Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are funded by the Swiss Confederation and awarded through Swiss embassies. For India, the official application window opened on 20 August 2026 and closes on 10 November 2026, for research and PhD stays that begin on 1 September 2027.
The scholarship pays CHF 2,450 per month and is open to applicants from 183 countries. The official country list for Asia shows India’s deadline as 10. Nov 26, with the application submitted to the Embassy of Switzerland in New Delhi – not directly to Bern.
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship 2027-28 for Indian applicants
Quick facts2026-27
| Scholarship from | The Swiss Confederation, awarded by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS, also called ESKAS), through the Embassy of Switzerland in New Delhi |
| Study level | Research fellowships (up to 12 months) and PhD scholarships (12 months, renewable twice, up to 36 months). Bachelor’s and Master’s degree study is not funded. |
| Who can apply | Early career researchers who have completed a Master’s degree, born after 31 December 1991 (maximum age 35), from 183 countries including India |
| What is covered | CHF 2,450 per month for living expenses, health insurance premiums for non-EU/EFTA holders, a one-time CHF 600 rental deposit grant, a Half-Fare Travelcard and a return flight allowance |
| Not covered | Tuition and semester fees of about CHF 600 to CHF 2,000 per semester, conference and field research costs |
| Last date to apply | 10 November 2026 for India (call opened 20 August 2026) |
| Official website | sbfi.admin.ch – Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships |
What the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship covers
The Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) publishes the exact terms of the award. For 2027-28 they are:
- CHF 2,450 per month to cover basic living expenses for one person. The official page states clearly that this is not a salary and must not be treated as equivalent to regular remuneration.
- Compulsory health insurance premiums paid by the FCS for scholarship holders from non-EU/EFTA countries, which includes India.
- A one-time grant of CHF 600 towards a rental deposit.
- A Half-Fare Travelcard for public transport in Switzerland.
- A return flight allowance, with the amount set by country of origin, plus excursions and activities organised for federal scholarship holders.
Three costs are not covered and they matter when you budget. Tuition and semester fees are your own responsibility (Swiss universities charge roughly CHF 600 to CHF 2,000 per semester, and PhD fees are not always waived). Conference participation is not funded, and although PhD scholarship holders can request up to six months of field research, the costs are theirs.
Who can apply for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
SERI sets the eligibility criteria. For the 2027-28 cycle you must meet all of the following:
- You hold a Master’s degree or equivalent, completed by 31 July 2027 – for ETH Zurich the date is 30 June 2027.
- You were born after 31 December 1991; the programme applies a maximum age of 35.
- You have a detailed research plan with a timeline specifying key milestones and activities.
- You have a letter of support from an academic supervisor in Switzerland, sent with a short CV of that supervisor. Applications without an academic supervisor are not considered.
- If you already live in Switzerland, your date of entry must not be earlier than 1 August 2026.
The research fellowship is meant for researchers who are already pursuing a PhD in another country and want a one-year research stay in Switzerland, including young medical doctors. The PhD scholarship is for researchers who want to take a PhD at a Swiss university. Both are research scholarships: SERI states that the programme is mainly intended for talented early career researchers from abroad who have already completed a Master’s degree.
Finding the supervisor is the part that takes time. SERI warns that the search can take weeks or even months, because professors receive many enquiries, and that the scholarship application and the admission to a doctoral programme are two separate procedures.
Documents required for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
The official “at a glance” page lists the key elements of the application:
- A complete CV covering education, degrees, awards, positions, publications, teaching and practical experience.
- A letter of motivation of at most 2 pages, explaining the reasons for the stay in Switzerland, its significance for your career and your plans after the scholarship.
- A research proposal on the FCS/ESKAS form, at most 5 pages including a summary written for non-specialists. The form is downloaded inside the online application.
- The letter of support from the Swiss academic supervisor and that supervisor’s short CV (maximum 2 pages).
- The email addresses of two professors in your field, who are contacted by the system and asked to upload a recommendation letter.
- Copies of degree certificates and transcripts. For India, SERI accepts self-certification.
- A copy of your passport, and a residence permit or registration confirmation if you already live in Switzerland.
How to apply for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
- Check the official country list for India on the SERI website to confirm the deadline and the available scholarship type for the current call.
- Find an academic supervisor in Switzerland who will support your research project. Professors and laboratory group leaders can supervise; for a PhD scholarship the supervisor must be authorised to supervise doctoral theses.
- Ask that supervisor for a letter of support and a short CV.
- Prepare the research plan, letter of motivation and CV in English, German, French or Italian.
- Register in the official Grants Online (GO ESKAS) application system, which was open from 20 August 2026, and complete the online form.
- Submit the application through the Embassy of Switzerland in New Delhi before 10 November 2026. Applications are submitted to Swiss diplomatic representations, not to the universities.
The application itself is free of charge. SERI issues an official warning against fake scholarship offers that use the name of the Swiss Government and ask for visa or social insurance payments – do not pay anyone for this scholarship.
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship important dates 2027-28
| 20 August 2026 | Online call for applications opened for India |
| 10 November 2026 | Last date to apply through the Embassy of Switzerland in New Delhi |
| End of May 2027 | FCS announces its decisions at the latest |
| 1 September 2027 | Start date of the scholarship in Switzerland |
Scholarships for the 2028-29 academic year will be advertised online from August 2027, so there is no reason to wait: the 2027-28 India call is open now.
It is a scholarship programme funded by the Swiss Confederation for talented early career researchers from abroad who have completed a Master’s degree. It is administered by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS, or ESKAS) and awarded through Swiss embassies in 183 countries.
The official country list shows India’s application deadline as 10 November 2026, with the call opened on 20 August 2026. Applications go to the Embassy of Switzerland in New Delhi.
CHF 2,450 per month for living expenses, plus health insurance premiums for non-EU/EFTA holders, a one-time CHF 600 rental deposit grant, a Half-Fare Travelcard and a return flight allowance. Tuition and semester fees are not covered.
No. The programme funds research fellowships and PhD scholarships, not Bachelor’s or Master’s degree study. The only exception is the art scholarship, which is open to a limited number of countries.
Yes. SERI requires a letter of support from an academic supervisor at a Swiss higher education institution. Applications without an academic supervisor are not considered, and searching for a supervisor can take weeks or months.
Yes. Applicants must be born after 31 December 1991, which applies a maximum age of 35. You must also have completed a Master’s degree or equivalent by 31 July 2027.
Yes, applying is free of charge. SERI warns that fake scholarship offers using the name of the Swiss Government circulate by email and on social media asking for money – ignore them.
Official links
- Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships – official SERI page
- Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships at a glance – eligibility, documents, benefits
- FCS/ESKAS FAQ for applicants
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