What the funding covers
- A monthly stipend of CHF 2,450 for research scholarships.
- Tuition fees, health insurance and a housing allowance, as set out in the call.
- Research scholarships last up to 12 months for a research stay, or up to three years for a PhD in Switzerland.
Who can apply
- A completed master's degree (or equivalent) and early-career researcher status.
- A maximum age of 35, as set in the call.
- Citizenship of one of the roughly 180 eligible countries; check whether your country's call is open for research scholarships.
- A supervising professor at a Swiss university, ETH Zürich, EPFL or an ETH-domain research centre who confirms they will host you. Taught master's degrees are not funded (art scholarships for master's exist only for selected countries).
Which nationalities can apply
Open to researchers from 183 countries; the Swiss government publishes each country's call and deadline.
How to apply
- Contact a potential supervisor in Switzerland with a clear research idea and secure a letter of support.
- Download the call and application forms for your country from the Swiss embassy's page or the federal scholarship site.
- Submit your application to the Swiss representation in your country. The 2027–28 call opened on 20 August 2026; the Swiss embassy in your country sets the deadline.
- Shortlisted candidates may be interviewed; the Federal Commission for Scholarships announces decisions by the end of May.
Before you apply: things to know
- Your deadline is set by the Swiss embassy in your country, not a single global date; check it the day the call opens.
- The research proposal and the host's support letter decide most applications. Start the supervisor conversation months ahead.
- The scholarship is for research; it will not fund a taught master's programme.