Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship would be the best pick If you are looking for an exciting opportunity to complete your research in a highly advanced institute.
You can achieve it without spending your money. This scholarship is giving a prestigious amount to study in any of the Swiss universities or research institutes.
The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship is provided by the Swiss government to promote international exchange and facilitate academically excellent students.
It is an international scholarship given to up to 180 countries of different regions.
The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship provides different types of scholarships. It can be a research fellowship, PhD, Post-doctoral, or master’s.
The article includes every detail about the Swiss Government Scholarship. You can check out the FAQs section to get your queries solved.
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Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
1. Types of Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
2. Benefits of the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
3. Eligibility Criteria for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
4. List of Eligible Institutions for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
5. Documents required for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
6. How to Apply for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
7. The selection process for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
8. The acceptance rate for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
9. Deadlines for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
10. FAQs about the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
1. Types of Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
There are two major types of Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship.
1.1 Research Scholarship
1.2 Art Scholarship
1.1. Research Scholarship
The Scholarship is provided to young and advanced researchers to complete their course of study or research at any Swiss University.
It is mainly given to postgraduate researchers (research fellowships) PhD and Postdoctoral researchers.
The scholarship is valid for full-time Research fellowship, PhD or Post-doctoral research in Switzerland.
The period for the scholarship is 12 months (for Research fellowship and Post-doctoral) and 12 months with a prolongation of up to 36 months for PhD scholars.
1.2. Art Scholarship
The scholarship is provided to postgraduate students in the field of art. The scholarship covers the expenses for highly skilled artists who don’t have a master’s degree.
The period for this scholarship is 12 months that can be extended up to 21 months (depending on the course)
The Art Scholarship is only available to countries that have strong diplomatic ties with Switzerland. These countries include:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, United States of America
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2. Benefits of the Swiss Excellence Government Scholarship
- A Monthly stipend of 1920 CFH (2098 USD) is granted to PhD, research fellowship and arts scholarships.
- A monthly stipend of 3500 CFH (3825 USD) is granted to Post-doctoral scholars.
- A housing allowance of CHF 300 ( 327 USD) for once.
- Health insurance for non-EU scholars will be covered
- Travel expenses for Non-EU scholars (return flight ticket) Only for going back to the home country
- Return allowance will be paid if the scholar will return to the home country right after completing the studies.
- PhD scholars will get a fieldwork allowance (if necessary)
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3. Eligibility Criteria for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
The eligibility criteria vary for different types of scholarships but some specific things are necessary for all applicants.
- All applicants must not have more age than 35 at the time of application.
- Applicants must not have studied in Switzerland earlier.
- Applicants who are applying for an art scholarship must have a bachelor’s degree (equivalent to a Swiss bachelor’s)
- Applicants for Arts scholarships must have a conditional offer letter from an art school or Swiss conservatory.
- Applicants applying for research fellowships and PhD must have a post-graduate degree.
- Applicants applying for a post-doctoral scholarship must have PhD degree (achieved before 2024 and after 2020)
- Applicants for research scholarships must have a research proposal and support letter (by the host advisor in Switzerland)
4. List of Eligible Swiss Institutions for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
4.1 Institutions For postgraduate scholarships (Research Fellowships, PhD, Postdoctoral)
Università della Svizzera italiana
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL)
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ)
Research Institutes of the ETH Domain (PSI; WSL; EMPA; EAWAG)
Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID)
4.2 For Research Fellowship and Post-Doctoral
University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland
Bern University of Applied Sciences
University of Applied Sciences Northwest Switzerland
University of Applied Sciences Eastern Switzerland
University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons Lucerne
University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland
Universities of teacher education
4.3 Universities For Arts Scholarship
University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland
University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland
University of Applied Sciences Eastern Switzerland
Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts
University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland
Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana
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5. Documents Required for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
5.1. Application Form
5.2. Academic documents
5.3. Valid passport, Birth certificate & NIC
5.4. English Proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL)
5.5. Recommendation letters / Letters of Reference
5.6. CV
5.7. Hope certificate (If applicable)
5.8. Research Plan / Proposal (Optional)
5.9. Statement of Purpose or Letter of Motivation
5.10. Experience letter
5.11. Portfolios or workshops
5.12. Application for Art Scholarship
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5.1. Application Form
The official application form must be typed. The FCS application form must be in printed form and signed by the candidate.
The applicant’s formal photo is to be attached to the application form.
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5.2. Academic documents
This includes all your certificates & academic record like
A: Bachelor’s transcript & certificate
B: Master’s transcript & certificate (if the student is applying for 2nd Master or fellowship)
C: Metric & FSC transcripts (10-12th Grade) (A level) (DMCs) and certificates (Supporting academic documents)
D: Course summary (to explain your courses & how your previous courses & studies resemble your future studies to which you are applying)
NOTE:
All of the above documents should be attested by respective boards.
Also, attest them from issuing authority of home countries. The respective university must attest university documents.
In the case of Pakistan, The above-mentioned documents must be attested by IBCC, HEC, and MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
IBCC authority is only responsible for the attestation of metric and inter documents.
