ESKAS – Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars

 

Each year the Swiss Confederation awards Government Excellence Scholarships to promote international exchange and research cooperation between Switzerland and over 180 other countries. Recipients are selected by the awarding body, the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS).

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 ESKAS program provides scholarships to international students and researchers to pursue higher education or research in Switzerland. It is aimed at fostering international exchange and research collaboration.


How It Works

  • Scholarship Types:
    The program offers:

    • Research Scholarships: For postgraduate researchers across all disciplines.
    • Art Scholarships: For students in artistic fields (only for select countries).
  • Funding:
    Scholarships typically cover:

    • Tuition fees
    • Monthly stipend
    • Health insurance
    • Travel costs (in certain cases)
  • Duration: Varies by program, generally 1–3 years.
  • Host Institutions: Applicants must secure admission or supervision at a recognized Swiss university or institution.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Nationality: Open to students from selected countries; the list is updated annually.
  • Academic Background: Applicants must hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent) for research programs and demonstrate academic excellence.
  • Age: Certain programs have age limits (usually under 35).
  • Language: Proficiency in the language of instruction or research (German, French, Italian, or English) is required.
  • Admission Confirmation: Applicants must have an invitation or acceptance letter from a Swiss professor or institution.

Potential Challenges

  • Competition: Scholarships are highly competitive due to limited slots.
  • Integration: Adapting to Switzerland’s culture and academic environment.
  • Language: Language requirements may pose challenges for non-native speakers.
  • Post-Scholarship Opportunities: ESKAS scholarships are generally not renewable, and long-term residence in Switzerland after the scholarship is not guaranteed.
  • Administrative Requirements: The application process is detailed and rigorous, requiring timely submission of documents and compliance with strict guidelines.

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists

Deadlines

Select your country of origin according to your passport:

Select your Country to Start

Check the application deadline and the different types of scholarship on offer. These vary according to country. You will also find details of what to do next and where to get more information.

Usually the deadlines open in August and close in December each year.

Each country follows specific deadlines. Please consult the call documents accordingly.

 


Current Warning of Phishing!

 

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The State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation issues this warning regarding false advertisements for Swiss government scholarships sent by email or on social media. Fraudsters are offering fake scholarships in an attempt to get their victims to transfer money (e.g. by claiming that this money is required for visa or social insurance costs).

The Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students FCS recommends that members of the public ignore these fraudulent offers and above all do not transfer any money. The application process for a Swiss government scholarship is free of charge.

Swiss government scholarships are offered by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students exclusively via Switzerland’s official diplomatic representations in the applicants’ countries of origin.

Please pass on this information.


Types of scholarship

  • The research scholarship is available to post-graduate researchers in any discipline (who hold a master’s degree as a minimum) who are planning to come to Switzerland to pursue research or further studies at doctoral or post-doctoral level.
    Research scholarships are awarded for research or study at all Swiss cantonal universities, universities of applied sciences and the two federal institutes of technology. Only candidates nominated by an academic mentor at one of these higher education institutions will be considered.
  • Art scholarships are open to art students wishing to pursue an initial master’s degree in Switzerland. Art scholarships are awarded for study at any Swiss conservatory or university of the arts. Only those who have already been awarded a place to study may apply. This scholarship is available to students from a limited number of countries only.

Selection criteria

The FCS assesses scholarship applications according to three criteria:

a) Candidate profile
b) Quality of the research project or artistic work
c) Synergies and potential for future research cooperation

Application procedure

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Selection

Applications are subject to preliminary selection by the relevant national authorities and/or the Swiss diplomatic representation. The short-listed applications are then assessed by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS), 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.

Awards

The FCS will announce its decisions regarding the new scholarship awards by the end of May at the latest.

 

 


 

Database Details

Current Research
No Profile listed
Thematic Focus
Agriculture, Biodiversity and Sustainability, Digital Communication / ICTs, Governance and Accountability, Knowledge Production and Transfer, Life Sciences and Health, Mobility and Migration, Open Topic, Peace and Security, Poverty Reduction

Documents

Applicant’s Country
EU, other, Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Djibouti, DR Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunesia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Allowed Usage
Research, Mobility

Applicant’s Position
PhD Candidate, PostDoc, Researcher

Cycle Type
Running/Ongoing

Partner Required
Yes

Deadlines
1. October 2020
Last Modification
20. January 2025