Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships

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About the Scholarship

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are awarded by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students to researchers and artists from eligible countries, with availability differing by track.

Three tracks remain. A research fellowship funds a doctoral-level research stay of six to twelve months, with no extensions possible. A PhD scholarship starts at twelve months and is renewable twice, for up to three years in total, subject to academic progress. An arts master's scholarship funds a first master's degree in an artistic field and is open to a smaller list of countries.

The award pays a monthly allowance, a one-off rental deposit grant and a half-fare travel card, and adds health insurance premiums and a return flight for holders from outside the EU and EFTA. Tuition and semester fees are not covered and remain the holder's responsibility.

Two things to plan around. For the research and PhD tracks, a letter of support from a Swiss academic supervisor is a prerequisite, so that conversation has to happen before applying; arts applicants need proof of admission or application to a Swiss art school or conservatory instead. And deadlines are set by the Swiss diplomatic representation in each country rather than centrally.

Postdoctoral scholarships are no longer awarded from the 2027/28 academic year.

Eligibility verified on 19 September 2026 against the 2027–2028 country and scholarship-type table.

What It Covers

Living stipend
Housing
Health insurance
Travel

A monthly allowance of CHF 2,450 from January 2026, a one-off rental deposit grant of CHF 600, a half-fare travel card, and, for holders from outside the EU and EFTA, health insurance premiums and a return flight allowance. Tuition and semester fees are not covered and are paid by the holder.

Eligibility

Research and PhD applicants need a completed master's degree, a Swiss academic supervisor's support and a research plan. Arts applicants need a bachelor's degree completed by 31 July 2027, must not already hold a master's degree, and need proof of admission or application to a Swiss art school or conservatory. All applicants must have been born after 31 December 1991. Country-specific conditions apply. Postdoctoral scholarships are no longer awarded from 2027/28. Applicants must have been born after 31 December 1991.

Eligible Countries

country of origin: Countries and territories with a research fellowship offer in the 2027–2028 country table. PhD degree scholarships and first arts master's scholarships have narrower country lists, specified in the application routes.

