Can I apply although my country is not listed in the drop-down list?
No. Unfortunately if your country does not appear on the list you cannot apply for a Swiss Government Scholarship.
No exception is possible.
I want to apply for a Swiss Government Scholarship. Where can I get information about the application process in my home country?
The Swiss Diplomatic Representation in your home country will provide you with all the information on how the procedure works. Please get in contact with the Swiss Diplomatic Representation before contacting any other institution.
Where can I get the application package?
The application package can be obtained from the national institution in charge of scholarships or from the Swiss Diplomatic Representation in your home country. Please get in contact with the Swiss Diplomatic Representation in your home country in order to inquire about the application package.
Is there an online application procedure?
No. There is no online application procedure. You have to ask the application package to the Swiss Diplomatic Representation in your home country.
What is the deadline for the application?
Each country has its own application deadline. Usually it is around October or November. Please get in contact with the Swiss Diplomatic Representation in your home country in order to know their application deadline.
Can I apply for a scholarship to undertake a Bachelor degree?
No. Swiss Government Scholarships are for postgraduate studies only.
What kind of studies can be undertaken with a Swiss Government Scholarship?
Swiss Government Scholarships are for full time postgraduate studies (pre and post doctoral Research Fellowships, or Master degrees) in one of the Swiss Universities. Research fellowships will be given priority.
What are the fields included in the Swiss Government scholarship?
Candidates from all fields are welcome to apply for a Swiss Government scholarship.
Can I apply for a Swiss Government Scholarship to undertake a joint Master program between a Swiss University and a University in a third country?
No. The Swiss Government Scholarships are for full time programs at a Swiss University only. No scholarships are provided for mixed programs (part time in Switzerland and part time in another country).
Can I apply for a Swiss Government Scholarship to attend a Swiss University of Applied Sciences (UAS)?
Only applicants coming from the list of countries below can apply for a Swiss Government Scholarship for Universities of Applied Sciences:
| Albania | Austria | Belarus | Belgium | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Bulgaria | Denmark | Estonia | Finland | Germany |
| Hungary | Ireland | Kosovo | Latvia | Lithuania |
| Greece | Macedonia | Moldova | Montenegro | The Netherlands |
| Portugal | Romania | Serbia | Slovenia | Spain |
| Sweden | Ukraine |
Can I apply for a Swiss Government Scholarship to attend a Music or Fine Arts School?
Only applicants coming from the list of countries below can apply for a Swiss Government Scholarship for Music or Fine arts school:
| Australia | Austria | Belgium | Bulgaria | Canada |
| China | Czech Republic | Denmark | Estonia | Finland |
| Greece | Germany | Hungary | Ireland | Israel |
| Italy | Japan | Latvia | Lithuania | Mexico |
| Poland | Portugal | Romania | Russia | Slovakia |
| Slovenia | South Korea | Spain | Sweden | The Netherlands |
| Turkey | United States of America |
What is the medium of study in Switzerland?
Depending upon the curriculum, the medium of study can be English, German, French, or Italian. Please check with the program to see the teaching language. Research scholarships are usually in English. Generally, from the Master level onwards engineering and natural sciences studies are also in English.
Do I need specific language skills in order to gain admission at a Swiss University?
It is advisable to check the chosen program curriculum. Candidates must be, in any case, suitably proficient in the teaching language (which depending on the chosen curriculum can be English, French, German, or Italian).
When does the scholarship start?
The scholarship always starts at the beginning of the academic year (from September to June). It is not possible to start the scholarship in the Spring Semester or any other time in the year.
No exception is possible.
How many applications does the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students get and how many of these applications are successful?
It is a very competitive process based on academic excellence. More than a thousand eligible applications are processed each year. Only 1/5 of these applications are granted a scholarship.
I am in Switzerland since more than 1 year. Can I apply for a Swiss Government scholarship?
No. If you are in Switzerland since more than 1 year you are not eligible for a Swiss Government scholarship.
No exception is possible.
Can I apply if I have passed the age limit of 35 years?
No. You have to be under the age of 35 to apply for a Swiss Government Scholarship.
No exception is possible.
I already hold a Master degree and I want to apply for a scholarship to undertake a second Master degree. Am I eligible?
Yes. You are eligible but your application will not be considered as a priority for a Swiss Government Scholarship.
