Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships
Swiss Confederation / State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation · Direct application
Eligibility
About this scholarship
Early-career researchers from more than 180 countries, including the US and Canada, may apply for research scholarships at Swiss universities, federal institutes of technology, universities of applied sciences, or ETH Domain research institutes. Applicants must hold a master's degree and secure a Swiss academic host willing to supervise the proposed project.
PhD research scholarships pay CHF 2,450 per month from January 2026, plus tuition waiver, mandatory health insurance for non-EU applicants, and a housing allowance. Postdoctoral research scholarships currently pay CHF 3,500 per month, though SERI plans to end postdoc awards after the 2027/28 cycle.
Applications open August 20 for the following academic year and are submitted through Swiss diplomatic representations with country-specific deadlines between September and December. Awards are announced by late May.
The Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (ESKAS) administers the program for the Swiss Confederation.