2026 SWITZERLAND POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS

TKI
Sep 8
4 min read

DEADLINE: 28 November 2025

The Swiss Government is offering foreign researchers postgraduate scholarships at Swiss higher education institutions (Universities, Federal Institutes of Technology and Universities of Applied Sciences, Arts and Music Schools) through the Swiss Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS also known as ESKAS, CFBE).

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are intended for highly motivated, competitive early career researchers who have graduated from university (postgraduates) from 180 globally, including Eswatini. These scholarships will enable applicants to undertake research work in the fields in which the Swiss universities are particularly active.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

These scholarships are available to postgraduate researchers in any discipline wishing to pursue research at any Swiss cantonal university, university of applied sciences, either of Switzerland’s two federal institutes of technology (ETHZ or EPFL) or at one of the four research institutes within the ETH Domain (PSI, WSL, Empa, Eawag). Prerequisite: the scholarship application must be backed by an academic supervisor in Switzerland who is willing to direct and guide the applicant’s proposed research.

Eswatini candidates are eligible to apply for this scholarship for the following levels of study:

Research Fellowship
PhD
PostDoc

SCHOLARSHIP BENEFIT

Stipend: Postdoctoral research: CHF 3500/month;
Stipend: PhD and Research scholarship: CHF 1920/month;
Mandatory Swiss health insurance;
One-time lump sum of CHF 300.- with the first grant payment to help for payment of the housing deposit;

Please note that this scholarship does not cover the following costs:

In some cases, universities, universities of applied sciences or federal institutes of technology require scholarship holders to pay semester fees (approx. CHF 600 to CHF 2,000 per semester) or reduced tuition fees. In some cases, PhD fees are not waived.Scholarship holders must cover these fees themselves.
Conferences: The costs of participating in international conferences are borne by the scholarship holders.
Field research: PhD scholarship holders may request to do field research for up to six months (without additional funding). All associated costs are borne by the scholarship holders.

SWISS UNIVERSITIES

EPFL – the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne
ETH Zürich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
Università della Svizzera italiana
University of Basel
University of Bern
University of Fribourg
University of Geneva
University of Lausanne
University of Lucerne
University of Neuchâtel
University of St.Gallen (HSG)
University of Zurich

PhD Scholarships
The scholarship is valid for 12 months and renewable for a maximum of 3 years;
Master’s degree or equivalent completed by 31 July 2026 (for ETH Zurich: 30 June 2026).
Date of birth after 31 December 1990.
Detailed research plan with a timeline specifying key milestones and activities.
Applicants must have a letter of support from an academic supervisor in Switzerland (including a short CV).
If the applicant already resides in Switzerland: date of entry must not be earlier than 1 August 2025 (submit a copy of the registration confirmation or residence permit).

Postdoctoral Scholarships
The scholarship is valid for 12 months and non-renewable;
Grant applications for stay lasting less than 9 months will not be treated as a priority;
Grant applications for stay lasting less than 6 months will be rejected.
The applicants should have a PhD degree;
PhD degree must be obtained after 31 December 2019 and before 31 July 2024 (PhD degree certificate).
Completion of PhD thesis between 1 January 2023 and 31 July 2026 (ETH Zürich: 30 June 2026).
Detailed research plan with a timeline specifying key milestones and activities.
Applicants must have a letter of support from an academic supervisor in Switzerland (including a short CV).
If the applicant already resides in Switzerland: date of entry must not be earlier than 1 August 2025 (submit a copy of the registration confirmation or residence permit).

Research Scholarships
This scholarship is intended for highly qualified postdoctoral researchers from all academic fields as well as young Medical Doctors;
The scholarship is valid for 12 months maximum and non-renewable;
Grant applications for stay lasting less than 9 months will not be treated as a priority;
Grant applications for stay lasting less than 6 months will be rejected;
Master’s degree or equivalent completed by 31 July 2026 (for ETH Zurich: 30 June 2026).
Date of birth after 31 December 1990.
Detailed research plan with a timeline specifying key milestones and activities.
Applicants must have a letter of support from an academic supervisor in Switzerland (including a short CV).
If the applicant already resides in Switzerland: date of entry must not be earlier than 1 August 2025 (submit a copy of the registration confirmation or residence permit).

The Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students assesses scholarship applications according to three criteria:

a) Candidate profile: Academic profile, the research capacity and motivation;

b) The research proposal: Its originality and methodological soundness;

c) Academic Context: The quality and context of supervision and the potential for future academic cooperation.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications must be submitted to the Embassy of Switzerland in South Africa. The applicants are strongly advised to use a courier company to submit their application. To prepare a successful application, please read carefully the application guidelines. For further questions check the frequently asked questions or contact the Embassy of Switzerland in South Africa by email: pretoria.science@eda.admin.ch