ETH Zurich PhD Scholarship in Climate and Agricultural Economics 2026, Switzerland

ETH Zurich is offering a fully funded doctoral opportunity in Agricultural Economics and Climate Policy, focused on climate change mitigation in Swiss agriculture. This PhD position is part of a national research initiative supporting Switzerland’s transition toward net-zero emissions.

The programme is ideal for students interested in climate economics, agricultural policy, sustainability research, and applied environmental economics. The selected candidate will join a major interdisciplinary project combining economics, policy analysis, and real-world agricultural research.

Scholarship Summary

• Host Country: Switzerland
• University: ETH Zurich
• Level: PhD (Doctoral Position)
• Field of Study: Agricultural Economics, Climate Policy, Environmental Economics
• Duration: 4 years
• Funding Type: Fully funded salaried research position
• Research Project: Swiss net-zero agriculture and climate mitigation (ACHIEVE project)
• Eligible Applicants: International students with relevant academic background
• Application Deadline: June 26
• Start Date: Expected between October–December 2026

The ETH Zurich PhD position provides strong financial and academic support, including:

• Fully funded doctoral employment (salary-based)
• Swiss social security and employee benefits
• No tuition fees for the PhD programme
• Access to ETH Zurich doctoral coursework (18 ECTS)
• Research funding within the ACHIEVE climate project
• Individual academic supervision and mentoring
• Collaboration with policymakers, farmers, and research institutions
• Career development opportunities in academia and industry

This opportunity is available for:

• PhD (Doctoral Research Program)
• Full-time research employment position

Applicants should have academic backgrounds in:

• Agricultural Economics
• Environmental Economics
• Climate Policy
• Sustainability Studies
• Applied Economics
• Related social science or quantitative disciplines

Research Focus

The selected PhD candidate will work on:

• Climate change mitigation in Swiss agriculture
• Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in farming systems
• Policy impact analysis for agricultural sustainability
• Farmer behavior and decision-making studies
• Surveys and economic modeling
• Interdisciplinary climate policy research

Why This PhD is Important

This doctoral position is highly valuable because it:

• Combines economics with real-world climate policy
• Involves direct work with farmers and policymakers
• Is part of a major Swiss national climate initiative
• Offers salaried employment instead of traditional funding
• Provides strong academic and professional networking opportunities
• Supports careers in environmental policy, research, and consulting

ETH Zurich is also one of Europe’s leading research universities, making this a highly competitive opportunity for international applicants.

Open to applicants of all nationalities.

Applicants are expected to:

• Hold or be completing a Master’s degree in a relevant field
• Have strong quantitative and analytical skills
• Show interest in climate policy and agricultural systems
• Be willing to conduct applied research with real stakeholders
• Demonstrate ability to work in interdisciplinary teams
• Meet language requirements (German or French at C1 level preferred)

Required Documents

Applicants typically need to submit:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Academic transcripts
• Contact details of two academic referees
• Proof of relevant qualifications
• Research-related documents (if required by supervisor)

How to Apply

The application process generally includes:

1. Preparing a complete application package in PDF format
2. Submitting application via ETH Zurich’s online portal
3. Including academic and professional documents
4. Providing referee contact details
5. Shortlisting and evaluation by the research group
6. Final selection by ETH Zurich project supervisor