Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027, Switzerland (Fully Funded)

Fully Funded Switzerland Masters, Fellowship Deadline: Deadlines vary by country of origin; applicants should check with their local Swiss embassy or diplomatic representation for the exact deadline. Applications open 20 August 2026 for study st

About this scholarship

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027 are awarded by the Swiss Confederation through the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), and hosted at universities across Switzerland. They support postgraduate researchers, postdoctoral researchers, university lecturers and artists at master's level, and the award is fully funded.

They are open to international students and researchers from partner countries, in most academic fields and in the arts. The scholarship covers a monthly living allowance, tuition and registration fees, health insurance, and often travel costs. Applications go through the Swiss embassy in your home country, so check the official page for current dates and documents.

What the award covers

A monthly stipend to cover living costs in Switzerland (postdoctoral researchers receive a higher amount than postgraduate researchers)
A comparable monthly living allowance for art scholarship recipients for the duration of their master's program, renewable for a second year with satisfactory progress
Full tuition and registration fees at the host Swiss institution
Compulsory health insurance for the duration of the stay in Switzerland
A contribution toward round-trip travel costs between the home country and Switzerland, for many recipients
A one-time settling-in allowance and accommodation support at some host institutions
Access to the host university's academic and research facilities, including libraries, laboratories, and language courses in French, German, or Italian

Study levels

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships primarily target two groups: research scholars and master's-level art students. Research scholarships are open to holders of a master's degree (or equivalent) who wish to pursue independent research or a PhD at a Swiss university, as well as to postdoctoral researchers and established university lecturers seeking to conduct a research stay in Switzerland. There is no strict upper age limit, but applicants born after a cutoff year specified by the relevant embassy each cycle are generally favored. Art scholarships are open to students who hold a bachelor's degree in an artistic discipline and wish to pursue a master's degree at a Swiss university of the arts, such as in music, fine arts, design, or performing arts. Applicants at the art master's level are usually required to be under 35 years of age at the time of application. Both research and art candidates must demonstrate a strong academic or artistic record and must have identified and secured a letter of interest or supervision agreement from a professor at their intended Swiss host institution before applying through their national embassy.

Subjects

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are open to research proposals across nearly all academic disciplines, since applicants apply with an independent research project rather than a fixed program of study. Common fields among past awardees include natural sciences such as physics, chemistry, and biology, engineering and technical sciences, life sciences and medicine, social sciences including economics, political science, and sociology, humanities such as history, literature, and linguistics, and law. For the art scholarship track, eligible subjects are limited to the creative and performing arts offered at Swiss universities of the arts, including music performance and composition, fine arts, design, film, theatre, and dance. Applicants should note that the specific research field must align with the expertise of a professor at the host Swiss university who agrees to supervise the project, so the exact subject area is effectively defined by the applicant's own research proposal and the availability of a suitable supervisor rather than by a fixed list of eligible subjects.

Who can apply

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are open to applicants of nearly all nationalities, since the program operates through bilateral agreements between Switzerland and dozens of partner countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. Each partner country has its own designated quota of scholarships and its own application deadline, coordinated through the Swiss embassy or consulate located in or responsible for that country. Applicants must generally hold the nationality of one of Switzerland's partner countries and must apply through the Swiss diplomatic representation covering their country of citizenship or legal residence, rather than applying directly to a Swiss university or to SERI in Bern. Because the list of eligible partner countries and their specific quotas can change from year to year, prospective applicants should confirm current eligibility for their nationality directly with their local Swiss embassy before beginning the application process. Citizens of Switzerland itself are not eligible, as the program is designed exclusively to bring international talent to Swiss institutions.

Eligibility

Hold the nationality of one of Switzerland's designated partner countries and apply through the Swiss embassy or consulate responsible for that country
Research track: hold at least a master's degree or an equivalent qualification, and have secured a written letter of acceptance from a professor at a Swiss university willing to supervise the proposed research project
Postdoctoral applicants and university lecturers: additionally demonstrate an established research or teaching record
Art track: hold a bachelor's degree in a relevant artistic field, apply for admission to a specific master's program at a Swiss university of the arts, and generally be under 35 years of age
Submit a complete application file: certified transcripts and diplomas, a detailed CV, a research proposal or artistic portfolio, letters of recommendation, and proof of language proficiency in English, French, German, or Italian
Provide a satisfactory medical certificate confirming fitness to study abroad
Submit the application through the home country's Swiss embassy by that embassy's deadline, since deadlines vary by country

How to apply

Confirm your eligibility and deadline: identify the scholarship track (research or art) and check the application deadline set by the Swiss embassy or consulate for your country of origin, since both eligibility rules and deadlines vary by nationality
Mark the application window: the 2027-2028 cycle opens on 20 August 2026 - visit the official Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships website or contact the Swiss diplomatic representation in your home country for country-specific guidance and forms
Research applicants: contact a professor at a Swiss host institution, secure a written letter of acceptance or agreement to supervise your project, and prepare a detailed research proposal aligned with their department's work
Art applicants: apply for admission to a specific master's program at a Swiss university of the arts and prepare a portfolio and any other materials required for your artistic discipline
Gather your documents well in advance: certified academic transcripts and diplomas, a CV, letters of recommendation, proof of language proficiency, and a medical certificate confirming fitness to study abroad
Submit your application through the official Swiss Government application system and, where applicable, through the relevant Swiss embassy or consulate in your home country
Track your application and respond promptly to any follow-up requests from the embassy or host institution, since some tracks include an interview or additional review stage
Stay alert to scams: applications are completely free of charge, so be cautious of any fraudulent websites or emails requesting payment for this scholarship

Apply on the official site

Applications are made on the awarding body's own site. educads does not collect applications or fees.