I am already studying in the 1st year of a Master program at a Swiss University. Am I eligible?
No. If you are studying in the 1st year of a Masters program in Switzerland, then you are NOT eligible to apply for a Swiss Government Scholarship.
What are the language requirements to be eligible for a Swiss Government Scholarship?
Applicants to a Swiss Government Scholarship for a Master Program must be in command of the necessary language skills required for their studies.
Applicants must provide the relevant language certificate with their application package. At the minimum level C1, according to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEF) for language is required. Applicants who fail to provide the required language certificate will not be taken into consideration.
I am required to attend a complementary program or to catch up ECTS credits in order to comply with the University requirements. Am I eligible for a Swiss Government Scholarship?
No. If the University does not accept your direct enrolment in the Master program (complementary ECTS credits requested, preparatory/complementary program) your scholarship application will not be taken into consideration.
I have not yet finished my Bachelor degree but I am going to graduate before the beginning of the scholarship. Am I eligible for a Swiss Government Scholarship?
Yes. In order to be eligible you have to have graduated before the beginning of the scholarship in September.
I would like to start the scholarship in the spring semester (January). Am I eligible for a Swiss Government Scholarship?
No. The scholarship always starts at the beginning of the academic year (from September to June). It is not possible to start the scholarship in the Spring Semester or any other time in the year.
No exception is possible.
What is the deadline for the application?
Each country has its own deadline. Please get in contact with the Swiss Diplomatic Representation in your home country in order to know their application deadline.
I have contacted the Swiss Diplomatic Representation and received the application package. How do I get started with my application?
The best way to get started is to carefully read the APPLICATIONS GUIDELINES. You will find all the important information to prepare an eligible application.
Applications that do not fulfill the eligibility criteria do not follow or respect the application guidelines will not be taken into consideration.
What are the main criteria for being awarded a Swiss Government Scholarship?
Swiss Government Scholarships are "excellence scholarships". Scholarship awards are made on the basis of academic and scientific excellence. The personal statement, research proposal and originality of the application are also very important and can make the difference in the selection process.
For my scholarship application, can I apply to multiple universities (ex: University of Geneva, EPFL and ETHZ.)
No. Applicants must apply for only 1 University. In case of multiple applications, your scholarship application will not be taken into consideration.
What are the documents I need to provide for the application?
You will find the list of documents you have to submit on our website: http://www.sbf.admin.ch/htm/themen/bildung/stipendien/eskas_en.html
How can I get in contact with a Professor in one of the Swiss Universities?
Each University has a comprehensive website. You can find the list of all eligible universities at the following link: http://www.sbf.admin.ch/htm/themen/bildung/stipendien/eskas_laender/uni.html
It is up to you to get in contact with the Professor and make sure that he/she is willing to supervise your research in Switzerland.
I want to apply for a scholarship for a Master Program. It is stated in the List of required documents that I have to write a 2 page personal statement (point f). What is this personal statement? Is it an important document?
The personal statement is the most important part of your application. Your must devote all your attention in preparing it. Try to ask yourself this question: There are thousands of applications. What is going to make my application more interesting than the others? Why should the selection Committee choose my application?
Start by putting your ideas on paper, and list the goals and objectives of your project. As you work on your proposal, consider the following questions and remember your audience (the Evaluations Commission is composed of University Professors. It is a competitive procedure and I have lots of competitors).
A good statement has to be original (writing that you wish to come to Switzerland because it has good academic institutions and a long scientific research tradition is not an original statement.) The statement has to show why your application is more interesting than another one.
In a direct and persuasive manner, address the following: What do you propose to do? What is exciting, new or unique about your project? What contribution will the project have on your future career? Where do you propose to conduct your study or research? Why is it important to come to Switzerland to carry out your project? Why do you want to do it? Is there a multiplying effect with your project?
I want to apply for a research scholarship. It is stated in the list of required documents that I have to write a 5 page complete research proposal. What is a research proposal?
A research proposal is the classic document a researcher has to establish. This document must include the object of your research, the state-of-the-art in the field, your research question, what you wish to investigate, what your methodology will be. How will your previous research contribute to your project as well as a timetable for your research in Switzerland? You should also state why a research in Switzerland will help your project.
