Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027-28

The programme offers three distinct scholarship types for the 2027-2028 academic year: research fellowships, PhD scholarships, and art scholarships for an initial Master's degree. Postdoctoral scholarships are no longer awarded starting from the 2027-2028 academic year. Each scholarship type carries specific eligibility rules, target groups, and application procedures.

Financial provisions include a monthly living allowance of CHF 2,450 for one person, compulsory health insurance coverage for non-EU/EFTA scholarship holders, a CHF 600 rental deposit grant, and a Half-Fare Travelcard for public transport. Non-EU/EFTA recipients also receive a return flight allowance. Tuition and semester fees are generally not covered by the scholarship and must be paid by the recipient.

Applicants must secure an academic supervisor in Switzerland before applying for research or PhD scholarships, or provide proof of admission for art or graduate school programmes. Applications are assessed based on candidate profile, quality of the research project or artistic work, and potential for future research cooperation.

The application process is managed through the online portal GO ESKAS, with submissions routed through Swiss diplomatic representations. Deadlines vary depending on the applicant's country of origin, and awards are announced by the end of May at the latest.