[Scholarship] Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship for Masters & PhD (All Sub) [Apply by 24 Nov]

About Scholarship          

Each year the Swiss Confederation awards Government Excellence Scholarships to promote international exchange and research cooperation between Switzerland and over 180 other countries. Recipients are selected by the awarding body, the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS). The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are aimed at young researchers from abroad who have completed a master's degree or PhD and at foreign artists holding a bachelor's degree.

Funding Information

·         The scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of CHF 1'920.

·         For non-EU and non-EFTA grantees only: 

  • The FCS pays mandatory Swiss health insurance.
  • There are no family allowances
  • Scholarship holders from non-EU and non-EFTA countries receive a flight allowance (lump sum) for a ticket back to their country of origin (provided at the end of the scholarship).
  • Special CHF 300 housing allowance (paid once at the beginning of the scholarship).
  • One-year half-fare public transportation card.
  • Support services and various trips, dinners and sightseeing tours organized for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship holders.

Eligibility

  • Master's degree or equivalent university degree achieved before 31 July 2021 (degree certificate) recognized by the Swiss university. As proof, the degree has to be submitted to the Federal Commission for Scholarships before the start of the scholarship.
  • · Applicant's date of birth after 31 December 1985.
  • · Applicants must provide a letter from an academic host professor (including her/his short CV) at the chosen Swiss university confirming why she/he is willing to supervise and support the PhD thesis. Without such a specific support letter, the application will be rejected.
  • · If an assistant professor supports a candidature, a full professor who is entitled to supervise the PhD during the entire scholarship has to co-sign the support letter.
  • · Applicants must have a research proposal including a timeframe. This is the centrepiece of the application. The applicant must devote all required attention to it.
  • · Applicants must be in command of the necessary language skills required for the PhD studies/ research.
  • · Applicants who have been in Switzerland since more than one year at the beginning of the scholarship in September are not eligible. Reference document if applicable: residence permit to be added to the application documents.
  • · Applicants who have already benefited from a Swiss Government
  • · Excellence Scholarship are not eligible to apply for a second scholarship.
  • · Scholarship holders are expected to move to Switzerland during their grant period.

Research Area: available to post-graduate researchers in any discipline (who hold a master's degree as a minimum) 

How to Apply

1. Signed FCS application form (typed and printed) with

2. A full CV with list of academic publications, awards,

3. A motivation letter (max. 2 pages).

4. A complete research proposal (max. 5 pages, signed), using exclusively the FCS research proposal

5. A copy of the letter from an academic host professor (including her/his short CV) at the chosen Swiss university confirming why she/he is willing to supervise and support the research.

6. A short CV of the academic mentor at the home institution.

7. Two confidential letters of recommendation from two different professors in the applicant's field (use exclusively the FCS reference form – originals in sealed envelopes only for the 1st set). No copies for 2nd set.

8. Photocopies of certificates and grade sheets from previously attended universities/colleges and diplomas with grades, starting with the most recent. If not in English, French, Italian or German with attested certified translations in English. Do not submit the original certificates.

  • Signed medical certificate (use only the FCS health certificate form).
  • Two copies of the applicant's passport (main page with personal data). Dual nationals add copies of both passports. Applicants already in Switzerland during the application procedure add a copy of the residence permit for Switzerland.
  • The application package can be obtained Swiss representation of your country.
  • Please submit 2 sets (=1 original + 1 copy) of application documents in exact order given below: The 1st set contains the original, signed documents plus the confidential letters of recommendation and, if applicable the attested translations in English. The other set is a copy of the 1st set except for the confidential letters of recommendation (only 1st set). No copies for 2nd set.
  • Please do not put the documents into plastic folders or binders.

 Application Deadline: 24th November 2020

 Contact Details:

 Phone no.: +41 58 462 21 29

                  +41 58 462 28 26

[email protected]

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