Dear offices are present in Peshawar, Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and also in other cities of Pakistan.
HEC office attests to bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD documents.
5.3. Valid passport, Birth certificate & NIC
The passport of the applicant must contain at least one full blank page on both sides.
The passport must be valid at the time of visa application and on arrival to Switzerland
A birth certificate or national ID card is also important to attach.
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5.4. English Proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL) for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
Meeting the English language requirements set by the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship is an important step toward achieving your bigger goal.
Generally speaking, Students with IELTS 6.5 overall or TOEFL above 100, are considered good.
Nevertheless, these requirements may vary from course to course and degree to degree.
5.5. Recommendation letters / Letters of Reference
The applicants must provide up to 2 letters of recommendation. from the previous university, (Depending upon courses).
It is advised to provide a letter of recommendation from the HOD (Head of the department or Relevant course head) who should be a PhD.
The referees need to write their contact details (Email, phone number) at the end of the letter.
The letter must include an official letterhead, signature, and official stamp and must be of the current date.
Ask your Referees to write about your academic achievements & discuss their confidence in you that you are fully compatible with the project or course you wish to pursue.
The referees must also mention how long they know the applicant & when was the last time they came in contact with the applicant.
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5.6. CV
Europass CV can be easily made here.
The Cv must contain all the latest & relevant information about your occupation & interests.
A perfect CV must be hand signed.
5.7. Hope certificate (If applicable)
If the final transcript isn’t ready then students can apply with a Hope certificate from their university.
However, they must be graduated before their arrival in Switzerland.
(Please make sure you contact your university in this regard )
What is Hope’s certificate?
In simple words, It is a certificate based on the previous semester’s performance, that indicates that the candidate will pass the final exams with excellent results.
5.8. Research Plan / Proposal (Optional)
Research publications/ Achievements (conference papers, article review, abstract of thesis)
The research proposal is mostly required for postdocs or PhD students. (Depend upon the courses)
It asks you to write about the research project you agree upon completing with the assigned academic advisor.
Your research proposal should be a brief description of your research goals and objectives, the methods with which you wish to process that research, the outcomes you desire, the timeline and budget you have estimated, and the area of study you wish upon exploring.
It shall be a brief document yet explain the entire vision to the reader so that those analyzing your application could know of your objectives and grant you the scholarship if they match the program’s criteria and eligibility.
Taking help from an external party is strictly prohibited and violation in this regard could lead to your disqualification no matter how incredible your proposal is.
5.9. Statement of Purpose or Letter of Motivation for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
Technically SOP (Statement of purpose) and LOM (Letter of Motivation) are the same things.
It’s a Short biography to tell the panelist about yourself:
A letter of motivation or SOP could be a tricky part while applying for a Swiss Government scholarship.
In this letter, you are asked to write about your personal and professional reasons why are you applying for a course & scholarship.
The maximum length of this letter is three pages, But it is advised to make it short & concise to one page.
How to write a perfect letter of Motivation
If you are interested in writing your LOM on one page concisely, then follow this exact method.
LOM consists of three parts.
5.9.1. Introduction (one paragraph)
5.9.2. Body (3 paragraphs)
5.9.3. Conclusion (1 paragraph)
Let’s explain these three things one by one.
5.9.1. Introduction:
The introduction is the gateway to the rest of the letter. Try to capture their interest in the first few sentences. Be original & creative.
Make it personal & full of enthusiasm.
TIP: Try to initiate a story about yourself relevant to the scholarship you are applying for & then expand it to the first paragraph of the body.
5.9.2. Body:
In the first paragraph of the body, try to tell about your relevant academic & experienced background to the course.
And your professional goals attached to the Switzerland & university. Share your expectations of the scholarship.
In the 2nd paragraph be more precise & focus on the specific achievement related to the scholarship & course.
In the 3rd paragraph expand on what you are currently doing & the interesting things you look forward to.
5.9.3. Conclusion:
Tell them why you are the best candidate for the Swiss Government Excellence scholarship. Don’t sound needy or use pompous language instead focus on why you deserve it.
Tell them how this scholarship will help you or the future of your community.
5.10. Experience letter
Applicant must provide an Experience letter of the previous jobs & Internships.
Try to customize the work experience letter with future studies.
Mention your job descriptions, work projects & the skills you learned through time.
The letter must be signed & verified by the Head or CEO of the company.
The work experience could be Paid,
Unpaid,
full-time,
part-time, or voluntary.
It could be done before, during, or after graduation.
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5.11. Portfolios or workshops
It’s optional. But students can attach portfolios or workshops to support their cases for university admission or scholarship.
5.12. Application for Art Scholarship
The documents required for Art Scholarship are similar to those of a research scholarship. It includes the Application form, Motivation letter, Academic CV, Transcripts, Recommendation letter, and Passport Copy. But there are a few things that are required in the Art Scholarship form.
5.12.1 Sample of Art
(Music, Art, graphic artist, sculptors, dancers, actors, authors)
The sample of your art whether in form of a CD/DVD or USB memory stick, picture, pieces, etc. It must show your previous work and be labeled with your name, surname, and country.
