Swiss Government Scholarships Frequently Asked Questions
Students have lots of questions regarding the Swiss Government Scholarship Program. It is the scholarship program offered by the government of Switzerland to international students who want to study in Switzerland. Here are the answers to your questions regarding this scholarship program.
Frequently Asked Questions:
(Q) Is it easy to apply for this scholarship program?
(A) Yes, but it’s quite a lengthy process.
(Q) Is it easy to be selected for this scholarship program?
(A) Yes, if eligible.
(Q) What is the aim of this scholarship program?
(A) The main objective is:
- To enable the intellectual international students to complete and conduct their research in Swiss universities with international standards.
- To promote research cooperation and international exchange.
- To strengthen the relationship between Switzerland and other participating countries.
(Q) Which is the host country for the Swiss Government Scholarship Program?
(A) Switzerland.
(Q) How to apply for the Swiss Government Scholarship Program? Or procedure to apply for this scholarship program?
(A) Application package can be obtained by e-mail from the Embassy of Switzerland in your country.
(Q) Is it necessary to submit a hard copy of your application?
(A) Yes
(Q) What is the duration of this scholarship program?
(A) Three years for a Ph.D. program while one year for Post-doctoral studies.
(Q) How many students get scholarships per year?
(A) Many numbers of awards are offered.
(Q) Is it a fully funded scholarship program?
(A) This scholarship is offering many grants for the applicants, which are given as follows:
- The scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of 1’920 Swiss Francs for a Ph.D. Degree.
- The scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of 3’500 Swiss Francs for Post doctoral study.
- Exemption of the tuition fees (except for EPFL).
- Mandatory Swiss Health insurance is paid by the FCS (for non-EU and EFTA grantees only).
- A lump sum for airfare for non-European grantees only at the end of the scholarship
- Special 300 Swiss Francs housing allowance
- 1 year half-fare public transportation card
- Counseling and various trips, dinners, and sight-seeing tours organized for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship holders.
(Q) Is it possible to submit your application after the deadline?
(A) No.
(Q) Who can apply for this scholarship program?
(A) International students from selected countries.
(Q) Scholarship will be awarded on merit?
(A) Yes.
(Q) Which fields of education does this program offers?
(A) Any field for Ph.D. and post doctoral studies.
(Q) What are the eligibility criteria for this scholarship program?
(A) To be considered as eligible for the scholarship, applicants should possess the following eligibility criteria:
- Applicant should be from any developing country with a valid passport
- The applicant must not be more than 35 years old at the moment of the application for a Ph.D. degree
- Applicant for Ph.D. degree scholarship should be holder of a Master degree from any recognized university while Post Doctoral students should have a Ph.D. degree
- There should not be a gap of more than five years between the degree receiving time and grant of scholarship
- The applicant should not be a grantee of any Swiss scholarship before.
(Q) What if an applicant submits only their application form and not the documents?
(A) Their application form will not be considered.
(Q) A person who already is availing any other scholarship, can apply for this scholarship program?
(A) An applicant may apply for other scholarship programs but cannot hold two scholarships at the same time.
(Q) Is there any age limit to apply for a Ph.D. degree?
(A) Must not be more than 35 years old.
(Q) Which countries can participate in this scholarship program?
(A) Following countries can participate in this scholarship program:
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cap Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Colombia
Comoros
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Côte d’Ivoire
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Democratic Republic of Congo
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Fiji
Finland
France
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haïti
Honduras
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Korea, North (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea)
Korea, South (Republic of Korea)
Kosovo
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Lithuania
Luxemburg
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
North Macedonia
Norway
Occupied Palestinian territory
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Republic of Congo
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
Salomon Islands
Samoa
Santa Lucia
São Tome and Príncipe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Spain
Sri Lanka
St. Kitts and Nevis
St-Vincent and the Grenadines
Sudan
Surinam
Swaziland / eSwatini
Sweden
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United States of America
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City State
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe.
Scholarship information such as due dates, types of scholarship, eligibility criteria, and documents required, etc may vary from country to country. Visit the following site (A-L countries M-Z countries) to get more information about scholarship in your country.
(Q) Who assesses the scholarship applications?
(A) Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS).
(Q) On what basis FCS evaluates the scholarship applications?
(A) The FCS evaluates applications of scholarship according to three criteria:
- Profile of applicant
- Quality of the artistic work or research project
- Potential and synergies for future research cooperation.
(Q) How many types does this scholarship have?
(A) This scholarship program is of two types:
- The Research Scholarship: This scholarship is offered to those candidates (post graduate researchers in any discipline) who are wishing to pursue research or further studies at doctoral or post doctoral level in Switzerland.
- The Art Scholarship: This scholarship is offered to those candidates (art students) who are planning to come to Switzerland to pursue an initial master’s degree.
(Q) Who will help the candidate to find an academic supervisor?
(A) No one, they have to do it by themselves.
(Q) Before contacting a professor or supervisor what should a candidate do?
(A) Candidate must make sure that they own all of the qualifications which are required for the intended scientific collaboration and also make sure that the academic supervisor works in their field.
(Q) What is the procedure of application?
(A) In August- release of program
In September- Get a package of application from Swiss representation
From September to December- Application form submission deadline which varies from country to country
At the end of May- Selection by the Federal Commission for Scholarships (FCS)
In next September- The scholarship begins.
(Q) What happens if any information is found to be untrue?
(A) Then the process of your application will be terminated.
(Q) What is the deadline or last date of this scholarship program?
(A) September to December or may vary from country to country.
(Q) How to contact the Swiss Government Scholarship Program?
(A) Contact details:
Ph: +41 58 462 21 29
Email: info@sbfi.admin.ch
(Q) Want to know more about the Swiss Government Scholarship Program?
(A) Visit their official website:
By- Syed Pashmina Dolly.
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