I have finished my application package and sent it to the Swiss Diplomatic Representation. What do I have to do until the selection process takes place?
You have to make sure that you have been in contact with the University of your choice, that you have respected their application deadlines and provided the University with all the documents they asked for.
How is the selection process conducted for obtaining a Swiss Government Scholarship?
Applications are subjected to preliminary selection by the relevant national authorities and/or the Swiss Diplomatic Representations. The Swiss Diplomatic Representation then passes on the selected applications to the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS), which subsequently takes the final decision. The FCS is composed of University Professors from all Swiss universities.
When and how will I know if I have been granted a Swiss Government Scholarship?
The Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students will inform you around May whether your application has been successful or not. Successful applicants as well as reserve candidates will be informed by email; whereas non-successful candidates will be informed by traditional surface mail.
What costs does the Swiss Government Scholarship include?
The scholarship is meant to cover a student's living expenses. To give an idea, in a Swiss city, the food and housing costs are around CHF 1'200 per month. With a scholarship of 1'920 CHF per month it largely covers the financial needs.
When does the scholarship start?
The scholarship always starts at the beginning of the academic year (from September to June). It is not possible to start the scholarship in the Spring Semester or any other time in the year.
No exceptions will be made.
What is the duration of the scholarship?
The scholarship is awarded for 1 academic year (9 months). For Master programs an extension is possible. The extension will depend on the academic results of the first year.
For research scholarships an extension is possible under some circumstances. This will be defined once you have been awarded a scholarship.
What are the semester fees? Do I have to pay those fees?
Semester fees are the registration taxes each student has to pay in order to be registered at a Swiss University. These fees are around 600 CHF per semester.
Swiss Government Scholarship holders are exempted from these fees in all Universities except at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology of Lausanne (EPFL).
People wishing to attend a University of Applied Sciences have to check directly with the chosen institution in order to see if they will be exempted from the semester fees.
What are the Master fees? Do I have to pay those fees?
Some Master programs and more specifically Masters of Advanced Studies (MAS) have Master fees. They can be quite high (up to 40'000 CHF in some cases). Please check if the Master program you wish to attend has Master fees.
The Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students does not pay for those fees. In some cases the Universities do not waive the Master fees for Swiss Government Scholarship holders. Should the Universities, Universities of Applied Sciences and/or fine arts schools not waive the fees, it is up to the scholarship holder to pay for the Master fees.
No exceptions will be made.
Do I have to pay for the mandatory health care in Switzerland?
No. If you come from an EU or EFTA country, your health insurance is recognized in Switzerland. If you come from a non EU or EFTA country, the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students will insure you and pay for the health insurance monthly premium.
When is the scholarship paid to the successful candidates?
The scholarship is paid at the beginning of each month by the 'International Office' of the chosen university.
If granted a Swiss Government Scholarship. Can I live in another country (border town in Germany, Austria, France or Italy)?
No. Swiss Government Scholarships holders must live in Switzerland.
No exceptions will be made.
Does the scholarship also include air fares and transportation?
Grantees from European and East European countries pay for their own travel expenses to Switzerland as well as back to their country of origin.
Grantees from non-European countries pay for their own travel expenses to Switzerland, but the FCS pays an allowance (lump sum) for the return ticket at the end of the scholarship.
However, the return allowance will not be paid if scholarship holders extend their stay in Switzerland beyond six months after completion of their studies, if they take up employment pending the continuation of their studies or if they move to a third country.
I am married and have children. Can I bring my family along?
The FCS does not have the authority to decide on the possibility of bringing the family of the scholarship holder to Switzerland. This is left to the Federal Migration Office, which at present deals with requests very restrictively.
The Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students will not provide any family allowance, nor sponsor any VISA for families.
Where can I get more information on Swiss Universities?
Each University has a comprehensive website. You can find the list of all eligible universities at the following link: http://www.sbf.admin.ch/htm/themen/bildung/stipendien/eskas_laender/uni.html
You can also log-on to: www.swissuniversity.ch
Is my degree sufficient for getting admitted at a Swiss University, or do I need to go through an entrance test?
Since there are slightly different admission requirements across Swiss Universities, the best way to verify whether your degree is accepted and/or if you need to go through an entrance test is to check the regulations of the University you are interested in, which are generally available on the Internet.