5.12.2. Conditional Acceptance letter
The art scholarship candidates are required to acquire conditional admission from Swiss music Or Art School.
Note: Art Scholarship does not require a research proposal and acceptance letter from the supervisor
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6. How to Apply for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
To apply for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship you need to > check your country’s eligibility > Find a supervisor at a Swiss University> apply for the application package > prepare documents > fill each section > print and sign the form> Submit it to the Swiss embassy
6.1. Check your country’s eligibility
Before applying for the scholarship, check your country’s eligibility for the program. Every country is eligible for distinct programs. You must check the eligibility of the program for which you are applying.
The eligible country list is given here. You can get the official email and contact of the embassy or representative of Switzerland’s foreign ministry in your country.
Note: Pakistan is eligible for PhD, research fellowship and Post Doctoral programs.
6.2. How to Find Supervisor for Support Letter
You need to focus on the area of interest that collides with your supervisor’s research area.
You can get the details of each professor at each Swiss university’s website.
6.2.1 Search for the Potential Supervisor
Firstly, find out professors who have similar research backgrounds. You can research the potential supervisor on the University website.
There are details available on the university portal. Make a list of professors you wish to contact.
6.2.2. Prepare a research proposal
You should make a comprehensive research proposal. It must be interlinked with the professor’s previous work.
6.2.3. Write an email
Write a concise email that reflects your enthusiasm for the professor’s field of research.
Before writing an email, keep in mind why you want to continue your research on that topic, what are the future objectives and what the things that would help your supervisor’s work.
After making a clear draft, email your potential supervisor. You can contact more than one supervisor to get the answer.
6.3. Apply for the Application Package
You can apply for the application package by contacting the embassy in your country.
The application package contains the application form, guidelines, templates for a recommendation letter, CV, Research proposal and medical certificate form.
Note: The application form has to be typed, signed and printed form. You need to submit it to the embassy of Switzerland in your country.
6.4. Prepare Documents
Prepare each document before applying. If any document is not in English, German, Italian, or French. It is needed to attach a translated copy.
All the documents must be in 2 sets (one original set and one photocopy) except for the recommendation letters. The documents must be attached by the university or government officer.
Note: The documents should not be stapled, clipped or in any plastic folder or binder.
6.5. Fill-In Application
Fill out the application form carefully. It will require personal details, address, previous study, and academic positions.
After completing the application form, attach the required documents.
6.6. Submit
This application will be required to send to the Swiss embassy in your home country. The embassy will shortlist the candidates according to their profiles and refer them to the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS).
7. Selection Process for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship is for research as well as art aspiring students. 10% of Scholarships are set for Art while 90% of scholarship is given to research scholars.
The selection process begins in the Swiss Embassy where candidates are shortlisted for the scholarship.
The applications of shortlisted applicants move to Switzerland at Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS).
FCS evaluates the applicants based on the following parameters.
7.1. Candidate
At this stage, the board will judge the candidate’s profile based on his/her academic performance, research skills, and will.
7.2. Research Proposal
The research proposal is the most important part of the selection process. It is the evidence that the candidate is good enough to pursue research at a Swiss University.
The research proposal must be authentic and impressive.
7.3. Academics / Supervision
The board will evaluate the academic competency and supervisor’s will in the project. Here, must be a strong support letter from your supervisor.
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8. Acceptance Rate of Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
There are hundreds of candidates who apply for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship, but the selection is very competitive. The acceptance rate is 20% as compared to the total number of candidates.
The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship provides a total of 400 Scholarships to international students each year.
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9. Deadlines for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
The applications for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship are not open yet. However, the application deadline varies from August to December (depending on your home country) every year.
10.FAQs about the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
Q: Do I need IELTS / TOEFL results to Apply for the Swiss Government Excellence scholarship?
No, The scholarship does not demand the IELTS/TOEFL, but if it is a condition for university admission or your supervisor, you will have to provide the results.
Before applying to the Swiss government excellence Scholarship, you must have an admission or acceptance letter from the university or supervisor.
Will the application process remain the same for every country?
Yes, all the documents, and processes to apply, remain the same for each country.
The distinction is in the deadlines to submit your application and contact details.
There are different programs open for each country and not every program is open for all.
Can I extend my PhD period in the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship?
Yes, the PhD program is prolonged able. The period will be extended up to 36 months. You have to submit a request to extend your study period in Switzerland.
It depends on your situation and application how many extensions you would get.
How much percentage is required to apply for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship?
The average percentage required for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship is up to the second division.
If it would be converted into percentages it can be 60-65%. However, your motivation letter, recommendation and research will be considered important in the selection process.
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11. Conclusion
The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship is a prestigious scholarship for post-graduate, PhD, and Post-doctoral. It covers almost everything to live in Switzerland.
There are highly-ranked public universities and research institutes to facilitate international students. The fully funded scholarship in Switzerland provides many students with an opportunity to apply in August each year.
You can get the detailed process to apply for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship above. Also, check out our Scholarship guides to pick the best international scholarship around the globe.
We try to cover each & everything about the topic, but if you still have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask us in the comments.
