Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2023-2024

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The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists for the 2023-2024 academic year are now open for applications.

Each year, the Swiss Confederation awards Government Excellence Scholarships to promote international exchange and research cooperation between Switzerland and over 180 other countries. The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are aimed at young researchers from abroad who have completed a master’s degree or PhD, and at foreign artists holding a bachelor’s degree.

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships have four categories:

• Master scholarships (arts fields only),
• PhD scholarships (all fields),
• Postdoctoral scholarships (all fields),
• Research fellowships(all fields).

You are free to apply for any category you want, as long as you meet the requirements.

IMPORTANT : Please bear in mind, this post lists the general requirements. The information below are applicable for the majority of countries, but NOT all of them. You have to read the call for application related to your origin country for specific information.

If you are interested in scholarships in switzerand, here is our full updated list : Scholarships in Switzerland : The Ultimate Guide

1. Swiss Excellence Master’s Scholarships

The Swiss Government Excellence Arts Scholarships enable you, as a selected applicant, to undertake initial Master’s studies at conservatories or art schools affiliated with universities of applied sciences.

Amount of the Excellence Master’s Scholarships

The scholarship will be offering  the following :

• A monthly payment of CHF 1’920 (2,114 USD) for the duration of the program,
• Swiss health insurance For non-EU and non-EFTA grantees only,
• A flight allowance provided at the end of the scholarship for non-EU and non-EFTA countries,
• Special CHF 300 (330 USD) 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.

Please bear in mind, there are no family allowances.

Eligibility for Excellence Arts Scholarships

To be eligible for this program, you must :

• Hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
• Not holding a master’s degree already.
• Be born after 31 December 1986.
• Have not been in Switzerland since more than one year at the beginning of the scholarship in September 2023.
• Be in command of the necessary language skills required for the Master’s program.
• Move to Switzerland during their grant period.
• Be a highly qualified artists, from any artistic fields.

Eligible universities for Excellence Arts Scholarships

The list below, represents eligible universities for the Swiss Government Excellence Arts 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 countries for Excellence Arts Scholarships

Unlike the rest of the categories, The Swiss Government Excellence Arts Scholarships are only offered to citizens of countries with which Switzerland has reciprocity agreements for art scholarship : Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, South (Republic of Korea), Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian, Slovakia, Slovenia, United States of America.

Deadline for the Excellence Arts Scholarships

• Opening of the call: 01 August 2022, for some countries August, 10, 2022.
• Application deadline: 10 November 2022, for some countries, November, first, 2022.
• Beginning of the scholarship: 01 September 2023 (for all countries without exception).

Please check for your country’s specific deadline here : Countries A – L, Countries M – Z.

How to apply for The Swiss Excellence Master’s Scholarships?

The application package can be obtained by email from the Embassy of Switzerland of your origin country.

All documents must be in English, French, Italian, or German. If not applicable, a translation in English must be attached.

You need to submit 2 sets : 1 original and 1 copy (without confidential letters of recommendation).

Documents must be in the following exact order. :

1. Signed FCS application form (typed and printed) with photo. The FCS form can be obtained by email from the Embassy of Switzerland of your origin country.
2. A full CV with list of exhibitions, concerts, awards etc.
3. Motivation letter (max. 2 pages)
4. According to your specialty
   1. For musicians: High-quality file of three different styles of music if the music involves interpreters and directors (USB memory stick or CD/DVD labelled with name, surname and country; link or QR-Code). Composers have to submit their scores.
   2. For painters, graphic artists and sculptors: Copies or photos of three pieces of their work, along with rough drafts (incl. their dates of creation; work labelled with name, surname and country).
   3. For other artists (e.g. dancers, actors, authors): Pieces of their art (USB memory stick or CD/DVD labelled with name, surname and country; link or QR-Code).
5. A proof for “admission is under consideration” at the intended Swiss arts or music school (ask for it from the Swiss university of your choice).
6. Two confidential letters of recommendation from two different professors.
7. Photocopies of certificates and grade sheets from previously attended universities/colleges and diplomas with grades.
8. Signed medical certificate (use only the FCS health certificate form).
9. Two copies of the applicant’s passport (main page with personal data).

