Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027–2028

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027–2028 support international exchange and research cooperation between Switzerland and more than 180 countries. The programme is mainly intended for early-career researchers from abroad who have already completed a Master’s degree. Applications are open from August 20, 2026, and applying for a Swiss Government Scholarship is free of charge.

Quick Overview

Programme: Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027–2028
Opportunity Type: Government Scholarship
Awarding Body: Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS/ESKAS)
Country: Switzerland
Eligible Countries: Applicants from 183 countries
Applications Open: August 20, 2026
Research Scholarship Funding: CHF 2,450 per month
Application Fee: Free of charge

About the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships

Each year, the Swiss Confederation awards Government Excellence Scholarships to promote international exchange and research cooperation between Switzerland and other countries.

Recipients are selected by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students. The programme currently accepts applicants from 183 countries and is mainly aimed at talented early-career researchers from abroad who have completed a Master’s degree.

The programme includes both research scholarships and art scholarships, with different eligibility conditions for each category.

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Research Scholarships

Research scholarships are available to postgraduate researchers in any discipline who want to conduct research at an eligible institution in Switzerland.

Eligible host institutions include:

• Swiss cantonal universities
• Universities of applied sciences
• ETH Zurich or EPFL
• PSI
• WSL
• Empa
• Eawag

Applicants for a research scholarship must have the support of an academic supervisor in Switzerland who is willing to direct and guide the proposed research.

The official scholarship overview lists the following conditions for research scholarships:

✓ CHF 2,450 per month in funding
• Maximum age: 35

Art Scholarships

Art scholarships are available to students who wish to pursue an initial Master’s degree in an artistic field in Switzerland.

Unlike the broader research scholarship category, art scholarships are available only to applicants from a limited number of countries.

Check: Knight-Hennessy Scholars 2027 Cohort at Stanford University

Who Can Apply

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are mainly intended for talented early-career researchers from abroad who have already completed their Master’s degree.

The scholarship programme is currently open to applicants from 183 countries. Research scholarship applicants must also secure the backing of an academic supervisor in Switzerland for their proposed research.

Applicants interested in an art scholarship must be seeking an initial Master’s degree in an artistic field and must come from one of the countries for which this scholarship category is available.

Application Information

Applications for the 2027–2028 Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are open starting August 20, 2026.

Applications are submitted to Swiss diplomatic representations. The official page also confirms that applying for a Swiss Government Scholarship is free of charge.

Application deadlines and available scholarship categories depend on the applicant’s country of origin. Candidates should therefore review the country-specific information provided through the official scholarship page.

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Selection Process

The Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students assesses applications using three stated criteria:

• Candidate profile
• Quality of the research project or artistic work
• Synergies and potential for future research cooperation

The FCS announces scholarship award decisions for the following academic year by the end of May at the latest.

Application Status

Applications for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027–2028 are open starting August 20, 2026.

Candidates should check the scholarship and application information available for their country of origin because scholarship availability and application deadlines are country-specific.

Official Link

Review the official programme details and follow the application instructions provided on the official page.

View the Official Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027–2028 Page