Can You Apply for Switzerland Government Scholarships 2027-2028 Intake?

If you already hold a Master’s degree and want to pursue PhD-level research in Switzerland, the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027–2028 are one of the major government-funded opportunities to prepare for this August.

Applications officially open on 20 August 2026, and the programme is available to candidates from 183 countries. However, there is no single worldwide closing date: deadlines depend on your country of origin.

One major change also matters this year: postdoctoral scholarships have been discontinued from the 2027–2028 cycle. The Swiss Government is instead giving greater priority to doctoral funding.

Which Scholarships Are Available for 2027–2028?

For most international researchers, there are two main research routes.

1. PhD Scholarship: for applicants who already hold a Master’s degree and want to complete a doctorate at an eligible Swiss institution.
2. Research Fellowship: for early-career researchers who are already pursuing a PhD in their home country and want to conduct 6–12 months of research in Switzerland.

There is also an Art Scholarship for applicants from a limited number of countries who want to undertake their first Master’s degree in an artistic field in Switzerland.

How Much Does the Swiss Government Scholarship Pay?

For 2027–2028, research, PhD and art scholarship holders receive CHF 2,450 per month toward living expenses. This is an increase from the old CHF 1,920 rate.

Additional support includes:

• CHF 600 one-time housing/deposit allowance
• Half-Fare Travelcard for Swiss public transport
• Compulsory health-insurance premiums for recipients from non-EU/EFTA countries
• Return-flight allowance for eligible non-EU/EFTA scholars after the scholarship ends

But there is an important misunderstanding to avoid: the scholarship does not automatically pay university tuition or semester fees. Depending on the institution, scholars may still have to pay roughly CHF 600–2,000 per semester or other applicable fees themselves.

Who Can Apply for a PhD Scholarship?

The 2027–2028 PhD scholarship is open across academic disciplines and the applicants must generally:

• Complete a Master’s degree by 31 July 2027; ETH Zurich uses a 30 June 2027 deadline
• Have been born after 31 December 1991
• Prepare a detailed research proposal
• Obtain support from an academic supervisor at an eligible Swiss institution
• Meet the relevant university’s admission requirements

The age rule means applicants must check their actual date of birth, not simply assume that “35 years old” automatically qualifies.

The Supervisor Requirement Can Make or Break Your Application

For research and PhD applicants, finding a Swiss academic supervisor is compulsory.

Your supervisor must agree to support the proposed project and provide a letter of support plus a short CV. An otherwise excellent application without an eligible Swiss supervisor will not be considered.

This is why applicants should start contacting suitable professors now rather than waiting for the application portal to open.

Also remember that applying for the scholarship and applying for PhD admission are separate processes.

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship 2027–2028 Deadline

Applications open through the official GO ESKAS portal on 20 August 2026. Your exact closing date depends on your country of origin, with Switzerland publishing country-specific scholarship types and deadlines. Applicants should therefore check their country’s official entry rather than relying on a deadline circulating on social media.

Final scholarship decisions are expected by the end of May 2027, with funded study or research normally beginning on 1 September 2027.

Questions Applicants Commonly Ask

Can international students apply for Swiss Excellence Scholarship?
Yes. The 2027–2028 Swiss Scholarship scheme covers applicants from 183 countries, although available scholarship types can differ by nationality.

Can I apply for a Master’s degree via Swiss Government scholarship?
Normally not for an ordinary academic Master’s. Master-level funding is restricted to eligible art scholarships for applicants from selected countries.

Are postdoctoral scholarships available under Switzerland Government scholarship 2027–2028?
No. Switzerland has officially discontinued postdoctoral Excellence Scholarships from this cycle.

Do I need admission before applying for a PhD Swiss scholarship?
Not necessarily for an individual doctorate, but you must secure a qualified Swiss supervisor. Some graduate-school routes require formal admission confirmation.

Is IELTS compulsory for Swiss government excellence scholarship?
Not necessarily. The scholarship itself does not set one universal IELTS score; instead, you must meet the language requirement of your Swiss host university or doctoral programme.

As a useful benchmark, ETH Zurich accepts IELTS Academic 7.0 overall with at least 6.0 in each section, while the University of Zurich generally requires IELTS 7.0 with at least 6.5 in Speaking and Writing for programmes requiring C1 English.

Both universities also recognise alternatives such as TOEFL and Cambridge English certificates. Some Swiss programmes are more flexible—for example, certain EPFL programmes state that IELTS/TOEFL certificates are welcome but not compulsory, while others set specific English-test requirements. Therefore, check the exact language requirement of your proposed university, department and PhD programme before booking IELTS.

Unsure Which Swiss Scholarship Fits Your Profile?

If you are confused about your age, nationality, Master’s degree, research proposal, supervisor, university choice or whether your country qualifies for a particular scholarship type, leave your question in the comments below this article. Mention your country and intended research level, and we can help you identify the correct 2027–2028 route before you prepare the application.