DO NOT put the documents into plastic or binders nor use paper clips or stapler.

2. Swiss Government Excellence PhD Scholarships

This program enables you, as an applicant, to undertake a full-time PhD studies in Switzerland at one of the 10 Swiss cantonal universities, the two Swiss federal institutes of technology or the Graduate Institute.

The Swiss Government Excellence PhD Scholarships is not valid for mixed PhD programs (part-time in Switzerland and part-time in another country).

PhD students with an ongoing or planned doctoral project that is carried out within the framework of a formalized agreement between two universities and under the joint direction of two supervisors are eligible for a 12-month research fellowship only (the last category in this post).

Before you proceed, please do note that The application for a PhD scholarship and the application for admission by a Swiss University for a PhD study are two separate procedures.

Amount of the Excellence PhD Scholarships

Same as the Excellence Master scholarships, except that the monthly allowance is for 12 months prolongable up to 36 months based on the achieved academic results.

Eligibility for Excellence PhD Scholarships

Eligible candidates must :

• Hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree (MA necessary for candidates applying to ETH Zurich and the University of Basel) achieved before 31 July 2023.
• Be born after 31 December 1986.
• Provide a letter from an academic host professor (including her/his short CV) at the chosen Swiss university.
• Have a research proposal including a timeframe. This is the centrepiece of the application.
• Have not been in Switzerland since more than one year at the beginning of the scholarship in September 2022.
• be in command of the necessary language skills required for the PhD studies/ research.
• Move to Switzerland during their grant period.

Eligible universities for Excellence PhD Scholarships

Eligible universities for the Swiss Government Excellence PhD Scholarships  are :

• 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).

Eligible countries for Excellence PhD Scholarships

Check the list of eligible countries (more than 160 country) here : Countries A-L | Countries M-Z

Deadline for the Excellence PhD Scholarships

• Opening: 01 August 2022.
• Application deadline: 8 October 2022.
• Beginning of the scholarship: 01 September 2023(for all countries without exception).

Please check for your country’s specific deadline here : Countries A – L, Countries M – Z.

How to apply for The Swiss Excellence PhD Scholarships?

Questions and application documents (FSC Form) should be requested  and, then, be submitted to the address mentioned in the call of application specific to your country (Countries A – L, Countries M – Z).

All documents must be in English, French, Italian or German. If not applicable, a translation in English must be attached.

Documents must be in the following exact order. :

1. Signed FCS application form (can be obtained by email from the Embassy of Switzerland of your origin country).
2. CV with list of academic publications, awards etc.
3. Motivation letter.
4. A complete research proposal (max. 5 pages, signed).
5. Two confidential letters of recommendation from two different professors.
6. 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. Do not submit the original certificates.
7. Signed medical certificate.
8. Two copies of the applicant’s passport (main page with personal data).

3. Swiss Excellence Postdoctoral Scholarships

The Scholarship is valid only for full-time postdoctoral 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.

You can apply if you think you are a highly qualified postdoctoral researcher at the beginning of you academic independently of your academic fields.

The scholarship duration is 12 months (starting in September) without possible prolongation. Grant applications for stays lasting less than 9 months will not be treated as a priority. Grant applications for stays lasting less than 6 months will be rejected.

The scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of CHF 3’500 with the same other advantages as the master and PhD scholarships.

For more information (how to apply, required documents…), please visit the following link : Countries A – L, Countries M – Z.

4. Swiss Excellence Research Fellowships

The Swiss Excellence Research Fellowships enable you to undertake research in the realm of your PhD at one of the 10 Swiss cantonal universities, the two Swiss federal institutes of technology, the public teaching and research institutes or the universities of applied sciences.

The fellowship is valid only for full-time research in Switzerland. Its duration is 12 months maximum (starting in September); no prolongation possible.

The fellowship has the same amount and benefits as master and PhD scholarships.

If you need help or have questions, feel free to contact [email protected].

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