🇦🇪 UAE🇦🇫 Afghanistan🇦🇬 Antigua & Barbuda🇦🇱 Albania🇦🇲 Armenia🇦🇴 Angola🇦🇷 Argentina🇦🇹 Austria🇦🇺 Australia🇦🇿 Azerbaijan🇧🇦 Bosnia & Herzegovina🇧🇧 Barbados🇧🇩 Bangladesh🇧🇪 Belgium🇧🇫 Burkina Faso🇧🇬 Bulgaria🇧🇭 Bahrain🇧🇮 Burundi🇧🇯 Benin🇧🇳 Brunei🇧🇴 Bolivia🇧🇷 Brazil🇧🇸 Bahamas🇧🇹 Bhutan🇧🇼 Botswana🇧🇾 Belarus🇧🇿 Belize🇨🇩 Congo - Kinshasa🇨🇫 Central African Republic🇨🇬 Congo - Brazzaville🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire🇨🇰 Cook Islands🇨🇱 Chile🇨🇲 Cameroon🇨🇳 China🇨🇴 Colombia🇨🇷 Costa Rica🇨🇺 Cuba🇨🇻 Cape Verde🇨🇾 Cyprus🇨🇿 Czechia🇩🇪 Germany🇩🇯 Djibouti🇩🇰 Denmark🇩🇲 Dominica🇩🇴 Dominican Republic🇩🇿 Algeria🇪🇨 Ecuador🇪🇪 Estonia🇪🇬 Egypt🇪🇷 Eritrea🇪🇹 Ethiopia🇫🇮 Finland🇫🇯 Fiji🇫🇲 Micronesia🇬🇦 Gabon🇬🇧 UK🇬🇩 Grenada🇬🇪 Georgia🇬🇭 Ghana🇬🇲 The Gambia🇬🇳 Guinea🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea🇬🇹 Guatemala🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau🇬🇾 Guyana🇭🇰 Hong Kong🇭🇳 Honduras🇭🇷 Croatia🇭🇺 Hungary🇮🇩 Indonesia🇮🇱 Israel🇮🇳 India🇮🇶 Iraq🇮🇷 Iran🇮🇸 Iceland🇮🇹 Italy🇯🇲 Jamaica🇯🇴 Jordan🇯🇵 Japan🇰🇪 Kenya🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan🇰🇭 Cambodia🇰🇮 Kiribati🇰🇲 Comoros🇰🇳 St. Kitts & Nevis🇰🇵 North Korea🇰🇷 South Korea🇰🇼 Kuwait🇰🇿 Kazakhstan🇱🇦 Laos🇱🇧 Lebanon🇱🇨 St. Lucia🇱🇰 Sri Lanka🇱🇷 Liberia🇱🇸 Lesotho🇱🇹 Lithuania🇱🇻 Latvia🇱🇾 Libya🇲🇦 Morocco🇲🇩 Moldova🇲🇪 Montenegro🇲🇬 Madagascar🇲🇭 Marshall Islands🇲🇰 North Macedonia🇲🇱 Mali🇲🇲 Myanmar🇲🇳 Mongolia🇲🇷 Mauritania🇲🇹 Malta🇲🇺 Mauritius🇲🇻 Maldives🇲🇼 Malawi🇲🇽 Mexico🇲🇾 Malaysia🇲🇿 Mozambique🇳🇦 Namibia🇳🇪 Niger🇳🇬 Nigeria🇳🇮 Nicaragua🇳🇱 Netherlands🇳🇵 Nepal🇳🇷 Nauru🇳🇿 New Zealand🇴🇲 Oman🇵🇦 Panama🇵🇪 Peru🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea🇵🇭 Philippines🇵🇰 Pakistan🇵🇱 Poland🇵🇸 Palestinian Territories🇵🇹 Portugal🇵🇼 Palau🇵🇾 Paraguay🇶🇦 Qatar🇷🇴 Romania🇷🇸 Serbia🇷🇺 Russia🇷🇼 Rwanda🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia🇸🇧 Solomon Islands🇸🇨 Seychelles🇸🇩 Sudan🇸🇬 Singapore🇸🇮 Slovenia🇸🇰 Slovakia🇸🇱 Sierra Leone🇸🇳 Senegal🇸🇴 Somalia🇸🇷 Suriname🇸🇸 South Sudan🇸🇹 São Tomé & Príncipe🇸🇻 El Salvador🇸🇾 Syria🇸🇿 Eswatini🇹🇩 Chad🇹🇬 Togo🇹🇭 Thailand🇹🇯 Tajikistan🇹🇱 Timor-Leste🇹🇲 Turkmenistan🇹🇳 Tunisia🇹🇴 Tonga🇹🇷 Turkey🇹🇹 Trinidad & Tobago🇹🇻 Tuvalu🇹🇼 Taiwan🇹🇿 Tanzania🇺🇦 Ukraine🇺🇬 Uganda🇺🇸 US🇺🇾 Uruguay🇺🇿 Uzbekistan🇻🇦 Vatican City🇻🇨 St. Vincent & Grenadines🇻🇪 Venezuela🇻🇳 Vietnam🇻🇺 Vanuatu🇼🇸 Samoa🇽🇰 Kosovo🇾🇪 Yemen🇿🇦 South Africa🇿🇲 Zambia🇿🇼 Zimbabwe

How to Apply

Apply through Grants Online (GO ESKAS) during the window published for your country of origin. Applications are assessed through the responsible Swiss diplomatic representation. Applications by email or on paper are not accepted, and applying is free.

