Switzerland Government Excellence Scholarships 2027/2028 for Foreign Students and Artists

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2028

Every year, the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship offers master's scholarships to art students (artists), as well as PhD, postdoctoral and research scholarships for foreign students from Africa and other countries wishing to study in Switzerland. The programme is open to international students from more than 180 countries.

📅 Applications now open — deadline varies by country (generally 30 November, submission from September to December)

Search for your country in the official list: Countries A – Z (PDF)

Contents

• Overview
• The three types of scholarship
• Selection criteria
• Eligibility requirements
• Value of the scholarship
• How to apply
• Frequently asked questions

Overview

Offered annually?	Yes
Eligible countries	International students from more than 180 countries
To be taken at	Any of the ten Swiss public universities, the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology, public teaching and research institutes, and universities of applied sciences
Eligible field of study	All academic fields
Type	Master's (art scholarship), PhD, postdoctoral and research
Number of scholarships	Not specified
Duration	For the period of study
Application deadline	Varies by country (generally 30 November)

Key point: there is no single deadline. Each Swiss diplomatic representation sets its own, generally between September and December, with 30 November as the most common date. Always confirm the deadline for your own country on the official website or with the Swiss embassy in your country.

The three types of scholarship

The Swiss government, through the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS), awards various postgraduate scholarships to foreign scholars and researchers:

1. The research scholarship

Available to post-graduate researchers in any discipline (who hold a master's degree as a minimum) planning to come to Switzerland to pursue research or further studies at doctoral or post-doctoral level.

2. University research scholarships

Awarded for research or study at all Swiss cantonal universities, universities of applied sciences and the two federal institutes of technology.

Crucial condition: only candidates nominated by an academic mentor at one of these higher education institutions will be considered. You must therefore identify and contact a supervising professor before submitting your application. This is the step applicants most often underestimate, and it takes several weeks.

3. Art scholarships

Open to art students wishing to pursue an initial master's degree in Switzerland. Awarded for study at any Swiss conservatory or university of the arts.

Two restrictions to note: only those who have already been awarded a place to study may apply, and this scholarship is available to students from a limited number of countries only. Check whether yours is on the list before starting the process.

These scholarships provide graduates from all fields with the opportunity to pursue master's, doctoral or postdoctoral research in Switzerland at one of the publicly funded universities or a recognised institution.

Selection criteria

The FCS assesses scholarship applications according to three criteria:

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

Applications are subject to preliminary selection by the relevant national authorities and/or the Swiss diplomatic representation. Short-listed applications are then assessed by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students, which takes the final decision.

The FCS is composed of professors from all Swiss public universities. Scholarship awards are decided on the basis of academic and scientific excellence.

Eligibility requirements

Candidates for the University Scholarships must:

Degree	Hold a university degree (Bachelor's or Master's) on commencement of the scholarship
Academic ability	Be able to demonstrate their academic abilities and what they aim to achieve
Supervision	Contact the institution and/or the professor supervising their period of research
Age	Be under the age of 35 (born on or after 1 January 1990)
Language	Be suitably proficient in the language of instruction: French, German, Italian or English

Universities may request supplementary information or set additional conditions to determine whether you qualify for admission. Please refer to the country-specific fact sheets for general and specific eligibility criteria.

The academic mentor nomination requirement and the age limit rule out a large share of candidates. If your situation does not match these conditions, Unicaf offers partial scholarships for online Bachelor's, Master's and doctoral degrees, with no mentor nomination and no age limit, which you can study from anywhere in Africa.

Value of the scholarship

The scholarship covers:

• A monthly payment
• Exemption from tuition fees
• Health insurance
• Airfare
• A special lodging allowance

See the country-specific fact sheets for exact scholarship benefits, which vary by scholarship type and study level.

How to apply

Visit the scholarship webpage and select your country for country-specific application instructions. There is no centralised online portal: applications go through the Swiss diplomatic representation in your country.

Official programme page	sbfi.admin.ch
List of eligible countries	Countries A – Z (PDF)
Programme overview and fact sheets	Scholarships at a glance

Visit the official scholarship page

Frequently asked questions

What is the deadline for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships?

There is no single deadline. Each Swiss diplomatic representation sets its own, generally between September and December, with 30 November being the most common date. Confirm the deadline for your country with the Swiss embassy or on the official website.

What does the scholarship cover?

A monthly payment, exemption from tuition fees, health insurance, airfare and a special lodging allowance. Exact amounts are listed in the country-specific fact sheets.

Do I need a Swiss academic mentor to apply?

Yes, for research scholarships. Only candidates nominated by an academic mentor at a Swiss higher education institution will be considered. Start this step well before the application deadline.

Is there an age limit?

Yes. Candidates must be under the age of 35. Confirm the exact birth-year cut-off for the current cycle in your country's fact sheet.

Which languages are accepted?

French, German, Italian or English. You must be suitably proficient in the language of instruction at your chosen institution to draw full benefit from your studies.

Are African students eligible?

The programme is open to students from more than 180 countries. Check the official A – Z list to confirm your country's eligibility and which scholarship types are available, as the art scholarship is offered to a limited number of countries only.

How do I get the application file?

Through the Swiss embassy in your country of origin. Visit the scholarship webpage and select your country for the specific application instructions.

Read also

• Bourses d'excellence du gouvernement suisse (version française)
• Fully funded scholarships for African students
• All our scholarship listings

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