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Swiss Government (Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students, FCS) · Application cycle 2027/2028

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027/2028

Applications open Partially funded?

About this scholarship

The Swiss government gives scholarships to researchers from 183 countries, including Palestine and the Arab countries, to do a PhD or a research stay at a Swiss university. You need a master's degree and a professor in Switzerland who agrees to supervise you. The scholarship pays CHF 2,450 a month, health insurance and a return flight. The deadline depends on your country: for Palestine and Jordan it is 27 November 2026.

Funding type

CHF 2,450 a month for living costs Health insurance (for scholars from outside the EU/EFTA) A return flight allowance CHF 600 once for the rent deposit Half-Fare Travelcard for public transport Not covered: tuition or semester fees (about CHF 600 to 2,000 a semester at some universities), conferences, fieldwork and family costs

Tuition fees
Not covered
Living costs
Covered
Travel
Covered
Insurance
Covered

Eligibility requirements

Nationalities
All except listed nationalities — Switzerland, Andorra, Canada, France, Greece, Greenland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino
Residence condition
No residence condition

Citizens of 183 countries, including Palestine and the Arab countries For Palestine and most Arab countries there are two types: a PhD scholarship (12 months, can be renewed up to 36 months) or a research fellowship (6 to 12 months of research in Switzerland as part of a PhD you are doing at home) Master's degree finished by 31 July 2027 (30 June 2027 for ETH Zurich) Born after 31 December 1991 A letter of support from a professor in Switzerland who will supervise you Not eligible if you had this scholarship before, if this would be your fourth try after three rejections, or if you have lived in Switzerland since before August 2026

Minimum grade
Not stated
Work experience asked for
Not stated
Return condition
Return condition not stated
How to apply
Straight to the provider

Language requirements and exemptions

Language test not mentioned

The scholarship page does not ask for a language test. Your Swiss university or supervisor may have their own rules, so ask them.

University admission details

Required later?

Your application goes to the Swiss embassy or office for your country through the online system. The commission looks at your profile, your research project, and the supervision and future cooperation. Decisions come by the end of May 2027 at the latest, and scholarships start on 1 September 2027. The PhD scholarship and admission to a PhD programme are two separate applications.

Required documents

CV Motivation letter (max 2 pages) Research proposal on the FCS form (max 5 pages) Letter of support from your supervisor in Switzerland, with their short CV For a research fellowship: short CV of your supervisor at your home university Two recommendation letters from professors (they upload them on the FCS form) Certificates and transcripts, with certified translations if not in English, French, Italian or German Passport copy For PhDs at graduate schools: proof of admission to the graduate school

Application steps

Check the deadline for your country in the country list on the SERI website. Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Yemen: 27 November 2026. Lebanon, Syria and Mauritania: 30 November 2026. Algeria: 13 November 2026. Egypt, Morocco, Libya, Sudan, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE: 10 November 2026. Find a professor in Switzerland in your field and ask them to supervise you. This can take weeks or months, so start early. Register on GO ESKAS and fill in the application online. Submit before 11:59 PM Swiss time on your country's deadline. Applying is free. Don't answer emails that ask you to pay money for this scholarship.

Requirement checklist

Online application on GO ESKAS Required

Free. Don't send it by email or on paper.

Letter of support from a supervisor in Switzerland Required

With the supervisor's short CV (max 2 pages). Applications without it are not considered.

Research proposal Required

On the FCS form, max 5 pages, with a short summary for non-specialists and a timeline.

CV Required

Motivation letter Required

Max 2 pages: why Switzerland and your plans after the scholarship.

Two recommendation letters Required

From two professors in your field. You give their emails and they upload the letters on the FCS form.

Certificates and transcripts Required

With certified translations if they are not in English, French, Italian or German.

Passport copy Required

Short CV of your home supervisor Conditional?

Only for research fellowships.

Graduate school admission Conditional?

Only for PhDs at graduate schools.

Scholarship contacts

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships (SERI): [email protected]

Swiss office in Ramallah (applicants from Palestine): [email protected]

Swiss embassy in Amman (applicants from Jordan): [email protected]

Swiss embassy in Beirut (applicants from Lebanon and Syria): [email protected]

Swiss embassy in Cairo (applicants from Egypt and Sudan): [email protected]

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