Application Routes and Dates

Doctoral research stay

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2027/2028 · PhD

🇦🇪 UAE, 🇦🇫 Afghanistan, 🇦🇬 Antigua & Barbuda, 🇦🇱 Albania, 🇦🇲 Armenia, 🇦🇴 Angola, 🇦🇷 Argentina, 🇦🇹 Austria, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan, 🇧🇦 Bosnia & Herzegovina, 🇧🇧 Barbados, 🇧🇩 Bangladesh, 🇧🇪 Belgium, 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso, 🇧🇬 Bulgaria, 🇧🇭 Bahrain, 🇧🇮 Burundi, 🇧🇯 Benin, 🇧🇳 Brunei, 🇧🇴 Bolivia, 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇧🇸 Bahamas, 🇧🇹 Bhutan, 🇧🇼 Botswana, 🇧🇾 Belarus, 🇧🇿 Belize, 🇨🇩 Congo - Kinshasa, 🇨🇫 Central African Republic, 🇨🇬 Congo - Brazzaville, 🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire, 🇨🇰 Cook Islands, 🇨🇱 Chile, 🇨🇲 Cameroon, 🇨🇳 China, 🇨🇴 Colombia, 🇨🇷 Costa Rica, 🇨🇺 Cuba, 🇨🇻 Cape Verde, 🇨🇾 Cyprus, 🇨🇿 Czechia, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇩🇯 Djibouti, 🇩🇰 Denmark, 🇩🇲 Dominica, 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic, 🇩🇿 Algeria, 🇪🇨 Ecuador, 🇪🇪 Estonia, 🇪🇬 Egypt, 🇪🇷 Eritrea, 🇪🇹 Ethiopia, 🇫🇮 Finland, 🇫🇯 Fiji, 🇫🇲 Micronesia, 🇬🇦 Gabon, 🇬🇧 UK, 🇬🇩 Grenada, 🇬🇪 Georgia, 🇬🇭 Ghana, 🇬🇲 The Gambia, 🇬🇳 Guinea, 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea, 🇬🇹 Guatemala, 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau, 🇬🇾 Guyana, 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, 🇭🇳 Honduras, 🇭🇷 Croatia, 🇭🇺 Hungary, 🇮🇩 Indonesia, 🇮🇱 Israel, 🇮🇳 India, 🇮🇶 Iraq, 🇮🇷 Iran, 🇮🇸 Iceland, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇯🇲 Jamaica, 🇯🇴 Jordan, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇰🇪 Kenya, 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan, 🇰🇭 Cambodia, 🇰🇮 Kiribati, 🇰🇲 Comoros, 🇰🇳 St. Kitts & Nevis, 🇰🇵 North Korea, 🇰🇷 South Korea, 🇰🇼 Kuwait, 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan, 🇱🇦 Laos, 🇱🇧 Lebanon, 🇱🇨 St. Lucia, 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka, 🇱🇷 Liberia, 🇱🇸 Lesotho, 🇱🇹 Lithuania, 🇱🇻 Latvia, 🇱🇾 Libya, 🇲🇦 Morocco, 🇲🇩 Moldova, 🇲🇪 Montenegro, 🇲🇬 Madagascar, 🇲🇭 Marshall Islands, 🇲🇰 North Macedonia, 🇲🇱 Mali, 🇲🇲 Myanmar, 🇲🇳 Mongolia, 🇲🇷 Mauritania, 🇲🇹 Malta, 🇲🇺 Mauritius, 🇲🇻 Maldives, 🇲🇼 Malawi, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇲🇾 Malaysia, 🇲🇿 Mozambique, 🇳🇦 Namibia, 🇳🇪 Niger, 🇳🇬 Nigeria, 🇳🇮 Nicaragua, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇳🇵 Nepal, 🇳🇷 Nauru, 🇳🇿 New Zealand, 🇴🇲 Oman, 🇵🇦 Panama, 🇵🇪 Peru, 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea, 🇵🇭 Philippines, 🇵🇰 Pakistan, 🇵🇱 Poland, 🇵🇸 Palestinian Territories, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇵🇼 Palau, 🇵🇾 Paraguay, 🇶🇦 Qatar, 🇷🇴 Romania, 🇷🇸 Serbia, 🇷🇺 Russia, 🇷🇼 Rwanda, 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia, 🇸🇧 Solomon Islands, 🇸🇨 Seychelles, 🇸🇩 Sudan, 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇸🇮 Slovenia, 🇸🇰 Slovakia, 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone, 🇸🇳 Senegal, 🇸🇴 Somalia, 🇸🇷 Suriname, 🇸🇸 South Sudan, 🇸🇹 São Tomé & Príncipe, 🇸🇻 El Salvador, 🇸🇾 Syria, 🇸🇿 Eswatini, 🇹🇩 Chad, 🇹🇬 Togo, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇹🇯 Tajikistan, 🇹🇱 Timor-Leste, 🇹🇲 Turkmenistan, 🇹🇳 Tunisia, 🇹🇴 Tonga, 🇹🇷 Turkey, 🇹🇹 Trinidad & Tobago, 🇹🇻 Tuvalu, 🇹🇼 Taiwan, 🇹🇿 Tanzania, 🇺🇦 Ukraine, 🇺🇬 Uganda, 🇺🇸 US, 🇺🇾 Uruguay, 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan, 🇻🇦 Vatican City, 🇻🇨 St. Vincent & Grenadines, 🇻🇪 Venezuela, 🇻🇳 Vietnam, 🇻🇺 Vanuatu, 🇼🇸 Samoa, 🇽🇰 Kosovo, 🇾🇪 Yemen, 🇿🇦 South Africa, 🇿🇲 Zambia, 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe — country of origin — Only the countries and territories offered this track in the 2027–2028 country table.

