Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships: A Complete Guide

Is This Scholarship Open to Indian and UAE-Based Applicants?

For the Research and PhD track, yes to the UAE with strong confidence, one detailed source covering recent eligibility explicitly lists the UAE among eligible GCC states. India isn't individually named in the sources checked for this guide, but the programme is described consistently as open to citizens of "over 180 countries" with no exclusion list identified for India, and India has a long-standing history of Swiss scholarship recipients. Given this, confirm your specific eligibility on the official country-specific list at sbfi.admin.ch before applying.

For the Arts scholarship track specifically, this is a narrower story: it's restricted to a fixed, mostly European list of reciprocity-agreement countries, and neither India nor the UAE appears on that list. If you're applying for an arts scholarship rather than research or PhD funding, this programme is not available to you.

What Are Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships?

ESKAS scholarships exist to build long-term academic and research cooperation between Switzerland and partner countries, primarily targeting early-career researchers who already hold a Master's degree and want to pursue a PhD or a postdoctoral research stay. Scholars can study at any Swiss cantonal university, either of Switzerland's two federal institutes of technology (ETH Zurich or EPFL), a university of applied sciences, or one of four research institutes within the ETH Domain (PSI, WSL, Empa, Eawag).

Who Is Eligible for the Research and PhD Track?

According to the official SBFI (State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation) guidance:

• A Master's degree or equivalent, recognised by a Swiss university, completed by 31 July of your application year (30 June specifically for ETH Zurich)
• Age: born after 31 December 1991, based on current cycle guidance, exact cutoffs shift year to year
• A confirmed Swiss academic supervisor. You must secure a letter of support from a professor or research group leader at a Swiss university or institute, willing to direct and guide your proposed research, before you apply. Applications submitted without this are rejected outright
• Not currently residing in Switzerland for more than a year before the scholarship start date, and if you already live in Switzerland, your entry date must not predate a specific cutoff set for that cycle
• Not a previous recipient. Applicants who have already held a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship are not eligible to apply again

What Does the Scholarship Cover?

• A monthly stipend, CHF 2,450 for PhD researchers as of the 2026-27 cycle (up from CHF 1,920 in earlier cycles), and CHF 3,500 for postdoctoral researchers
• Mandatory Swiss health insurance, fully covered for non-EU/EFTA grantees
• A one-time housing allowance, paid with your first grant instalment, recent cycles cite this at CHF 600, up from an earlier CHF 300, though this figure has changed between cycles, so confirm the current amount for your specific cycle
• A one-year half-fare public transportation card for travel within Switzerland
• Support services, including organised trips, dinners, and sightseeing tours for scholarship holders

Sources differ on whether international flight costs are covered, some describe a flight allowance for non-EU/EFTA grantees at the end of the scholarship, while another describes flights as not covered at all. Confirm this specific detail directly on your country-specific fact sheet before finalising your budget.

What Is the Duration of the Scholarship?

PhD/Research scholarship: initially 12 months, renewable twice for up to a maximum of 36 months, contingent on demonstrating satisfactory research progress

Postdoctoral scholarship: 12 months only, with no renewal or prolongation possible

How Do I Apply for a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship?

1. Identify and contact a Swiss academic supervisor willing to support your specific research proposal, this needs to happen before you can submit an application, not after
2. Check the official SBFI country-specific list (organised A-L and M-Z) to confirm your exact eligibility, required documents, and deadline, since these details vary by nationality
3. Prepare your application package, typically including a motivation letter, a detailed research proposal with a timeline, your supervisor's letter of support and CV, transcripts and degree certificates (with certified translations if not already in English, French, German, or Italian), two confidential recommendation letters using the official FCS reference form, a medical certificate confirming fitness for travel and study, and a copy of your passport
4. Submit your application. Recent cycles have moved toward a centralised online submission through the ESKAS portal (go.eskas.ch), replacing the older system of submitting through your local Swiss embassy, though country-specific procedures may still apply, so follow the instructions on your specific country's fact sheet closely
5. Await the decision. Results are typically announced by the end of May, with the scholarship period generally starting on 1 September
6. There is no application fee.

FAQs About Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships

Are Indian and UAE citizens eligible for the Research/PhD track?

The UAE is explicitly confirmed eligible in recent guidance covering GCC states. India isn't individually named in the sources used for this guide but fits within the programme's broad "180+ countries" eligibility with no identified exclusion, confirm directly against the official SBFI country list before applying.

Can Indian or UAE citizens apply for the Arts scholarship track?

No. The Arts track is restricted to a fixed list of mostly European reciprocity-agreement countries, and neither India nor the UAE is included.

Do I need a Swiss supervisor before I apply?

Yes. Securing a letter of support from an academic supervisor at a Swiss university or institute is a hard prerequisite. Applications without one are rejected.

How long does the PhD scholarship last?

Initially 12 months, renewable twice for up to a total of 36 months, subject to demonstrated research progress.

Is there an application fee?

No. Applying for a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship is free.

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Sources: Official Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation website (sbfi.admin.ch), including its Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships and "at a Glance" pages, and EURAXESS official cycle guidance.