied to for the PhD. The support letter should contain why she/he is willing to supervise and support the postdoctoral research.
4. Arts scholarships:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent before 31 July 2025
- A full CV with a list of exhibitions, concerts, and awards.
- A letter of motivation (max. 2 pages).
- A proof of “admission under consideration’’ at the intended Swiss art or music school.
- Art portfolio to be submitted by the applicants for the Swiss Excellence Arts scholarship (requirements are different for musicians, painters, graphic artists and sculptors, dancers, actors, and authors).
Note: Applicants cannot apply for a second Master’s degree.
General documents:
- The applicant signed the ESKAS application form (the procedure is mentioned in the application process).
- 2 letters of recommendation, from 2 different professors in your field of study (using the ESKAS form’s specific format).
- A valid passport.
- Degrees and diplomas.
- Submit CV in Euro pass format.
- All documents can be attested by the university or government personnel.
- In the case of documents submitted in any other language except English, include an authenticated translation in English.
Note: Applicants signed and attested documents are mandatory while submitting their request for the Swiss Excellence scholarship.
The application process for Swiss Excellence Scholarships
- Visit the official website
- Specific scholarship types are offered for each country; click on the link to see which type of scholarship is offered to your country, mark the relevant dates, and begin your application.
- Read the application guidelines regarding the course you want to apply for; credentials are required.
- In case of any dilemma, contact the Swiss embassy in your country of residence.
- Download the application package, fill it out, and print it.
Submit your application, which you just downloaded, filled out, and printed with all the relevant documents required.
SWISS EXCELLENCE SCHOLARSHIP OFFICIAL LINK