Opening dates and submission deadlines differ by country. Use the country table to check the window and any special conditions for this track. Scholarships start on 1 September 2027.

Timing source · Checked 2026-09-19

PhD degree scholarship

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2027/2028 · PhD

🇦🇪 UAE, 🇦🇫 Afghanistan, 🇦🇬 Antigua & Barbuda, 🇦🇱 Albania, 🇦🇲 Armenia, 🇦🇴 Angola, 🇦🇷 Argentina, 🇦🇹 Austria, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan, 🇧🇦 Bosnia & Herzegovina, 🇧🇧 Barbados, 🇧🇩 Bangladesh, 🇧🇪 Belgium, 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso, 🇧🇬 Bulgaria, 🇧🇭 Bahrain, 🇧🇮 Burundi, 🇧🇯 Benin, 🇧🇳 Brunei, 🇧🇴 Bolivia, 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇧🇸 Bahamas, 🇧🇹 Bhutan, 🇧🇼 Botswana, 🇧🇾 Belarus, 🇧🇿 Belize, 🇨🇩 Congo - Kinshasa, 🇨🇫 Central African Republic, 🇨🇬 Congo - Brazzaville, 🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire, 🇨🇰 Cook Islands, 🇨🇱 Chile, 🇨🇲 Cameroon, 🇨🇴 Colombia, 🇨🇷 Costa Rica, 🇨🇺 Cuba, 🇨🇻 Cape Verde, 🇨🇾 Cyprus, 🇨🇿 Czechia, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇩🇯 Djibouti, 🇩🇰 Denmark, 🇩🇲 Dominica, 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic, 🇩🇿 Algeria, 🇪🇨 Ecuador, 🇪🇪 Estonia, 🇪🇬 Egypt, 🇪🇷 Eritrea, 🇪🇹 Ethiopia, 🇫🇮 Finland, 🇫🇯 Fiji, 🇫🇲 Micronesia, 🇬🇦 Gabon, 🇬🇧 UK, 🇬🇩 Grenada, 🇬🇪 Georgia, 🇬🇭 Ghana, 🇬🇲 The Gambia, 🇬🇳 Guinea, 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea, 🇬🇹 Guatemala, 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau, 🇬🇾 Guyana, 🇭🇳 Honduras, 🇭🇷 Croatia, 🇭🇺 Hungary, 🇮🇩 Indonesia, 🇮🇱 Israel, 🇮🇳 India, 🇮🇶 Iraq, 🇮🇷 Iran, 🇮🇸 Iceland, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇯🇲 Jamaica, 🇯🇴 Jordan, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇰🇪 Kenya, 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan, 🇰🇭 Cambodia, 🇰🇮 Kiribati, 🇰🇲 Comoros, 🇰🇳 St. Kitts & Nevis, 🇰🇷 South Korea, 🇰🇼 Kuwait, 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan, 🇱🇦 Laos, 🇱🇧 Lebanon, 🇱🇨 St. Lucia, 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka, 🇱🇷 Liberia, 🇱🇸 Lesotho, 🇱🇹 Lithuania, 🇱🇻 Latvia, 🇱🇾 Libya, 🇲🇦 Morocco, 🇲🇩 Moldova, 🇲🇪 Montenegro, 🇲🇬 Madagascar, 🇲🇭 Marshall Islands, 🇲🇰 North Macedonia, 🇲🇱 Mali, 🇲🇲 Myanmar, 🇲🇳 Mongolia, 🇲🇷 Mauritania, 🇲🇹 Malta, 🇲🇺 Mauritius, 🇲🇻 Maldives, 🇲🇼 Malawi, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇲🇾 Malaysia, 🇲🇿 Mozambique, 🇳🇦 Namibia, 🇳🇪 Niger, 🇳🇬 Nigeria, 🇳🇮 Nicaragua, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇳🇵 Nepal, 🇳🇷 Nauru, 🇳🇿 New Zealand, 🇴🇲 Oman, 🇵🇦 Panama, 🇵🇪 Peru, 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea, 🇵🇭 Philippines, 🇵🇰 Pakistan, 🇵🇱 Poland, 🇵🇸 Palestinian Territories, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇵🇼 Palau, 🇵🇾 Paraguay, 🇶🇦 Qatar, 🇷🇴 Romania, 🇷🇸 Serbia, 🇷🇺 Russia, 🇷🇼 Rwanda, 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia, 🇸🇧 Solomon Islands, 🇸🇨 Seychelles, 🇸🇩 Sudan, 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇸🇮 Slovenia, 🇸🇰 Slovakia, 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone, 🇸🇳 Senegal, 🇸🇴 Somalia, 🇸🇷 Suriname, 🇸🇸 South Sudan, 🇸🇹 São Tomé & Príncipe, 🇸🇻 El Salvador, 🇸🇾 Syria, 🇸🇿 Eswatini, 🇹🇩 Chad, 🇹🇬 Togo, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇹🇯 Tajikistan, 🇹🇱 Timor-Leste, 🇹🇲 Turkmenistan, 🇹🇳 Tunisia, 🇹🇴 Tonga, 🇹🇷 Turkey, 🇹🇹 Trinidad & Tobago, 🇹🇻 Tuvalu, 🇹🇼 Taiwan, 🇹🇿 Tanzania, 🇺🇦 Ukraine, 🇺🇬 Uganda, 🇺🇸 US, 🇺🇾 Uruguay, 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan, 🇻🇦 Vatican City, 🇻🇨 St. Vincent & Grenadines, 🇻🇪 Venezuela, 🇻🇳 Vietnam, 🇻🇺 Vanuatu, 🇼🇸 Samoa, 🇽🇰 Kosovo, 🇾🇪 Yemen, 🇿🇦 South Africa, 🇿🇲 Zambia, 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe — country of origin — Only the countries and territories offered this track in the 2027–2028 country table.

Opening dates and submission deadlines differ by country. Use the country table to check the window and any special conditions for this track. Scholarships start on 1 September 2027.

Timing source · Checked 2026-09-19

First arts master's scholarship

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2027/2028 · Master's

🇦🇹 Austria, 🇧🇪 Belgium, 🇧🇬 Bulgaria, 🇨🇾 Cyprus, 🇨🇿 Czechia, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇩🇰 Denmark, 🇪🇪 Estonia, 🇫🇮 Finland, 🇭🇷 Croatia, 🇭🇺 Hungary, 🇮🇱 Israel, 🇮🇸 Iceland, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇰🇷 South Korea, 🇱🇹 Lithuania, 🇱🇻 Latvia, 🇲🇹 Malta, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇵🇱 Poland, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇷🇴 Romania, 🇸🇮 Slovenia, 🇸🇰 Slovakia, 🇺🇸 US, 🇻🇦 Vatican City — country of origin — Only the countries and territories offered this track in the 2027–2028 country table.

Opening dates and submission deadlines differ by country. Use the country table to check the window and any special conditions for this track. Scholarships start on 1 September 2027.

Timing source · Checked 2026-09-19